Have you ever considered how important the collar and leash are for your dog? You don’t get an idea of all that it entails. The animal is exposed to a number of negative associations while walking and if we misuse this accessory, long-term behavior problems can be generated.
On many occasions, the owners of dogs with these problems tend to associate them with other causes and therefore it is more difficult for the animal to overcome its fears or behavioral barriers. Imagine that suddenly they put a strange element in your body: obviously for a puppy it is something violent. How are we going to compare walking being free to walk with something that limits your movement? It is clear that dogs notice.
First of all, we have to assume that taking the dog on the street is mandatory , not only for the safety of our pet but also for the safety of other citizens. Once we start from this base, the important thing is to start working on a pleasant walk with a harness or collar and in which our furry enjoys. With this we will make the dog happier but it will also enhance the relationship between the two.
Do you want to know how to make your dog associate the leash with something positive? For this you have to use the classical Pavlov conditioning. It is something simple that consists of using two stimuli in the animal: the first is unknown and the second has a lot of meaning for him. When the two are presented in a row, the stranger takes on a meaning that may be positive or negative depending on the other stimulus. For example, we put the dog on a leash and then we give it a treat. You will understand that putting on the leash is positive.
On the other hand, if the walk has always been a disaster, with jerks, suffocation, stiffness … the dog will feel that putting on the leash is something negative. In addition, it will also associate these negative stimuli with its owner , with the area in which it is and with everything that comes across in those unpleasant moments. That all this generates uncomfortable emotions can cause the dog to react very aggressively and we do not know why.
Once the importance of good use of the leash is clear, we are going to give you some tips so that your dog does not mind being restrained.
