Dog owners amazed by trainer's 'genius' trick which stops pet pulling on its lead
A dog trainer has shared straightforward advice to assist other owners in preventing their excited pups from pulling the lead during walks.
Dog obedience instructor John Gotta, who goes by @gottatrain on TikTok, boasts nearly a million followers on the platform, and frequently shares helpful tips for training pets. In one of his latest viral videos, John reveals an easy technique that could help curb dogs from yanking on their leads while out and about.
The trainer advises: "Throw away your leash and get a 36" slip lead," and instructs owners: "Use 180 turns to teach your dog how to turn the pressure off. Vary the number of steps between each turn. Use leash pressure (up) when your dog tests the boundary."
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Demonstrating with a client and her chocolate Labrador, John advocates the use of a slip lead, a tool that's often employed by professional trainers or in emergencies, which integrates both collar and lead into a singular looped rope placed around the dogs neck.
The video suggests allowing the dog to auto-correct by releasing its own pressure and cautions against overcomplicated training methods, with John advising: "Don't let your dog trainer confuse you by overcomplicating things or using big scientific terms. If your trainer has to tire out your happy-go-lucky dog to get them to walk nicely.... run!".
John's simple yet effective guidance resonated with other TikTok users, with one commenting that she'd successfully "Taught her old dog new tricks" with the help of his video.
Before embarking on your walk, it's crucial to teach your dog to focus on you. One way to do this is through name recognition exercises. Call out your dog's name and reward them with praise or a treat when they look at you. You can also hold a treat by your side and reward your dog when they make eye contact with you.
If your dog starts to pull on the leash during the walk, stop moving immediately. Avoid yanking or pulling back on the leash. Instead, wait until the lead slackens naturally or call your dog back to you. Once they've stopped pulling, you can resume walking.
Should they start pulling again, repeat the process. This will help your dog understand that pulling won't get them anywhere faster.
Many dogs tend to pull on the leash due to excess energy. To mitigate this, ensure your dog is getting enough physical exercise and mental stimulation to help reduce overexcitement during walks.
