Many people consider that well-mannered dogs are walked
without a leash because they need freedom, being unhappy on the
leash. Those people, whose old dogs are lying at their feet,
without the leash, of course, with their eyes closed of boredom,
especially like to tell this. We would like to tell you why the
leash is a friend and not an enemy
for the dog.
Dogs are different. A Terrier will never become a
Shepherd, a Basenji – a Poodle, a Chihuahua - a Mastiff. The
difference in the characters of two pairs is no less than the
difference in sizes of the last one. Dog's behaviour is a
combination of genetics and training. We don't train equal
puppies, we teach them equal skills, but they perceive them
differently.
Every dog can learn the commands "Sit", "Down" and
"Come". Good-mannered dog will run these commands when walk
outside. However, if you have a gun dog with strong prey drive,
it would like to hunt a cat-bird-mouse when had seen the catch.
The desire will be so strong that it will be too hard to control
itself. But as the dog is well-mannered, it will go along the
owner being stressed. It's good, if the handler will entertain
the dog with a toy or will start teaching new and interesting
trick. The dog will switch to a new task gratefully. But in most
cases the owner walks the dog being tired or in a hurry, or
walks with his (her) sweetheart on the arm.
When the gun dog with strong prey drive walks without the leash
and the owner doesn't pay due attention to it, the dog's prey
drive increases and it starts chasing the catch one day,
forgetting about the manners.
Generally, every dog can run away pursuing any
objective. Thus, an obedient Shepherd may turn into running away
Basenji if the owner doesn't watch the dog (while walking with
baby carriage he (she) can't entertain the dog). That dog is
unhappy, which is always under pressure and has to keep temper
having no opportunity to splash out its energy. And the leash is
beside the point.
Every time the dog's response depends on its character
and on the situation.
Imagine your dog during your daily walk. What will happen if the
dog runs away? If there is a high risk that the dog can get run
over a car, to scrap with other animals, to bark at passer-by,
than you, if you have queasy conscience, won't stay indifferent
to the dog's behaviour. This means, you will be angry, nervous,
ashamed and there is no good for your relations with the dog.
Next time you'll control your dog closely to keep it from
running away, in other words you'll hold the dog's attention
constantly. And it's good! By the way, such walks are needed to
all the dogs. Walk, train, play with your dog!
The trouble is that you can't train or play with the
dog every time you walk it. Even if you're a fan of dog
training. If you have a compressed timetable and a lot of things
to do, then dog keeping turns into a torment. More often the
owners shorten the time of dog walking or walk their dogs only
at pens, falling a victim against of the leash. Unfortunately
every so often the owners unleash the dogs, counting on a
miracle that everything will be ok.
If you're in a hurry when walk your dog than fasten a leash. It
will be better for the dog also. Your relations won't become
worse. The dog won't feel stress being afraid to disobey. It
depends of equipment whether it will be cruelly to walk the dog
on the leash or not.
Refuse flexi dog leash, prong dog collar and choke dog
collar. Use quality dog
walking harness or dog collar if it
doesn't pull on the leash. Halti isn't used for games. Teach
your dog not to pull on the leash.
The leash is a friend and not an enemy. It helps to
avoid problems during walking in public places.
Here are useful tips for dog walking.
Don't unleash the dog:
- if the other dog, which plays with yours, doesn't run
away and obey (it's only you, who are responsible for your dog);
- if the dog is dangerous for other animals and people,
even if it's their loss that they provoked your dog to attack;
- if the dog is disobedient.
Unleash the dog:
- if you're at pen;
- if the dog's attention is totally focused on you
during training and games;
- if you're sure that you can call away the dog of
another dog, a cat or a cycler before it will run up to them in
99 cases of a 100;
- if it's allowed to unleash the dog in a certain place
by law.
Fasten the dog leash:
- if you walk along the road;
- between games and training sessions when you don't
need full attention of your dog;
- if the dog will have more prohibitions being
unleashed than on the leash.
The finest supplies for dog walking and training, click
on the pictures!
Read also how to lead a
dog during a walk.