How to Train a Miniature Schnauzer When They Pull on the Leash

Pulling on the leash is a self-rewarding behavior. The dog pulls because he thinks he gets to the park more quickly. What happens? He pulls and gets to the park. This stop and go method means you stop in your tracks when the dog pulls, which means he has to wait a little longer to get where he wants to go. You only start moving again once the pulling has stopped. When you apply this consistently, the dog will eventually realize that pulling doesn't get him anywhere quickly and will walk nicely.

This is not the method to use when you are in a hurry and need to get the dog walked quickly before going to work. Chose a time when you aren't in a rush and can afford to spend ages going nowhere. You can also practice in the home or yard, and get the dog used to not pulling there before you try it outside on a proper walk.

With the dog on a collar (or harness) and leash, set off on a walk. Keep an eye to see there is slack in the leash. As soon as the leash goes taut, make a disapproving noise such as "Uh-oh", and stop in your tracks.

Wait for slack in the leash before setting off again. Some people prefer to have the dog come to heel before resuming the walk. Set off again, and while the dog is not pulling say "Good", to encourage the dog.

Keep repeating this pattern as you walk. The idea is that the dog learns pulling means no progress and walking on a slack leash means steady progress.

This method is subtly different in that you teach the dog when you stop and he sits, then he gets a reward. Once the dog has learned the link between you stopping and a reward, as soon as he starts to surge ahead on the leash, you stop - hence stopping his forward movement because he sits. After a while the dog starts to watch you closely to see if you are about to stop, and he no longer surges ahead to pull.

Start off indoors or in a distraction-free yard. Have a supply of tasty treats on you, and work with the dog off-leash. Show the dog a treat to get his attention. Then walks a few steps and stop. The dog will try to get your attention, such as pawing at you or walking in a circle around you, as he tries to work out how to get the treat. Ignore him. Eventually, he will sit to have a think. As soon as he sits say "Yes" and give him the treat. Start walking again, and repeat this over.

Keep practicing so that the dog trots along beside you indoors, watching for the moment when you stop so that he can sit and get the treat. Once he is doing this regularly you can take the training outdoors on the leash.

Set off on a walk. As soon as the dog pulls, say "Uh-oh" and stop. Ignore the dog and wait for him to sit. He may do this immediately, or he may fool around for a while. But eventually he will sit. Say "Yes" and give the treat. Start walking again and repeat.

As the dog gets the hang of watching you walk, encourage him with "yes" in a happy voice, so he understands he's doing good. Stop periodically, wait for him to sit, reward, then start off again. Once the dog is regularly walking to heel watching you, say "Heel" and give him a treat, so that he learns what this action is called, which means you can then tell him what's desired of him on future walks.

This should be fun and more like a game than a strict training session. Just like people, dogs learn more quickly when they are enjoying themselves.

Make sure the dog gets a chance to burn off excess energy before you train. If he's brim full of energy it's much harder for him to concentrate and he'll be distracted more easily. Play with him or let him run around the yard playing ball, ahead of a training session.

There is no place for harsh correction tools such as shock collars, prong collars, or choke chains in training a dog. OK, the dog may stop pulling but this is because you are inflicting pain rather than teaching him to listen to instruction.

If the dog continues to pull on the leash, never punish him. He won't understand what the punishment is for and it will make him anxious around you. Instead of telling the dog what not to do with punishment, reward him when he stops pulling.

While you should never punish the dog for pulling, it is a good idea to tell him what he's doing is wrong. A simple "Uh-oh" said in a disapproving tone when he pulls, helps him to understand precisely what he's doing wrong. Likewise, when he behaves, then a happy "Yes" helps reinforce what you want him to do.