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Leash Corrections & Leash Pops Don’t Work

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Dog Training: The Problem With Leash Corrections

Leash Corrections Don't Work
Smitt/iStock

Punishment is an extremely controversial subject, and highly debated between parents, grandparents and even dog trainers. Most pro or con debaters quickly take a position and fiercely argue why it’s the only option available. But I don’t think anyone really hears each other between the name-calling, finger-pointing, flaming social media posts and so on.

While I’m not a parenting expert, I’m certainly an expert in dog training. With that said, I’d like to explain why leash corrections are an issue. Leash corrections are when you pull on your dog’s leash to get him to do something. They’re also called leash pops.

Before firmly digging in and protesting, please take a moment to understand why leash corrections are bad. Seeing both sides makes for a well-rounded person. Allow me to explain why and show research proving leash pops do more harm than good.

Leash Corrections Don’t Teach Dogs Anything

When correcting your dog with a leash pop, you’re not really teaching your dog anything. Many years ago, I worked for a huge pet retailer where an older and very wise District Manager leader once said, “Anyone can tell someone what he or she did wrong, but a great leader teaches him or her what to do instead.”

That resonated with me on another level. I understood those principles from a dog training perspective, but to watch a proven leader teach his team how to excel in every situation using his motto was extremely powerful.

Physical or verbal corrections will destroy your relationship with your dog. I’ve personally witnessed how leash corrections ruined the bond between dog and owner many times. Pet owners swear their dogs “appreciate fair corrections because they’re done with love.” Yet, their dogs’ body language would say otherwise.

Punishing is more rewarding to the punisher than the punished. That statement probably stings, but it’s true—even Dr. Phil agrees.

It’s Not Your Dog’s Fault

Pet owners become frustrated with their dogs, and then take their frustrations out on their dogs. Anything and everything that goes wrong during the learning process is blamed on the dog. In my 20-plus-years of dog training, I’ve only witnessed one pet owner take responsibility. Another invaluable quote I learned the hard way will always stay with me is: “As a teacher, it’s our job to teach a learner. If the learner is confused, the teacher did something wrong.”

A Valuable Lesson From Training My Fish Dribble

While completing a 6-month-long national dog training certification program, I had to train a non-canine species to perform certain tasks. Teaching a fish to perform tasks was super exciting and really challenged my animal training skills. Here’s a tiny gilled animal floating around in water that couldn’t care less what I did or didn’t do. This quote stays near my heart because it’s true: When Dribble (my blue betta) became confused, it was my job to figure out a better way.

When dogs (fish or humans) become confused, they either stop moving, choose to do something else or leave. If your dog doesn’t respond to a cue, he’s either confused or wasn’t trained to do otherwise. The learner is right, my dear reader. 🙂 As a pet owner, it’s your job to teach your dog how to co-exist politely with humans.

As for Dribble, he learned quickly and so did I! Plus, he lived a long and happy life and performed his learned behaviors every day. 🙂

Why Punishment is a Slippery Slope

Now, back to leash corrections. Most pet owners justify their uses of leash pops, or punishment, with the following reasons:

  • “My dog stopped listening to me.”
  • “He knows better.”
  • “She knows what I’m asking her to do.”

All three reasons boil down to: “My dog embarrassed me, so I corrected him.” Or “I had to chase you for 10 minutes, and I’m going to punish you because I’m frustrated” or even “How dare you do that to me?”

These are also the same reasons why dog owners scream “no” at a dog. And if you disagree, you’re not being completely honest with yourself. Are you happy when giving your dog leash pops? 99.9% of pet owners punish their dogs when disappointed. Leash corrections are used to indicate “wrong choice,” but we all know the “no” command is meaningless.

Take Responsibility

I’m aware that life isn’t filled with rainbows, unicorns and sunshine all the time. Though, I do know how we react to life is most important. Yes, your dog will chew a hole straight through your mattress, hike his leg and pee on your leg during an important presentation, and knock you down so hard that both shoes fall off (all true stories), but how you react is key.

Next time you become frustrated during a dog training session or in any other scenario, take a moment to breathe deeply. Excuse yourself or hand your leash over to a friend, walk away, and compose yourself. Once you calm down, it’s your duty to figure out a better way to teach your dog that doesn’t involve punishment. That’s what all great teachers do.

If your dog misbehaves, use that opportunity to reteach a behavior and practice it in the situation that caused your dog to run off, ignore your cue, jump up on someone or dash through the door. Don’t punish. Teach your dog what is expected of him in that situation instead. 

This is More Than Just My Opinion

Many naysayers will claim this is just my opinion. While that’s true to a certain extent, I’ve based my opinion on scientific learning principles that have been proven time and time again. Shoot, these are the same principles Dr. Phil uses with children and adults. These learning principles work for humans, dogs, cats, tigers, dolphins and even snails. We all learn the same way, and saying punishment must be used with certain breeds of dogs is completely ridiculous. And dare I say, a bit disrespectful too. All humans are taught the same, so why are we breed discriminating?

Times have changed and research has finally caught up with dog training. It’s time to embrace dog training methods that work instead of listening to or reading outdated material. Your dog deserves it. 🙂

Why You Shouldn’t Teach Your Dog the “No” Command

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The “No” Command is Meaningless

Teach Dog No
VehicleShoot/iStock

Honestly, some dogs have learned “no” is their name. It’s true, as a dog trainer, I’ve watched pet owners say “no, No, NO” over and over again to their dogs. Sometimes, the “no” command makes up the entire interaction between pet owners and their dogs. Not only is this puzzling and depressing, but it also doesn’t work.

Dogs learn to tune out unimportant information and the “no” command soon becomes background noise. So, let’s look at this word differently and see if “no” even teaches your dog anything. The answer just might surprise you.

What Does the “No” Command Mean?

Seriously, what does “no” mean? It could mean:

  • Stop that
  • Don’t move
  • Stay there
  • Don’t look at me
  • Don’t walk toward me
  • Stop touching me
  • Stop licking
  • Stop jumping
  • Don’t run away
  • Don’t dig
  • Stop barking
  • Wrong
  • Stop pulling

“No” has multiple meanings, so when telling your dog “no,” what are you asking your dog to do? It gets confusing, especially for the dog. Basically, telling a dog to stop doing something is the most common reason pet owners say “no.” Here’s the tricky part though: if your dog stops doing a behavior (i.e. barking, jumping, pulling, or growling), what do you want your dog to do instead? Before you answer, let’s visit this scenario from a human perspective.

Let’s say you and your husband go out to dinner. As you’re driving down the road, you notice that your husband is speeding. The moment you notice he’s speeding, you tell her “no.” In this situation, what are you asking her to do? “No” could mean take your hands off the wheel, close your eyes, turn around, look at you, stop the car or go faster. The word “no” provides little information. Instead, say “please slow down” and your husband will lift his foot off the accelerator.

Does “N0” Teach Your Dog Anything?

It really doesn’t. Instead of saying “no,” teach your dog an alternative behavior. When teaching your dog an alternative behavior, you’re rewarding a behavior that’s opposite of what you’re asking your dog to stop doing. This may sound complicated, but it’s actually quite easy and works quickly. Basically, you’re asking your dog to do this instead of that. Check out these examples:

  • If your dog is jumping on guests, ask your dog to “sit” instead.
  • When a dog barks, reward her for being quiet.
  • If your dog potties inside your home, reward her when she potties outside.
  • When your dog pulls on leash, reward a loose leash.
  • If your dog moves around while brushing, reward your dog when she stands still.
  • If your dog runs away from you, reward your dog for running toward you.
  • If your dog tries to eat food on the ground, teach the “leave it” cue and reward when she “leaves it.”
  • If your dog has something in her mouth, teach “trade game.”

Believe it or not, teaching and rewarding an alternative behavior works every time! Instead of focusing on what your dog did wrong, figure out what your dog should do instead. Here’s a huge hint: choose the opposite behavior. It’s really hard for a dog to jump and sit at the same time. 🙂

Should You Teach Your Dog the “No” Command?

No, you shouldn’t. Remember the word “no” is meaningless. Instead, teach your dog what to do instead. When I explain this “no” concept, most pet owners ask, “Well, what should I say when my dog is running toward a busy road?” My response to that is: “Teach your dog a rocket recall, and say “Rover, come here” when this happens. Then, reward your dog thoroughly with treats and tons of praise.” Screaming “no” won’t stop your dog from running away. I wish it were that simple.

Beware of dog trainers and websites claiming that dogs must learn the “no” command. Remember, “no” could mean anything. Plus, “no” means nothing during the learning process. If you were learning a foreign language, such as French, and I said “no” when you spoke French, what am I teaching you? Not to speak French, it would seem. But, if I asked you to pronounce a French word differently, that would help you learn quicker and faster. It’s the same with dogs, horses, snails, fish and even children. Teach an alternative behavior instead of saying “no.”

Teaching an alternative behavior may seem a bit different, but it’s the best way to stop unwanted dog behavior. Before saying “no,” figure out what your dog should do instead. Remember, teach your dog to do this instead of that!

5 Tips To Help You Get The Most Out Of Private Dog Training Lessons

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How to Prepare for Private Dog Training Lessons

Private Dog Training Lessons
Luminahox_sam/iStock

Coming prepared to private dog training lessons will get you the best results. Private dog training lessons usually last 1-2 hours, and a great amount of information is discussed within that short period of time. To maximize private lessons, I recommend following a few tips to get the most bang for your buck. These tips will also ensure a smooth and stress-free private dog training lesson for you, your dog and your dog trainer.

Know Your Dog Training Goals

Before your first private lesson, really think about your and your dog’s training goals. Most pet owners focus primarily on what their dogs do wrong. Instead, flip your thought process around and figure out how your dog should positively respond in a situation.

Focusing on a solution is a game-changer because now you have a plan. Your dog trainer will teach you how to put your plan into action. A solution-focused example is teaching your dog to sit as guests enter through the front door instead of jumping on visitors.

Pack Yummy Treats

You’ll need at least 50-100 pea-sized training treats for each private dog training lesson. Remember, dog training treats are your dog’s paycheck, so reward with super yummy ones. Fresh treats always work best, such as chopped hot dogs, baked chicken or cheese.

Discuss 1-2 Topics Per Private Lesson

It’s so tempting to list all your questions and concerns during a private lesson because this is your chance to finally be heard. However, discussing too much information in such a short time will confuse you and your dog. Instead, choose 1-2 topics to cover per lesson. I ask clients to choose their most pressing issues, and we discuss them during our first private lesson.

Usually, once a pet owner’s main concerns are addressed, the other little things really don’t matter. If you have additional topics, I recommend scheduling another private lesson to discuss. Trust me, if every topic is discussed within a 1-2 hour time frame, it will leave your head spinning in confusion. 🙂

Have Realistic Expectations

Teaching new behaviors to your dog is a process; it will take longer than 1-2 hours. As professional dog trainers, we want instant gratification too, but dogs are living beings that need time to learn new skills. Think about it this way: if dog trainers could wave a magic wand or reset a few buttons on dogs, all animal shelters would be completely empty. 🙂

During private lessons, your dog trainer will show you how to teach your dog. Usually, a dog trainer will explain and demonstrate how to teach your dog a behavior and then provide feedback as you practice. It takes time for humans to learn too, so be kind and patient to yourself.

Move slowly, reward often and remember that practice makes perfect; hence, do your homework. Homework provides plenty of time for both pet owner and dog to learn together, so plan to practice homework 3-5 minutes each day.

Have an Open Mind

This is a huge tip! You’ve probably tried different dog training methods, suggestions or tips in the past, and they didn’t work out well. I highly recommend you open your mind and thoroughly listen to your positive reinforcement dog trainer’s suggestions.

Many times, certain tips and suggestions just need a few tweaks to clear up any confusion. Remember, each dog is an individual, so something that worked for someone else’s dog may not work for your dog. Your dog trainer will provide invaluable feedback, so absorb it like a sponge!

Preparation is key to success! Don’t be afraid to ask your dog trainer for additional preparation tips.

You may also like: Why Group Dog Training Classes are Worth It

Dog Shredding Paper Tips That Will Save Your Paper

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How to Stop Your Dog From Shredding Paper

Dog Shredding Paper
Lisa5201/iStock

Dogs love to shred paper. No one knows exactly why, but dogs just love it. Now, some dogs enjoy paper shredding more than others, and certain dogs enjoy swallowing paper once they’ve shredded it. When it comes to paper products, each dog has his or her preference. 🙂 Some dogs enjoy shredding and chewing tissue paper while other dogs enjoy anything made of paper. Regardless of your dog’s preferred paper product to shred, here are a few tips to stop your dog from shredding paper.

How to Prevent Your Dog From Shredding Paper

This dog training tip works best! If your dog has turned into a paper shredder, it’s best to keep paper products away from your dog. Keep extra rolls of toilet paper behind cabinet doors and place tissue boxes out of reach from your dog. If your dog shreds your mail, it’s best to keep mail on kitchen countertops or your desk.

Sometimes, dogs will raid your trash can too, so I recommend purchasing a heavy-lidded trash can. Now, if your dog is stealing paper from countertops or your desk (I know several dogs that are really good at this), I recommend placing paper products behind pantry cabinets or placing mail inside a lidded box.

Prevention doesn’t mean you’re ignoring your dog’s paper addiction. Prevention actually changes your dog’s behavior. When dogs are unable to practice a behavior (e.g. paper shredding or stealing), the behavior will go away. If your dog doesn’t have paper to shred, he’ll stop shredding paper.

Why Do Dogs Shred Paper?

Paper shredding behavior usually suggests a bored dog. I suggest providing different forms of daily mental enrichment, such as providing your dog with frozen food stuffed toys or puzzles. If your dog steals and shreds paper when you’re not home, it’s best to always crate your dog with a super yummy food stuffed toy. Prevention and mental enrichment are key.

How to Train Your Dog to Stop Shredding Paper

It’s going to happen; don’t worry. If you see or hear your dog shredding paper, here’s what you should do. Grab bits of cheese or lunch meat, and ask your dog to “trade.” Don’t chase your dog; just stand still and offer food from your hand. It may take a few seconds, but let your dog think through the situation.

The moment your dog walks toward the offered treat, toss the food in the opposite direction of the paper. As your dog goes for the thrown treat, grab the paper and discard it in a heavy lidded trash can.

Teaching your dog to “trade” is an invaluable skill. You never know what your dog will pick up and try to swallow. “Trade” isn’t bribery. You’re teaching your dog to drop something. After practicing the “trade” behavior several times, your dog will learn that “trade” means “drop whatever you have and get your reward for dropping it.”

What Doesn’t Work

Chasing your dog for shredding paper doesn’t work. It just becomes a fun game for your dog. Punishment doesn’t work either. If you yell or physically punish your dog for chewing or shredding paper, your dog will learn to shred and swallow toilet paper quietly in another room or when you’re not home.

Prevention and the “trade” game work wonders—even for the best paper shredding dogs in the world!

Dog Training Nation is a dog training blog for pet owners and dog lovers. We cover a range of topics from puppy socialization tips to dog aggression to dog health. It is our hope you share our content to make the world a better place for dogs.

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