Is your dog stronger than you?

Maybe you are a person with a smaller frame, or like me, on the more 'seasoned' side of life...But you love big dogs. And, of course you want your dog to be healthy. And a big healthy dog is bouncy and lets face it, even with the best training, sometimes pulls on lead. A big strong dog pulling a small person can be a dangerous situation, Injuries from dog walking are pretty common, according to the emergency room staff all the times I was in for dog walking related injuries. Luckily all of my injuries have been relatively minor. And all of them were my own fault.

As I become more 'seasoned' in life, the more I want to avoid injuries. So I have come up with some techniques you can use to prevent injures while walking your big, bouncy fluffer.

For adults only!

PLEASE never hand the leash to a child. Nothing makes me cringe more than seeing an adult hand the leash of a big dog to a small child! I don't care how well you think your dog is trained, it is still a dog and if that dog decides to do a normal doggy thing like run, they are putting the child as risk of serious injury and trauma! As well as other people and dogs around them.

Recall, not just for running

Dog trainers disagree on a lot but I think they mostly all agree that a great recall is an essential skill for every dog to have. but its not just for a dog running toward something or someone you don't want them to. It can be a huge help in walking a large dog on lead. Instead of yanking on the leash to get the dog to move in certain direction, what if you could just say "lets go this way" and your dog follows you? There are lots of online training programs to teach fantastic recalls, but my favorite is Susan Garrett's Recallers program. You can find out more information on that and all her other programs at Dogsthat.com.

Be Nosey

Along that same line a reliable nose/hand touch is super useful to get your dog to move without pulling on the leash at all. Imagine, simply presenting your palm and your dog trots over to nose bop your hand and get a treat! And poof your dog is moving in the direction you want!

Gear

The best piece of gear I have ever used, the one thing that profoundly changed how I walk my husky, and made our walks joyful again was a long line. NOT the retractable one! I have seen plenty a scars on human legs from those things! It does take a bit of learning on how to properly handle a long line to avoid entanglement. I learned how from the "Walk with Me" at the Grisha Stewart Academy. Thunderpawsinc.com has some strong, yet soft, 15 foot long lines available here: https://thunderpawsinc.com/collections/leashes/products/rope-snap-leash-15-foot-long

One thing I have never seen mentioned in any dog training courses or books is something I discovered, like all the best discoveries, by accident. I had a sprained wrist and had to wear a wrist brace for a few weeks. I also needed to walk my dog in those few weeks. I put the loop of the leash over the brace. At first it felt cumbersome, but then I realized how strong my wrist felt when my  dog (occasionally) pulled. So I kept wearing it after my wrist healed and now wear it on every walk. It is the kind with the metal bar in it so if My husky pulls hard, like if he really wants to run to another dog, I can wrap the leash around the brace and I have a much stronger arm! And my wrist is in less danger of getting sprained. 

Treats, C spray and a Blade

Yeah, That's a lot to carry but,  as my grandma always told me, "it's better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it" The treats are for your own dog or if a loose dog (UGG!) is coming toward you SOMETIMES if you toss treats away from you the loose dog with follow the treats giving you and you dog a chance to leave.

The C spray or pepper spray is a very, very last resort if you and you dog get in serious trouble, either with a dog, wildlife or a person. I found cute little pink ones at a sporting goods stare that can fit in my pocket. Learn how and when to use it, You do NOT want to be trying figuring it out in the middle of an emergency.

The blade... A switch blade?  A Samori sword? Nah, I carry a little box cutter. It is mostly in case we meet a friendly dog, play commences and collars or harnesses get stuck together. Yes, dogs have died because of this scenario. That's why many trainers advise that dogs play together naked. But we all know sometimes things don't happen as we think they should. I feel better being prepared.

Be silly and don't give a f...ig about what people think

Come on, fess up, you have a special silly song you sing to your dog....It's OK we all do. That silly little song can be very useful. Your dog needs to know that everything is all hunky dory. They take their cue as to the status of the environment from you, And even on a long line they can feel any change of emotion from you. But there are times you may start to feel wary on walks, as you should. But singing your little doggy ditty as you walk does a few things... it tells your dog all is well. And if you are coming up on a blind corner it may be a heads up to someone rounding the corner toward you. You don't want your dog to be startled. Dogs react badly to being startled.

Don't be a jerk

If your big ole fluffer takes off and full speed with you at the other end of the leash you want to avoid two things, one you don't want to be pulled to the ground, and you don't want your dog to reach the end of the leash while at full tilt and be jerked back. This could result in injury to both of you. What you can do to try to minimize the chance of injury is with your center of gravity on your back leg to take a few steps forward as you slowly tighten the leash to gradually stop your dog. No jerking needed. 

Run, Run Rover...

Sometimes You really want your dog to move along but they are insisting on sniffing that one spot FOREVER. You don't want to pull on the lead, because that just engages their opposition reflex and they plant their feet like an oak tree! Here's a not so secret secret...Dogs love to play chase, it is almost irresistible to most of them. Dogs at play take turns chasing each other. It's the reason why chasing a runaway dog never works, you are running toward them,  But if you switch rolls and run AWAY from your dog the will give chase and run toward you.  But how to do this on lead?? Here's where the real silliness begins...while standing to the side but with in eyesight of your dog, crouch down like you are ready to take off running, make a silly sound to get you dogs attention, a kissy noise or what ever, then turn away from your dog and fake run, take some little bouncy steps, or as I do 'the ole lady run'. Be joyfully silly! Your dog will think "hey what is going on over there? A party without me?" And before you know it here comes your dog!

I hope these tips help you and I would love to see videos or photos of you and your dog on our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ThunderpawsInc

Dogs always seek joy and fun.  Be the source of all that is joyful in your dogs world.