Leading while loose leash walking

[Saje]

So Nanook loves to lead while she is on leash. She pulls for the first few minutes and I have to keep reminding her not to. Then she relaxes into the walk and is good. On a loose leash but she's always ahead of me. I don't care. I just figured it's cuz she's got husky in her and it's in her nature. BUT someone told me today that it is dominant behaviour. That really never crossed my mind. We've overcome so much with her I don't really care if she walks ahead of me. I just don't want her yanking on me. Not a huge request I don't think.

So, I was wondering what you guys thought. Do you think that it's dominant behaviour?

 

[elegy]

no, i don't. i don't think it's dominant behavior when dogs pull, either.

if *you* are happy with how she walks, then that's all that matters, imo.

 

[Saje]

That's cool. It's been a battle with us since I got her. I think it's because she has a sledding dog in her and it would be like trying tot each mav not to swim. It's in her nature and we've come so far that I"m pleased with where we are now. I'll keep working on it and hopefully it will get better but if not... oh well. lol

 

[bnwalker2]

I don't think it's disrespectful either. I don't let my dogs pull me on the leash, but as long as they can walk nicely, they can walk ahead of me. I do teach them a formal heel, where they must stay at my side, but we only practice this a little and then for the rest of the walk they're free to walk where they wish.

 

[bubbatd]

I have a short and long leash and use both when walking . ( 8 " and normal length ) .....If pulling , I go to the short one .....if being pleasant and just sniffing around , the longer one . ( At vets it's short ! )

 

[Maxy24]

I believe very few (if any) dogs try to be dominant over their owners and for any that might it's not going to be through meaningless behaviors like walking ahead of you on the leash, laying on the bed, jumping up, going through doors ahead of you or not listening to your commands. Dogs don't think about that stuff, we do, the dog just does what he does. Dogs walk faster than us, it makes no sense for them to walk next to you, we are SO slow. Sure you can teach them to but what's the point? They are forced to walk ever slower, getting less exercise and dogs walking at heel don't get to sniff as they go so less mental stimulation too. For me so long as there is no pulling all is good and even if there was pulling the dog would not be trying to control you or dominate you, he's just walking at a comfortable pace for him.

 

[LuvsDogs]

Loose lead walking is hard to teach. All dogs want to be sled dogs. As long as you teach him to not pull or criss cross in fromt of you thats fine. All the sniffing is a dogs way of knowing what's going on in the neighbourhood, who's gone before, what they had for breakfast & so on. When the lead goes tight stop & wait until he sits & slackens it off. Every so often practice a heel & then give him permission to go sniff. But make sure there's always a u shape in the lead.

 

[adojrts]

I agree with everyone, its a personal choice and as long as the dog isn't pulling? Its the same with sniffing, sometimes I allow it but if they are asked not to, they don't. There are even times when I want my dog to pull, I have a padded harness and I want them out in front of my pulling because that builds muscle by resistance. But he still doesn't pull even when wearing the harness until cued to. A walk can switch back and forth between loose leash heeling, to pulling to free time where he can go almost anywhere.