Do You Make This Mistake When Walking Your Dog? What to Do When Fido Takes the Lead When out for a Walk

As an animal communicator I get asked this same question often – what is really going on when my American Bulldog, Australian Shepherd or other dog is pulling ME along during a walk. Many times it isn’t as simple as the American Bulldog, Australian Shepherd or other dog pulling the human along, but the dog also bites on cloths, chews the leash, wraps the leash around the person or something else, barks at people or other dogs, and generally doesn’t listen to commands at all.

If this sounds like your own situation my primary concern is that you have allowed your American Bulldog, Australian Shepherd or other dog to treat you disrespectfully in so many ways. Mouthing you, pulling on you and your clothes, grabbing the leash with his mouth, tugging on you, disregarding you and your safety, not listening to you when you attempt to correct him… These are all classic signs of a dog seriously out of control without a calm, assertive, confident leader. If he does all this to you at home and on home territory, then taking him to a high stress, highly stimulating environment will only make things worse, if you are thinking of taking your American Bulldog, Australian Shepherd or other dog away from home.

He hears part of what you try to tell him, but because you are not backing up your requests with consistent action, he has learned he doesn’t have to listen to you, and what is likely is that he disagrees with you. This has nothing to do with how much he loves you, or how much he knows you love him. He is doing what makes sense to him from his viewpoint.

You need to start over again with the basics by creating a solid foundation of respect and trust. Teach him that he has to listen to you every time, no matter what. You are continually training or untraining him every time you are with him, so make everything you do a game of listen, respect my wishes, and get your reward, and this is how to calm your dog as well.

I know this may be hard for you to hear, but your American Bulldog, Australian Shepherd or other dog doesn’t need your affection. He needs your direction and discipline (rules, limitations, boundaries, respect, a job to do). Until you do that, he is not safe for you to take your dog for a walk or to take him out.

I suggest getting some guidance with dog training. I recommend the book, The Dog Training Secret or the book, Easy Dog Obedience Training.