Road safety for dogs
Keep your dog safe from crossing the road without your permission.
Good dog training and getting your dog to walk on a leash are the answers to keeping your dog safe around busy streets.
Below are some tips on how to achieve this.
Be in charge and have leash control:
- Puppies will automatically pull on the leash so you need to train them from little not to pull.
- If you don't, they'll learn that pulling is progress and will get very good at it.
- If your dog pulls on the leash when you're out walking it's probably because you've allowed him to do so.
- To stop your dog from pulling on a leash start with a loose leash and if he runs forward until it's tight, change direction. He'll have no choice but to follow you and it will show him that you're in charge of the walk.
- You won't be able to cross a road safely with your dog if you haven't mastered a good leash technique.
Training your dog to cross roads safely:
- Once your dog has learned to walk by your side on a loose leash, you can start taking him on to a road.
- Teach your dog to stop at the kerb by saying 'stop' as he comes up to the kerb. If he tries to put his paw on the road without your permission, pull him back off the road.
- Give him lots of praise when he's back on the kerb. This will show him that he's being good.
- Do this at every kerb so that your dog becomes trained of this correct behaviour.
- Then, as you say 'let's go' take a step forward and this will become the signal for your dog to step off the kerb.
Even if your dog is well-behaved, don't leave him off the leash unless there's a fence between him and the nearest road as even a well-behaved dog may be tempted to run after a squirrel on the other side of the road! Keep your dog on a short leash and keep him on the inside of the pavement so that he has to get past you to get to the road.
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