Being the owner of a dog who is really calm at home is really a boon for me, but as soon as I take her outside in a public place, her leash pulling is non-stop, which ends up with me pulling her back inside the car or injuring my hand in the process.
Recently, I visited a Dogathon with my pet, who is a golden retriever. I wanted her to socialize with other pets as she is a lockdown baby and has not had much chance to meet other dogs. I realized the majority of the pets in the marathon were of the retriever breed, either goldie or labrador. The other thing which I noticed was most of these pets had the same leash pulling issue as mine.
I understand retrievers are highly intrigued when they smell new things, but it should still not be normal for your pet to pull you so much that you injure yourself. Especially handling a large breed dog is tougher if it does not behave well in public.
This surprises me as my dog is a gem inside the house. I have spoken to many owners and read a lot of literature to understand that there may be a few reasons why this is happening and figured out ways to tackle this issue, which I have shared with you below.
1. Hormonal Changes:
Like humans, when a dog hits puberty, they undergo hormonal changes. It brings little natural change in most dogs, but a few start behaving differently. Territory marking or escaping home to mate is a common trait, but the dog can also misbehave more and act more destructive. If this change has happened after maturity, then better visit the vet to get a consult regarding the same. These might be signs your dog needs to be neutered or spayed. Also, it makes sense to get your dog fixed as you do not want any accidents. There are so many rescues out there waiting to be adopted; you should not breed your pet or let any accidents happen. It will only increase their population, which is unnecessary when many pets need to be re-homed.
2.Understand the Breeds Temperament:
Though every dog has its own nature, it is also influenced by its breed. Different dog breeds have different temperaments that could be a factor in the way your dog socializes. For example, retrievers are over-friendly and want to greet every human being; hence, they tend to pull a lot when taken outside because they wish to play with every passing human. It does not matter if the human is interested, but their playful nature makes them believe that everyone is outside to play with them, which is honestly funny to watch but tough to handle.
Guard dogs may seem more protective and less friendly. Similarly, different breeds may react to crowded areas differently. You must understand your breed’s traits and handle them accordingly for your dog’s and others’ safety.
3.Lack of Training:
This is another reason why your dog may be behaving this way outside. I thought I had trained my dog well, but that theory was proven wrong when I took her to the market. I had to hire a trainer to train her better. She is not perfect yet, but she has improved a lot over the past few months, and I am hoping her issues will be resolved completely over the years.
You should try to train your dog on your own, but if you are unable to get the desired results, get a consultation from an expert who can help you train your dog better.
4.Lack of Exercise:
Certain breeds are known to be high-energy dogs and need intensive exercise, or they start misbehaving. This is not the issue with the dog but with the owner. You should know the amount of exercise your dog needs and ensure you take the dog out multiple times. Your dog needs to burn all that energy or else it will definitely misbehave. if you take a highly energetic dog to a crowded area, it is going to be chaos. You should tire your dog first so that it becomes calm when you take it outside. Provide the dog a backyard to run and play in so that they are happy and healthy. If you cannot do that, then better go for a smaller dog breed that needs less exercise, which you will be able to provide.
5.Canine Anxiety:
If your dog is anxious due to issues such as separation or certain phobia, that need to be addressed first. Punishing the dog is not the answer. It will only make the issue worst. If you have a rescue who had a stressful past, something may be triggering those memories that make the dog misbehave. You will have to first understand the cause of anxiety and desensitize the dog to it. It may be tough to identify the cause. Sometimes it is better to hire a professional behaviouralist or consult a vet to understand how to deal with the situation.
They may suggest that you avoid certain things for the betterment of the dog, which you should abide by.
The Bottom Line:
Rome was not built in a day. Your dog cannot be trained to be calm outside in a day. This process will take exposure to external factors, be it weeks or months, before they start behaving correctly. It is not because your dog is misbehaving intentionally, but the fact is that lack of exposure has made them intrigued and anxious, and they are just being dogs. You need to be patient and handle it calmly.
Start by visiting areas with your dog, which is less crowded. Go to the same place a few times till the dog gets comfortable there, and only then change the location where you take it. You should increase the duration gradually too. These small and gradual changes will make the dog feel comfortable outside, and slowly it will behave much better when taken in a crowded place outside the home.