How we get dogs used to the leash.
If we want to train dogs to walk on a leash and ensure that it doesn't cause stress or lead to leash aggression, we must be aware that a leash is not something dogs are born with and that it brings restrictions and potential dangers that the dog has to learn to understand. For example, a dog's initial reaction to the leash, such as biting, is natural. It's a biologically logical, self-protective response in that moment. We can't explain to a dog that it's on a leash because it HAS TO be or because IT'S GOOD. However, we can train it to walk on a leash.
How a dog learns
Every living being is born with a very strong focus on itself. It thinks that its own behavior is a reaction to the behavior of others and to things it feels (instincts & reflexes).
The living being is not yet aware that its own behavior also triggers reactions in others or fundamentally influences something. It acts purely reactively. This means that it reacts to external circumstances from its own perspective, without considering that it also affects others, and that others, in turn, believe they are only reacting (to what happens to them).
How the dog perceives the leash
When the dog senses that the leash is taut (pressure on the neck or the pull backward from a harness), he doesn't know that this is related to him having moved FORWARD. From his perspective, something suddenly HAPPENS to him. He then tries to find a solution. He initially reacts purely intuitively, for example, by trying to wriggle free or sprinting forward. He then gains further experience and learns that behavior A (trying to escape) leads to behavior B (stress, punishment) and then again looks for a way to avoid the stress and/or punishment.
This means the dog lives in a world where he believes the stress/punishment is being inflicted on HIM, and consequently, he doesn't understand that he himself is causing the pull on the leash. He thinks he is being pulled on and reacts accordingly (because he doesn't want to be).
Because we humans don't communicate with dogs in dog language (through movements, facial expressions, and gestures), but instead try to control them with the leash, the dog has trouble understanding us. We can mitigate this by choosing the right handling method and understanding intuitive behaviors.
In the wild, a dog would perceive being leashed as a drastic restriction of its ability to react and act. This could even be fatal for the dog, as it would be unable to turn away from danger and its ability to communicate (e.g., about spatial distance, approaching slowly, turning around, or running away) would be limited. Therefore, it is generally very difficult to train dogs to walk on a leash if they haven't grown up with one.
Dogs constantly try to behave in a species-appropriate and de-escalating manner, even when on a leash. This means they try to behave in a "healthy" way despite the restriction. This includes engaging in behaviors that are beneficial to their development. Most dogs are primarily peaceful, even when on a leash, and compensate (de-escalate) a great deal. This is because animals are not inherently violent; they try to avoid violence (which is why they bite the leash and not the hand, even though they could break it and then be "free"). Provided resources (a territory, food, protection) are available, dogs in nature are generally peaceful (exceptions being females in heat towards each other and males when they encounter females in heat).
How to teach a dog to tolerate a leash
To introduce a dog to unnatural things (such as being led on a leash), it is optimal to do so when it is an "infant" or young dog (just like with us humans), because then its brain learns through habituation.
It's important to get your dog used to a leash early on, for short periods, and with the right equipment. Leash walking should only be short sessions each day, as dogs need plenty of experiences for their development, which are difficult to achieve on a leash. These interactive experiences help the dog become socially competent later on, allowing them to assess their own behavior and avoid endangering others or themselves when off-leash. This also makes them a perfect companion for other younger dogs, who can learn appropriate social behavior from them. Small male dogs, in particular, need to learn how to interact with larger, well-socialized males so they aren't easily overwhelmed. Both groups need to learn how the other thinks and where the boundaries are. This is a particularly challenging task for owners of small dogs, especially if their dog is male.
We cannot spare our dogs from walking on a leash, but we can understand what it means for the dog to walk on a leash and what factors make walking on a leash more difficult for the dog.
Our goal is to have a healthy dog that walks peacefully and calmly on a leash because it pays attention to us and can read our signals. Constantly threatening the dog on the leash to make it walk nicely is not the solution if you want a healthy and socially competent dog.
With the STURMFREI® harness, we avoid provocations and the resulting compensatory strategies, thus managing leash stress. Dogs raised with the STURMFREI® harness can also interact with other dogs on leashes, as they do not convey threatening signals (such as wheezing or muscle tension) while interacting.