Dear Cesar,
I have two Jack Russell terriers, male and female.
When we walk on leash, the male gasps for breath because he pulls so hard on his leash. I have tried small elastic extensions on his harness, but this does not help.
The female has no problems walking on leash. The two dogs get along fine and love to walk together in tandem.
What can I do to help my male dog enjoy his walks?
-Sandra
Cesar Millan’s answer:
Hi Sandra,
With a dog like your high-energy Jack Russell, I put my rollerblades on or jump on my bike! Don’t go against his nature. Some dogs just prefer to run before they walk. He may well be one of them.
I would take the calm dog on a walk first until she is satisfied or tired. Then I would leave her at home while I use wheels to let the male run.
Dogs can walk for hours, but they can only run for so long. Generally, after 15 minutes or so, your dog will get hot and be done running. Then he will ready for a walk. If you can’t run with him, I suggest using a backpack to redirect the energy to pulling or carrying.
If you would like to walk your dogs together, I would recommend waiting until after you have already run with the male dog. When he is ready to walk, then you can introduce the female and walk together as a pack.
Stay calm and assertive!
-Cesar Millan
