3 Steps for successful leash walking
There are 3 big things to keep in mind when you are out walking your dog, so that they will walk nicely on the leash beside you. Before we get in to those 3 steps, it’s important to remember that consistency is key! It can be quite frustrating at first when your dog is getting the hang of it, especially when you have an adolescent dog who has been in the habit of pulling for a long time. It will take time and consistency!
Watch the video below for our biggest tips, plus a leash walking demonstration.
Here are the 3 steps for successful leash walking:
Reset when they start to pull. When they pull and create tension on the leash - stop, back up about 5 steps, and then continue walking. Essentially you are re-setting them, and interrupting the bad behaviour of pulling
Keep them on your left OR your right side for the entirety of the walk. So pick a side, whichever side you prefer (it doesn’t matter which one), and keep them in that position. If they go in front of you or to the other side - stop, grab their leash, and get them back beside you on the correct side & continue walking. Keep in mind they don’t have to be perfectly beside you: if they are a little ahead of you, (as long as they aren’t actually pulling on the leash), then that is ok!
Capture nice walking. Always take treats with you on a walk, it allows you to reward the behaviour of nice walking. At any point on a walk when your dog is staying beside you & not pulling, you’ll say “Yes!” and give them verbal praise, and give them treats. Just be sure that you don’t do this within 10 seconds of correcting your dog’s pulling, otherwise your dog may think that pulling, and then going back & resetting is the behaviour you want - so just be careful with your timing on that, and make sure you are rewarding them when they are walking nicely
Interested in obedience training classes or private lessons? Click here for more information!