How to Train Your Dog to Walk with a Leash
There are obviously many different ways on how to train your dog to walk with a leash and we will cover one specific technique for you. However, there are a couple of things that all dog owners should be aware of when working towards successfully walking a dog on a leash.
Start Leash Training Early
As with many things involving dog training, it’s important to start early training the behavior that you want. So, if you wait until your dog is a year old before you ever put him on a leash, you are going to have some problems. A year old is a bit of an exaggeration but there are some cases (such as farm dogs) where a leash is rarely if ever used.
Limit Excitement About the Leash
Many dog owners make it a big deal when it’s time to take a dog for a walk. They start asking the dog if he wants to go out and doing it in an excited fashion. Needless to say, the dog will react the way you do and start jumping around, whining, etc. This will often lead to the dog bursting out the house before you as they begin to drag you down the street. When it is time to take your dog for a walk, it is in your best interest to make leash time pretty much uneventful. If your dog starts going crazy at the mere sight of you reaching for the leash, you have not done a good job.
Be Calm and Assertive
As you may have read on our article about the Dog Whisperer, he promotes being calm and assertive and this is mandatory when walking your dog. If you are nervous or excited and pulling tightly on your dog’s leash, he will instinctly pull back. It will quickly turn into a neverending tug of war. You might win this war with a small lapdog but the odds are against you when it comes to Mastiffs, Rottweilers or any other large breed. These dogs are far more powerful than their weight might suggest so fighting with them is a losing battle.
Teach the “Heel” Command
If you want to learn how to train your dog to walk with a leash, you will need to understand and utilize the basic heel command. This command is used to keep your dog close to your side on command.
Easy Technique for Dogs Who Like to Pull
One of the techniques that some dog owners have used successfully, and one that works fairly fast, is to purchase a long lead/leash for your dog. Generally, you are talking about a leash that is 20 feet or more.
As you begin your walk, make sure that the leash is coiled and your dog is in a normal heel position directly to your side. As the dog begins to pull, let the leash extend. As he gets farther away from you and nearly to the end of the 20 feet, abruptly turn around and go in the opposite direction.
You are not trying to jerk or snatch on your dog as you execute the turn. Simply make a casual turn and go in the opposite direction. Make sure to hold on firmly to the leash. Your dog will turn around and come to catch up with you.
Repeat this process several times and your dog will soon start watching you and trying to anticipate if you are going to turn around. His attention is what you want. Eventually, you can tie this new attention in with the heel command and rewards when appropriate.
If you need additional help on how to train your dog to walk with a leash, or to solve behavior problems like biting, digging, or barking, read the information contained here.
