Walking your dog should be an enjoyable experience for both of you, but for many owners, it quickly becomes a struggle when their dog insists on pulling on the leash. Instead of a calm stroll, you might find yourself being tugged down the street, arms aching, and patience wearing thin.
How to teach loose lead walking:
Start in a low distraction area, home or yard, rewarding your dog with high value treats when the leash is slack and they pay attention to you.
Stop or change direction immediately when they pull. Be patient and consistent, gradually increasing the duration and distance between rewards as your dog understands the concept.
Use the right gear - A comfortable leash and harness or collar is essential.
Choose a high value treat - Small, tasty treats your dog loves.
Teach your dog to check in - Begin by standing still with the loose lead reward attention the moment the dog looks at you, “Mark.” Word or click and give them a treat.
Move forward take one step “mark” good and give a treat when your dog follows with a loose leash.
Increasing steps - Gradually increase the number of steps you take between treats. Always rewarding when the leash is slack.
Responding to pulling - Stop when they pull. The moment your dog pulls and creates tension on the leash, stop walking immediately. Wait for relaxation wait until your dog relaxes the tension and looks at you or moves back towards you. Reward. Resume. As soon as the leash goes slack rewarding them at the beginning of walking forward again.
Add movement and distractions - Vary your pace. Sporadically change direction and pace to keep your dog engaged and following you. If your dog is ahead, walk backwards a little to encourage them to turn and come back to your side.
Introduce distractions gradually. Once your dog has mastered your home environment, slowly introduce them to new places, an increasing distraction. Reward for focus. When you encounter distractions, reward your dog for paying attention to you rather than the distraction. Be patient and consistent. Keep the session short. Be realistic set achievable goals for your dog based on their age and skill level. Focus on teaching your dog the desired behaviour rather than punish them for mistakes.