If you’ve ever owned a dog, you know that they often approach new sights, sounds, and smells with curiosity or a desire to protect you. However, this instinct can conflict with the goal of walking calmly and obediently beside you on a leash. If you’re tired of playing tug-of-war with your pup every time you attach the leash to their collar, it might be time to focus on leash training to make walks more enjoyable for both of you.
Leash Familiarity
Unfortunately, most dogs don’t naturally know how to walk politely on a leash, so it will require some effort from you. Don’t be discouraged if your pet doesn’t learn this skill right away; it can take several weeks to establish good communication and understanding between you and your dog.
If your dog is not used to a collar and leash, you will need to start with short acclimation sessions in a quiet, indoor setting. Start by putting the collar and leash on him, and then proceed to play with him and give him treats. Over time, he will begin to associate his time spent on a leash with a feeling of positivity.
The next step involves teaching him a sound cue that he will need to associate with food. Popular methods include clickers, using a command word like “yes”, or clucking your tongue. Whichever you use, the method is the same: In a quiet, distraction free area, with the dog on a leash and collar, make the sound. The second your dog turns toward you and/or looks at you, reward him with a treat. After a few repetitions, you’ll notice your pet not only looking at you, but also coming over to you for the treat. Once he knows that the cue means he should come to you, pick up your end of the leash and move a few feet from him, make the cue sound and then reward him when he gets to you. Continue this until your dog knows that hearing your cue means he should get closer to you.
Patience and Practice
Once they understand how to come to you, practice walking a few steps in a room with little distraction. Feeling and seeing the leash around them will be enough of a challenge at this stage. Offer treats and praise as your dog gets used to coming to you, as described above, with a leash on. Once you feel that they are following you while leashed, it is time to take the process outdoors.
This is where the real challenge begins! New environments are filled with interesting sights, sounds, and smells. You will need to remain patient and keep these initial walks short. As you progress through this stage, watch your dog as they walk next to you. If they show signs of getting distracted or wanting to lunge, make your cue sound to bring their attention back to you and then proceed to move away from the distraction. If they follow you, give them a treat.
Continue working your dog in this manner until you can get them to answer your cue and respond to your direction without the use of treats. Because dogs train best with positive association, you can supplement the treats with praise and affection. With time and patience, your pet dog will soon transform into a much more enjoyable walking companion.