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Training

Training loose-lead walking

An end to pulling: with consistency and short sessions towards a relaxed walk.

Dogs pull on the lead because pulling works: it gets them to their goal faster. This very logic is turned around by the training – a loose lead brings progress, a taut lead stops it. The principle is simple, but it demands consistency from everyone who walks the dog.

The basic exercise: stop as soon as tension comes onto the lead, and only move on once it goes slack again. Reward the position beside you generously with treats or praise – your dog should learn that being close to you pays off. Changes of direction are a good addition: they keep the attention on you, rather than on the next exciting thing at the roadside.

Practise first in a low-stimulus environment – in your residential area or on a quiet field path – and only increase the difficulty once it works reliably there. Short, focused sessions of about five minutes work considerably better than an hour-long power struggle. Afterwards the dog may simply be a dog, on a loose lead or off-lead.

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This article is no substitute for veterinary advice. Source: DOGSY editorial team.