Taking a stroll with your dog on a leash without any pulling—every dog owner’s desire. Even though leash walking may seem natural to us, no dog is born with the ability to walk on a leash. Dogs need to learn how to walk politely on a leash. Read on to discover how to achieve this, why many dogs behave differently on a leash, and how to train leash walking with your dog.
Why Should a Dog Master Walking Relaxedly on a Leash?
Apart from making walks with a non-pulling dog more relaxed for everyone involved and providing safety in everyday situations, leash walking is part of a dog’s basic training. Additionally, there are legal regulations defining when and where a dog should be leashed. These rules apply in cities, public parks, designated nature reserves, especially during the breeding and nesting season. Female dogs in heat should always be securely leashed to avoid unintended offspring.
Also, in situations such as New Year’s Eve, unfamiliar places during holidays, or for health reasons, walking a dog on a leash may be necessary. Ideally, leash walking should be trained from a young age. If a dog is older or has a strong hunting instinct, it requires patience to successfully train relaxed leash walking.
What Does “Leash Walking” Mean?
Leash walking refers to a dog’s ability to walk controlled, without pulling, and with a loose leash next to its owner. This should work even when there are many external stimuli and distractions.
6 Tips for Leash Walking Training
1. Associate the Leash Positively:
The key factors in leash walking training: patience and a positive attitude. In the first step, introduce the dog to the collar, harness, and leash without creating any expectations.
Make the leashing process enjoyable, associate it with an open body posture, and petting. Ensure that the size and fit of the collar or harness match the dog.
Consult your local pet store for advice on the proper fit of collars, harnesses, or leashes, and choose the right accessory for your dog from our extensive range.
2. Choose the Right Moment:
Before leash walking training, give your dog time to satisfy its needs. Start the leash walking training when your dog is calm and has less desire for movement, especially when training puppies.
Give your full attention to your dog during walks. Many dogs pull on the leash because they find their surroundings and experiences more exciting than their owner.
3. Select the Right Environment:
Start practicing in a low-stimulus environment and gradually increase external stimuli. Begin leash walking training in a quiet atmosphere with minimal distractions, such as a garden or indoors.
4. Step-by-Step Leash Walking:
Once the dog is leashed, speak to it briefly and start walking casually with the leashed dog. When you have the dog’s attention, give it a signal, such as “heel,” and take a few steps. If your dog follows you and walks calmly on a loose leash, praise it extensively.
Keep in mind that your dog needs to understand the instruction initially. Repeat the process frequently, taking only a few steps, and ensure that your dog walks in the desired position.
5. Praise & Reward:
Leash walking training should be reward-oriented for the dog and simultaneously strengthen the bond with the owner. If the dog understands what is expected, and the owner understands the dog’s needs, success will come quickly. Acting with a heavy hand and demanding compliance without understanding achieves nothing for both the human and the animal.
6. Consistency, Patience, and Awareness:
Rewards in the form of petting, spoken praise, or treats make leash training pleasant for both parties. However, consistency and clear instructions are essential. Motivation can only be achieved with positive intentions, not punishment. Punishment and violence are not only counterproductive but can also permanently disturb and harm your dog.
Stay patient and don’t be disappointed if the training doesn’t work immediately. Build up leash walking gradually and give your dog enough time to learn. The dog must first understand that it can trust the leash and the person on the other end, realizing that the connection provides not only control but also security. Pay attention to your dog’s body language during training and end each session with a positive experience, ensuring that your dog associates the exercises positively.
If your dog is afraid, it will show clearly: wanting to run away and pulling backward, away from a perceived threat. Don’t leave your dog alone with its fears; show it that it has a strong leader by its side. A dog can also express fear by pulling on the leash forward since true avoidance is not possible.
Why Does a Dog Pull on the Leash?
Reasons for pulling on the leash can include lack of socialization, negative experiences, and poorly fitting harnesses or collars. The restriction of movement experienced by a dog not gently introduced to the leash can be uncomfortable and even intimidating. As a result, the dog may continuously pull on the leash to escape the situation.
Observe Your Dog:
Carefully observe what triggers your four-legged friend on the leash and create a list of stimuli. This provides a solid foundation to work with your dog trainer on tailored behavior strategies and training. The most crucial aspect is recognizing your dog’s stress signals and guiding them away from uncomfortable situations. Often, just a few steps away can make an anxious dog feel secure again. The same applies to you as the owner—your calmness and confidence are crucial for a relaxed dog.
Frequently Asked Questions about Leash Walking
When can leash walking training begin?
Leash walking training can start early, even in puppyhood, with a gentle approach. Generally, teaching leash walking to a puppy is significantly easier. However, older dogs can also learn to appreciate the bond between them and their human.
What problems do dogs that dislike the leash exhibit?
Apart from constant pulling on the leash, these animals don’t orient themselves toward their humans and, as a result, feel insecure. Some dogs also display clear avoidance behavior: growling, barking, or even attempting to snap. Others show uncontrolled behavior, such as jumping around on the leash. These behaviors are stress reactions in dogs, which, in the worst case, can lead to significant behavioral problems.
How does a leash feel from a dog’s perspective?
Without a leash, a dog exhibits different body language. It can determine its individual distance, dodge, or turn away, which is less possible with a leash. Therefore, dogs on a leash, especially if unfamiliar with each other, should ideally have minimal contact. Continuous correction, such as leash jerking or constantly pulling the animal back, can cause frustration in the dog and encourage undesirable behavior. A positive, reward-based approach is far more promising.
Lack of Distance
Dogs react differently to a lack of distance when leashed: one may confront, start barking, and attempt to push away the perceived intruder. Another may become fearful and pull hard to quickly escape the situation. If you notice that your dog prefers a larger safety distance from other animals, make sure to maintain it. If there’s enough space, try to encounter oncoming dogs in a gentle curve and not head-on. This is typically how free-roaming dogs would approach. If a person-dog duo is approaching without a leash, kindly ask the owner to leash their dog before direct interaction between the two animals.
Can older dogs also get used to the leash?
Older dogs can still learn good leash walking, although it may take a bit longer, especially if they have always pulled on the leash or were unfamiliar with it. However, there are also older canine seniors who may have impaired vision and feel much safer on a leash.
How long does it take for a dog to walk calmly on a leash?
The individual learning progress varies from dog to dog, influenced by factors such as breed, personality, socialization, and age. Some dogs can learn leash walking within days or weeks, while others may resist even after months of successful training to walk on a leash and “heel.”
