Teaching your dog to walk politely on a leash is an essential skill that promotes safety and enjoyable walks for both you and your furry companion.

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Our Top 10 Tips for leash-less dog walking

Start Indoors: Begin training sessions in a quiet indoor environment free from distractions. Use a comfortable, properly fitted harness or collar and a standard leash to ensure safety and control.

Introduce the Concept: Hold a treat in your hand and show it to your dog to get their attention. Hold the treat at your side to encourage your dog to walk next to you. Use a cue word such as "heel" or "let's go" to indicate that you're about to start walking.

Use Positive Reinforcement: When your dog walks calmly by your side without pulling on the leash, praise them and offer a treat as a reward. Use verbal praise or a clicker to mark the desired behavior and reinforce it with treats or affection.

Stop and Go: If your dog starts to pull on the leash, stop walking immediately and wait for them to relax and release tension on the leash. Once they calm down and return to your side, resume walking and reward them for walking politely.

Change Direction: Practice changing direction frequently during walks to keep your dog engaged and focused on you. Use a verbal cue such as "turn" or "switch" to indicate when you're changing direction, and reward your dog for following your lead.

Maintain Consistency: Consistency is key to successful loose leash walking training. Practice short training sessions regularly and reinforce positive behaviours consistently to help your dog learn and retain the desired behavior.

Use Distractions: Gradually introduce distractions such as other dogs, people, or interesting scents during training sessions to simulate real-life walking environments. Start with low-level distractions and gradually increase the difficulty as your dog becomes more proficient.

Be Patient: Teaching loose leash walking takes time and patience, so be patient with your dog and avoid getting frustrated. Stay calm and composed during training sessions, and focus on rewarding positive behaviors to encourage your dog's progress.

Practice, Practice, Practice: Practice loose leash walking in various environments and situations to generalize the behavior and reinforce your dog's training. Practice walking on different surfaces, in different weather conditions, and around different distractions to help your dog become more confident and reliable on leash.

Seek Professional Help if Needed: If you're having difficulty teaching loose leash walking or if your dog's pulling behaviour persists despite consistent training efforts, consider seeking guidance from a professional dog trainer or behaviourist. They can provide personalised advice and assistance to address specific challenges and help you achieve your training goals.

From the experts: Training Off-Leash Recall: Before walking your dog off-leash, ensure they have a strong recall command. Practice recall in controlled environments using high-value treats and positive reinforcement, gradually increasing the level of distraction to build a reliable response. This ensures your dog will return to you promptly, even when off-leash in more stimulating outdoor settings.

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