Table of contents

Introduction

Why do dogs pull?

What do you want your dog to do instead of pulling?

Leash training supplies

How to train your dog to walk on a loose leash

Before you start

Getting started

The golden rule – reward the good, ignore the bad

Starting your walk

Preventpullinginthefirstplace

How to correct your dog

Slowly add more challenges

Potential problems

Distractions

Barking/lunging

Final thoughts

Introduction

Welcome.Weallwanttowalkourdogswithoutafight,right?Walking the dog is meant to be fun, not stressful. The goal of this ebook is to help you teach your dog to walk at your side without pulling. Dogs that have good leash manners often have a better quality of life than other dogs because they get to be out experiencing more adventures with their owners.

It does take time and patience to teach a dog to walk nicely on a loose leash. Dogs learn at different paces, and some are much harder to train than others. Some dogs naturally want to stick closer to their owners while others are much more focused on scents and activity.

No matter what type of dog you have, patience and consistency are your greatest tools. Your hard work will pay off in the long run. Not onlywillyoubenefit,butyourdogwillaswell.

Happy training!

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Why Do Dogs Pull?

Dogs pull for a variety of reasons. Here are a few:

They have not been taught any other options.Most dogs will naturally pull on the leash in order to get where they want to go as quickly as possible. It’s not that they’re “bad” dogs. They simply have not been taught any other options. The more a dog’s owner allows her to pull, the more the behavior is encouraged because the dog learns that if she pulls, she gets to go where she wants.

Most dogs are naturally faster than people.Our walking pace must seem painfully slow to dogs. Even if we go for a run, the speed is still slower than some dogs would like to go. Although we should teach our dogs to walk at our pace, we can help them out by walking faster, especially while the dog is still learning proper leash manners.

They’re excited to be out and about!Being outdoors in a new area is fun for dogs! They want to get after that smell or that other dog as quickly as possible. This is why it’s important for dog owners to take their dogs on regular walks. Not only is this good exercise, but a walk stimulates a dog’s mind. It gives her the opportunity for socialization and to familiarize herself with her neighborhood. This also helps her create a visual and scent-based map in case she ever gets lost.

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What do you want your dog to do instead of pulling?

It’s easy to get caught up with what you don’t want your dog to do. You don’t want him to rip your arm off on walks! You don’t want him to bark at everything in the neighborhood. You don’t want him to make those “choking” sounds as he’s frantically pulling.

But what do you want your dog to do instead? If you don’t know what you want from your dog, how the heck is he supposed to know?

For example, maybe you want your dog to walk nicely without pulling. Or, maybe you want him to remain at your left side without getting ahead of you. Maybe you want him to ignore tempting smells. Maybe you want him to make eye contact with you instead of staring at other dogs.

There are really no right or wrong answers here, but you should know your ultimate goals. Once you clarify what you’re trying to accomplish, then you need to consistently communicate that information to your dog. Also, make sure everyone who walks your dog is on the same page. Consistency is important.

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Leash training supplies

Let’s go over the tools you will need for training your dog.

The right leashUse a 4- or 6-foot leash made from material that is comfortable on your hands with a loop on one end. Anything shorter or longer will maketrainingyourdogmoredifficult.

Appropriate 4- or 6-foot leashes for leash training:• Leather dog leashes• Nylon dog leashes• Braided nylon leashes• Slip (choke) leashes

The right collarA basic slip (choke) collar will work well for training most dogs. This type of collar tightens around the dog’s neck when there is tension, and quickly loosens when the tension decreases. This tension could be caused by a dog’s pulling or by the owner delivering a deliberate “correction” to the dog.

You want to make sure the slip collar is worn correctly. As you stand facing your dog, the collar should form a “P” shape as you place it around your dog’s neck. It should not form a backwards “P.” Assuming your dog will be walking on your left side, this will allow the collar to properly tighten and immediately loosen as needed. If the collar is worn backwards, it will not work properly.

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“p”

Another option is the martingale-style collar. This type of collar also tightens, but it has a limit to how far it will tighten in order to prevent “choking” the dog.

Finally,somedogswilldojustfinewearingaregular,bucklecollarduring training. If you are not sure, start with a slip collar. You can always transition your dog to a martingale or a buckle collar very soon.

Appropriate collars for leash training:• Slip collars• Martingale collars• Buckle collars

ID tagsRegardless of the type of collar your dog wears, make sure he wearscurrentidentification.Whenyouareoutwalkingandtrainingyour dog, you just never know when he could slip away and get lost. Make it as easy as possible for your dog to get home.Options for dog IDs:• Dog ID tags• Engraved buckle collars• Name plates

Treats for leash trainingIf you use treats during leash training, you’ll want to use soft treats that can easily be broken into tiny pieces. With small treats, you can reward your dog often without worrying about fattening him up! Soft treats will allow your dog to eat them quickly and easily so you can continue focusing on the training.dogIDs recommends:• NutriSource soft treats

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How to teach a dog to stop pulling on the leash

The goal is to teach your dog to walk nicely at your left side without pulling.

Before you start• If your dog has a lot of energy, you should take him into the backyardtoplaysomeserioustugofwarorfetchforfiveminutesbefore each training session. This will help him get rid of some initial energy. This is especially important for young dogs.

• It’s also a good idea to train your dog when he’s hungry. This will help him focus on the treats you’re using. If he’s just had a meal, he might not care about treats. Schedule your dog’s training sessions before his meals and use his food as a reward when you’re done training.

• Dogs have short attention spans, so keep your training sessions short. If you’re working on loose-leash walking during a walk, give your dog a few breaks. For example, if you go for a 30-minute walk, rotate between training for 10 minutes and then allowingyourdogtosniffthegrassforfiveminutesasareward.

• Do not train your dog when you are frustrated. If you start to feel impatient or angry with your dog, end the training session. It’s also important to end on a good note, so always end with somethingyourdogfindsfunandeasysuchas“sit”or“shake”followed by lots of praise. “Wow! What a good boy you are!”

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Getting startedLoad your pockets or a treat pouch with a generous supply of soft treats–probablyatleast40smalltreatsatfirst.Thetreatsshouldbe no bigger than the size of a dime. Mix in a few pieces of hot dogs or cheese if you think it will make your dog more interested.

Choose a place to train where your dog will not be too distracted. Some good options could be a quiet parking lot, the backyard or your driveway.

Adjust your dog’s collar so it is high on her neck, right under her chin and behind her ears.

This is the most sensitive part of a dog’s neck. A dog is far more likely to pull when the collar is on the lowest, strongest area of her neck. The collar should rest lightly without any tension.

Tell your dog to sit at your left side. Hold the leash lightly in your left hand so the leash is loose but without a lot of slack. There should be enough slack so the leash hangs lightly, but not so much slack so the dog is able to get ahead. Ideally, the leash should be loose enough that it naturally forms a “J” shape from your dog’s collar to you instead of a straight line.

Hold the remaining slack in your right hand along with the loop end of the leash. Give your dog a few treats while she’s sitting nicely and paying attention to you.

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The golden rule – reward the good, ignore the badThe golden rule for dog training is to reward your dog for the behaviors you like and to ignore or prevent the behaviors you don’t like.

So, if your dog walks nicely on a loose leash without pulling, make sure to reward him with treats, verbal praise or the opportunity to keep moving forward.

If your dog pulls on the leash, make sure you do not move forward. You want to teach the dog that pulling on the leash does not get him what he wants. Never move towards a dog if he is pulling on the leash.

Starting your walkIn a happy tone of voice, give your dog a command – “heel” or “let’s go” - and start walking. Keep your left arm down by your side, continuing to hold the leash lightly. If you grip the leash too tightly, you will just add more tension. Lots of dog handlers do this without realizing it. So take a deep breath and make sure you are relaxed! Remember, the leash should hang loosely in a “J” shape.

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hold remaining slack in right handalong the loop end of the leash

Walk at a brisk pace and reward your dog with a treat every time he makes eye contact. Pop treats into his mouth with your right hand when he remains at your left side. Eventually, you will decrease the amount of treats your dog gets, but be generous for now.

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Talk to your dog, and make sure to tell him what a good boy he is. Try to be more interesting than all those distractions around you such as birds, squirrels, smells and other dogs.

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Try to be more interesting than all those distractions around you such as birds, squirrels,

smells and other dogs.

Prevent pulling in the first placeSome people ask how they should correct their dogs for pulling. We’llgettothat,butpreventingpullinginthefirstplaceisevenmore important.

You can prevent your dog from pulling by changing your speed and direction often so she never knows where you’ll be headed next. This puts the dog in a following position.

If you always walk in a straight line, the dog will likely focus on a random smell or object ahead and will pull and pull to get there as quickly as possible. Don’t do this.

Instead, walk at a brisk pace and constantly change directions. Walk in a few circles. Change directions so your dog is sometimes on the inside of the imaginary circle and sometimes on the outside of the circle. Walk in a zig-zag pattern. Do a few “U-turns” by turning into your dog to change directions. Do a few turns by turning away from your dog. Turn to the right and to the left. Run. Walk in slow motion. Stop and ask your dog to sit. Back up and call your dog. Meanwhile, keep handing out treats whenever your dog is showing good behavior. You want your dog to think, “Wow, I better pay attention to this lady. This is fun!”

Sure, you’ll look like an idiot to whoever is watching, but who cares!

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How to correct your dogSometimes people are afraid to “correct” their dogs. There is great emphasis on reward-based training these days, and that’s good. However, sometimes dogs make mistakes, and it’s OK to gently remind them that certain behaviors are not acceptable.

Correcting a dog should not be mean or abusive. It is about guidance and clear communication. Humans correct one another all the time in life. If your child accidentally grabs for a hot pan, you might reach out and block her. In a sense, this is a physical “correction.”

It’s important to reward your dog for good behavior with treats and praise. And it’s important to prevent unwanted pulling by keeping the collar high on your dog’s neck and changing your pace and direction often.

Still, most dogs are probably going to pull at some point. When this happens, here’s what you should do:

Once the dog sneaks ahead and causes tension in the leash, you should instantly let out some slack and then almost simultaneously correct the dog with a quick, light tug as you switch directions. This should all happen in an instant.

The quick, light tug will communicate to the dog “Hey, pay attention.” The tug will cause the slip collar or martingale collar to quickly tighten and then loosen again. You should instantly reward your dog once she is back at your side and paying attention to you.

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The “correction” is not about hurting your dog or scaring your dog. It’s not about being dominant over your dog. It is about communicating a gentle reminder to pay attention.

Slowly add more challengesAs your dog is successful, you’ll want to keep practicing loose-leash walking in a variety of environments.

Walking your dog every day is a great way to help her feel more comfortable in a variety of situations, especially if you walk somewhere new several times per week. Your dog is probably better behaved on a walk through the neighborhood than she is when you walk towards the gate of the dog park. This is because the dog park is much more “exciting.” The more places you can take your dog, the better, but you don’t want to add too many challenges too quickly.

A good way to get some additional practice with your dog is to sign up for a group obedience class. This will help your dog learn how to stay calm and focused while working around other dogs. You could also sign up to take part in a local dog walking club if your area has that option.

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Potential problems

No dog is perfect. Here are some potential problems you might run into.

DistractionsWhatever it is, there is probably something that really makes your dog want to pull. Most dogs have something they can’t seem to resist. Maybe it’s other dogs. Maybe it’s squirrels or bikers.

If your dog is consistently distracted by something, start out by practicing loose-leash walking in a quiet environment. You want to set your dog up for success, so try practicing in your backyard, a quiet street or a parking lot. When your dog is walking well in those areas, gradually change to a more distracting environment such as a street with a noisy dog in the yard.

Don’t jump into too many distractions too quickly. For example, ifyourdogisdistractedaroundotherdogs,youwouldfirststartpracticing several yards away from another dog. As your dog is successful, you would slowly decrease that distance over several days or weeks.

Aggression towards other dogsSome dogs will display signs of aggression when they come across other dogs while on a leash. Your dog might bark or growl or stare intently at other dogs. He may howl or jump up on his hind legs, causing quite a scene.

This type of “leash aggression” can occur for different reasons. Sometimes it’s due to pure excitement. Your dog just wants to greet that other dog so badly, but the dang leash is preventing him from doing so. This causes him to feel frustration, so he responds by barking and growling.

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Sometimes the leash aggression is due to a dog’s fear of other dogs or his lack of social skills around other dogs. He might bark or growl in an attempt to scare the other dog away.

The approach you take for training your dog will be different depending on what is causing his aggression – excitement vs. fear. Do not hesitate to hire a dog trainer in your area to assess your dog’s behavior.

If you have an excited dog that is pulling and barking because he wants to go say hi, you would simply turn and walk in the opposite direction until your dog calms down. Once he’s calm, turn and move towards the other dog again as a reward. If he resumes barking and lunging, you would turn around again and repeat the process, essentially playing “doggie yo-yo”.

If your dog is showing aggression due to fear, then moving towards the other dog would not be a reward. Instead, you want to work within your dog’s threshold. For example, maybe he is comfortable and well behaved as long as the other dog is 100 yards away. If that is the case, you would work from that distance, giving him treats and praise for good behavior. Then, very gradually you would work closer to the other dog, but not close enough to trigger a reaction from your dog. The goal would be to slowly increase your dog’s comfort level over time. You are teaching him that if he sees other dogs, he does not have to worry.

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Final thoughts

Walkingonalooseleashisnotdifficulttoteach,butitdoesrequire consistency and time. It is important that you follow the training every time you put the leash on your dog. If you have to be somewhere with your dog, leave a little early to ensure you have enough time to reinforce the training.

Even if it takes you half an hour to walk from your door to your car, invest the time and do it right. Dogs are smart creatures and they arealwaysgoingtotesttheirlimitswhenyoufirststarttoteachanew command. If you yield to them even once, they have learned that they can get what they want if they push you just enough. So be clear in what you are asking them to do.

Remember to be patient, consistent and have fun!

Now start walking!

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