TEACH YOUR DOG TO WALK WITHOUT PULLING

What a joy it is to have a dog that walks nicely on his leash! Part of the reason you got a dog is to enjoy being around it. A companion, a loyal friend. But, sometimes it’s not all rainbows and butterflies. Sometimes having a dog can be frustrating, and that’s okay to admit it. I love my dogs more than most people! But, there are some areas that we still need to work on too. They are not little robots. They are dogs. They have their own minds and instincts that kick in. They are not born understanding that they should walk at your side (or at minimum, simply not pull you). Some breeds are going to get this concept better/faster than others. Some breeds, like Huskies, have been bred to think on their own - While at the front of the sled, pulling it! Dogs love action, they love to run. If you have a young dog, walking at your side might possibly be the most boring thing (no offense, but it might be!). I know when my children were younger, if they were moving they were running! It’s hard for dogs and kids to move like slow grown-ups. So, it’s our job to make it fun and interesting for them!

It doesn’t matter if you’re starting off with an 8 week old puppy, or a 2 year dog. You can do this! Have a positive mindset and you’ll really get somewhere!! Here’s what you’ll need to get started. Don’t worry, it’s not much at all.

Collar - You’ll want a reliable collar, one that they can’t slip out of (even if they pull backwards) and one that won’t accidentally unsnap while you’re walking. I like a regular ‘ol buckle collar, or a martingale collar.

Leash - A regular leather or nylon leash that is 4-6’ long. Please please don’t use a retractable leash. Like, ever. Okay, if you want to use it in the yard just to let your dog out to go potty, that’s okay. But never-ever on walks! Ask me why and I'll give you an earful!

Treats - Super amazing treats! I like to use cut up cheese, hot dogs, chicken, steak (without seasonings). Really use the stuff they can’t possibly resist. There are some good freeze-dried treats on the market. Mix it up. Have about 4-5 different types of treats in your pocket or treat pouch. This way your dog won’t get bored, and will never know which treat they are going to get. Have plenty of treats because when you first start teaching your dog to walk nicely, you’re going to use treats galore!

Let’s talk about where to practice first. You’re going to want to start inside your house. Yep! Inside! That might seem weird.. Putting your leash on your dog and gathering your treats, just to take a walk inside your house. But, it makes perfect sense. We always want to start off training new behaviors or commands where there are little to no distractions. So, why on earth would we start teaching our dogs something important, like “heel” outside - Where all of the distractions are? Let’s take baby steps. You have your dog’s whole life ahead of him. Start off on the right paw.

So, you have your dog leashed up and your treats ready. I like to walk with my dog on my left side because that’s what I’m used to. What we want to avoid is our DOGS deciding which side to walk on. When that happens you’ll get a dog that zig-zag’s in front of you, possibly tripping you or stopping right in front of you. So, for now, for starting off, pick on side.

You can use your treat to lure your dog to your side. Don’t move your body to get to your dog’s side, let your dog do the moving. Remember, we are the ones training our dogs, haha! If your dog is on your LEFT side, keep your treats in your LEFT hand. Your leash will cross over your body and be held in your RIGHT hand. This may seem awkward at first, but once you get going, you’ll see how helpful it is. Moreover, by positioning your treats on the same side as your dog, each time you reach down to reward him, you'll consistently reinforce his correct positioning.

To start off you’re going to literally take one step and treat your dog. One step and treat. One step and treat. This constant reminder will help your dog understand that when he moves with you, and alongside you, he will get rewarded. Dogs learn very quickly that they get a treat for what they are doing. 

You’re just going to do 2-3 of these “one step” movements at a time and then give your dog a short mental break. Maybe it’s petting them and telling them how smart they are, or it’s whipping out a tug rope and playing tug for a few seconds! Keep your dog engaged. The happier they are, the more they will want to walk with you!

If you find your dog looking up at you (without you asking him to), reward him for that for sure! This positive engagement is what we all strive for with our pups!
Keep your training sessions short and fun. A couple minutes here and there. You’ll start to find that your dog gets excited when he sees the leash come out!

When you get to the point that you are doing 7-8 steps before your next treat, and your dog is really doing great, then you can start to add in different movements. Maybe it’s turning, or zig-zaging around, or changing paces (walking normal, then slow, then fast). Make it different. When you start walking outside and you’re on the sidewalk, your dog is going to know exactly where you are going. So, you’ll have to switch it up by doing these fun little movements. Maybe add some obedience into your walk - Randomly ask your dog to sit, or down. Or quickly jog backwards and ask your dog to “come”! He’ll love it!

Once your dog is doing really well inside, you can start to add in controlled distractions (see video). Practice in the house with controlled distractions. Go in a hallway, in a bedroom, in the basement. This is called “proofing”. Working with your dog in different environments and different scenarios. You can add in different distractions, like walking past their toys, or a favorite human of theirs, or an open door (make sure their leash is on securely, of course!). Remember to treat them AS they walk past the distractions.

When your dog has mastered walking on-leash inside, it's time to venture outside! Remember to start small, one or two steps and treat!

What to do in the meantime? During this time that you’re working on “heel”, your dog is still going to need to be exercised, right? If at all possible, just play with your dog outside, vs. taking him on a walk. Play in the yard, or if you go to a park, or lots of playing in the house is great too! 

Stay tuned for our next BLOG: Troubleshooting when walking on leash