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Maran Illustrated Dog Training

Only Dog Training Book You Will Ever Need

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How to Housetrain Your Dog

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How to Teach Your Dog to Walk on a Leash and Stop Pulling

Though dogs know how to go for a walk, they don’t instinctively know how to walk properly on a leash. The main problem that most new dog owners encounter with leash walking is pulling, the tendency that untrained dogs have to pull on the leash, dragging their owners along for the ride. With large, powerful dogs, pulling can become more than just a nuisance—it can cause you to lose control of your dog, allowing him to get into dangerous situations or even run away. The loose-leash walking method described below will help you and your dog enjoy walks together with no pulling problems.

Focus Your Dog’s Attention on You

When you’re with your dog indoors, you can easily direct his attention. Once you’re outdoors, though, the lure of countless scents and visual distractions can send your dog into a frenzy of excitement. The first step toward successful loose-leash walking is to get your dog to recognize that you should remain the center of his attention even when you’re outside.

Bring your dog to an enclosed outdoor area, such as a courtyard or a fenced part of your yard. Be sure to have a few treats and your clicker on hand.
Let your dog roam freely around the area under your supervision. Plant yourself in a fixed spot, such as a chair, within the enclosed area.
As your dog explores the area, reward him with a click and a treat every time he directs his attention toward you and approaches you.
Repeat this exercise every day for a week or so. Soon your dog will perceive you as the most desirable object of his attention, since only you provide him with rewards in the great outdoors.
Once your dog acknowledges you consistently when outside, you won’t need to offer him treats every time. However, continuing to treat him on occasion is still a good idea.

Understand Why Dogs Pull

Once you build a healthy outdoor relationship with your dog, you can try taking him for a loose-leash walk. On your first few walks, expect him to pull at the leash to get you where he wants to go. Dogs pull on their leashes for two reasons:

External stimuli: Your dog’s keen sense of smell will pique his interest in exploring endless curiosities in the outdoors, from birds to trees to fire hydrants. A dog’s only way of getting to these objects of interest is to pull you toward them.
Opposition reflex: Your dog will instinctively move in the opposite direction of any force you apply. If you tug back on his leash to stop him from exploring, he’ll pull in the opposite direction.

How to Prevent Pulling

The best way to stop pulling is not by yanking on the leash to restrict your dog’s movement. Instead, the most effective approach is to make pulling unappealing in the first place.

Whenever your dog pulls on the leash, stop walking immediately.
Wait for your dog to stop and for the leash to slacken.
Right as the leash slackens, click and offer a treat.
Keep walking, repeating steps 1–3 whenever your dog pulls on the leash.
Soon your dog will realize that if he pulls, he won’t get where he wants to go, but if he doesn’t pull, he’ll get a treat.

After a week or so of practicing this approach, you should be able to enjoy loose-leash walking with your dog. Inevitably, at some point a strong stimulus, such as another dog or a squirrel, will cause your dog to pull on the leash. If this happens, direct your dog away from the stimulus and click and offer a treat once you start walking in another direction.

Acknowledgments & Disclaimer