Top Dog Training Tips for Loose Lead Walking

Does your dog pull on the lead?

Do you wish your dog would walk more nicely on the lead?

Here are some of my TOP TIPS for encouraging loose lead walking…

1. Break it Down

What is your dog actually struggling with?

Do they not understand what the lead means?
Are they easily distracted?
Do they struggle to pay attention to you on walks?
Are they too excited/anxious/aroused to concentrate?

We need to address these issues first before we can teach our dogs how to walk nicely on the lead.

Go back to basics and make sure your dog can give you eye contact outside before trying to teach them loose lead walking.

2. Start In Your Home/Garden

Don’t try to teach your dog loose lead walking during their walks. Start in lower distraction areas first, like your home or your garden.

Then build up to being able to do it on walks where it is quiet. Then on walks where it is slightly busier. Gradually building up the level of distraction.

A woman walking a black spaniel on a loose lead along a forest track

3. Reward Your Dog!

It’s crucial to reward your dog whenever they are doing it right- this is usually what we forget to do because we are so relieved they aren’t pulling us!

Reward can be verbal praise, attention or a treat.

If rewarding with a treat, try to reward your dog while they are walking next to you (don’t stop to give them the treat).

Think about how you are delivering the treat. If your dog jumps up at you a lot, it might be better to drop the treat on the ground instead of giving it to them from your hand.

4. Take It Slow

Loose lead walking takes time, consistency and patience. Set small achievable goals to keep you motivated and measure your progress.

For example, aim to walk loose lead between two lamp posts, or to the corner of your street, or to a house 3 doors down. Don’t try to loose lead all the way to the park- you and your dog will probably both end up frustrated!

Try to practise small ‘pockets’ of loose lead training throughout a walk. Over time, you can make those pockets longer and longer, until eventually the whole walk is done with a loose lead. But remember this will take time so don’t rush it!