Loose Leash walking is the opposite of pulling. Pulling is a self-rewarding behavior, the more your dog is allowed to pull towards what they want, the faster they get there and the more they will do it. Before we can start walking on a leash we need to introduce our dog to what a loose leash means. It means they get to go where they want faster (without stopping). You can achieve this was a harness or slip lead whatever is safer for you and your dog. Now lets get your dog to loose leash walk.
A loose leash is when the leash is in a “J” shape. This does not mean the dog needs to be next to you, it simply means they are not pulling you down the road. My personal dog walks ahead of me but she is not pulling me.
Lets try a basic drill for loose leash walking:
- Stand with your dog on leash. (No retractables or long lines). Give them the full 6ft of leash. We do not want to add tension to this exercise. Hold your ground
- The moment they have a loose leash. Mark with “Yes” and reward.
This may take a few minutes for some dogs but I promise you they will relax. Dogs who take longer are typically ones who get away with pulling and or don’t walk on leash as much. Don’t worry this was my dog too.
- When your dog has mastered one spot, take 1-2 steps. (preferably away from other dogs) and repeat the process again. Wait for a loose leash and mark and reward again.
**It is important to have patience and go at your dog’s pace. (no matter how slow that is). We want duration more than distance when it comes to loose leash walking. **Please note every time your dog is allowed to pull, you will go back in your training. You need to always reinforce loose leash,. I recommend to focus on short loose leash walks instead of long hikes and walks in new areas. Focus loose leash walking in one area and build from there. **
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