How to Leash Train a Dog

Walking with your dog is one of the responsibilities of dog ownership that can quickly become a great blessing. But if a dog is constantly pulling on the leash or running back and forth in excitement, it can be a nightmare. Finding that balance of freedom and good manners is going to depend on you, as much as it depends on your dog’s unique body, history and personality.

Teaching your dog to walk on a leash

There are many factors that will shape how you approach training your dog to walk easily on a leash.

• Age: Do you have a puppy or an older dog? A puppy or an older dog that has run free, will have to be trained not to pull toward distractions. An older dog that already has some leash manners will simply have to get used to your commands. An older dog that is already settled in bad leash habits will take work to retrain.
• Size: Do you have a large, medium, or small dog? How easily can you control the dog with your own weight and strength?
• Health: Is the dog strong or in fragile health? Frailty can increase timidity and fear response on walks.
• Personality: Is your dog shy or aggressive? The breed (or mix of breeds) can create tendencies either way. For example, a herding or hunting instinct can incite pulling. Also, a rescue dog’s history of abuse will shape its response to being around other dogs and humans on a walk.

With a good sense of your dog’s qualities, it’s time to choose what dog collar, leash and/or harness will be best for both you and the dog as you learn to walk together.

• Flat-buckle dog collar: A classic standard, plain and simple. It snaps, Velcros, or buckles closed. The ring holds ID and vaccination tags. If your dog is calm on the leash and won’t try to back out of the collar, this is plenty of gear.
• Martingale collar: This adjustable slip-type collar is kinder than the old choke-chain, which can injure a dog’s throat when it pulls. The martingale tightens around your dog’s neck, but only as much as the adjustment allows. The martingale works for dogs that tend to back out of their collars. The leash attaches to the control loop, which can tighten or loosen with tension on the leash.
• Body harness: With this widespread walkers’ choice, the leash attaches to a ring on the back of the harness. It’s a popular choice for small dogs. A body harness prevents injury if your dog pulls and makes it harder for your leash to tangle in your dog’s legs. Caution: Even though a body harness provides more control than a collar, it will require a lot more strength from you, depending on the size of your dog. Many harnesses come with a grab handle on the back. This handle is also useful when a senior dog, perhaps suffering from arthritis, needs help getting up from a nap.
• Front-hook harness: Similar to a standard body harness, here the leash attaches to a ring on the dog’s chest and then runs back to your hand. When your dog pulls on the leash, the harness gives you leverage to haul the dog back, since the leash is attached to the front of your dog’s body.
• Head halter: Inspired by a horse’s halter, a head halter allows you to control your dog’s head. This gives you the most control while walking your dog and is an important option for walking a very large dog that pulls. The head halter gives leverage without requiring a lot of strength from the handler. Never use any sort of long-line leash with a head halter, because your dog can be injured if its head is suddenly yanked around during a charge.

The kind of leash you choose for training your dog can also make a difference in the walking experience. The right leash can improve your dog’s responsiveness and make your job easier.

Straight leashes are available in a variety of materials, widths, and lengths. Consider the size of your dog and the weight of the leash. A larger dog that wants to pull may require a leash with several grip loops so you can shorten or lengthen your hold.

Save the retractable leash for when your dog is trained to come when you call. The retractable length provides freedom of movement for the dog on your walks, but its effectiveness depends on whether the dog runs toward distractions or ignores your command to come.

How to train a puppy to walk on a leash

Walking calmly on a leash is a complex skill for a dog. The very first baby step for training a puppy to walk on a leash is to let it wear a collar or harness inside. After a while, clip on a leash, and let the puppy drag it around. All of this should be while you play with it and reward it with treats. Collar-and-leash time should mean food and fun!

• Set a cue. Establish a sound cue that means “Food!” You may use a training clicker, a simple word, or cluck your tongue. Whatever you choose, be consistent in how you set up the playtime and how you act. The second your puppy looks at you when you make the sound cue, reward it with a treat.
• Make the puppy come to you. As the puppy is coming in response to the sound cue wearing the leash and collar, back up a few paces, and then reward it when it gets to you. Continue this exercise until your puppy, hearing the sound cue, comes to you and walks with you. Puppies have a short attention span, so keep these sessions short, and finish when your puppy is still eager for more, not when it’s worn out.
• Practice inside. Practice walking together a few steps in a room with little distraction. Offer treats and praise as your puppy gets used to coming to you while wearing a leash.
• Practice outside. This changes everything because all the sounds, smells, and sights of the outdoors are incredibly exciting to your puppy. Be patient! Make the first walks short, and keep your eyes on the puppy at all times. If your puppy looks as if it’s about to lunge or get distracted, make your sound cue and step away. When the puppy follows you instead of the distraction, reward it with a treat and lots of praise.

As the puppy matures and gets used to your responses on walks, you can reduce the number of treats. Still, it’s a good idea to keep some on hand at all times so you can reinforce good leash-walking behavior.

Remember, it’s up to you, to be consistent and disciplined in how you teach your puppy the rules of living, walking, playing, and getting treats. Only half the process is about the pet—the other half is about you!

How to train your older dog to walk on a leash

Even if your new dog is not a puppy anymore, they are still new to you and your rules for living. Providing sound cues and consistent, positive reinforcement for obedience is just as important for an adult dog as for a puppy. And it’s just as important to not punish or yell at the dog for mistakes. This goes double if the dog is a rescue, coming from a situation where it was abused. A firm, authoritative tone is different from yelling. Use positive reinforcement—praise, petting, treats—and disciplined consistency to set your dog up for success.

Older dogs may have already built habits of chasing every distraction that comes around, so specific training with a professional program may be necessary. Your dog may do very well in a controlled facility environment too. Then, venturing further outdoors means new sights, sounds, smells, and distractions. Use a long leash to allow just a bit of chaos. Like it was said above, the one important rule is, do not punish. Making the dog afraid to go for a walk with you is not your goal.

• Pulls: Stand very still, and refuse to move until your dog comes back to you. Jerking, yanking, or dragging the dog can hurt it and scare it. If pulling happens a lot, switch to a front-hook harness or head halter on a large dog. When your dog is wearing a collar and pulls on the leash, it’s still moving forward, which feels like the pulling is successful. A harness with the leash attached to its chest or between its shoulder blades, redirects the motion. There’s no advantage to pulling because it doesn’t get the dog anywhere.
• Lunges: The target could be another dog, a car, bicycle, or a skateboarder. Be proactive. If you can see the distraction coming, try to redirect his attention with a treat, and bring the dog away from its target. Stay alert and be prepared! Herding breeds are more likely to lunge, but any dog can be startled into attacking something he’s not used to.
• Barking: Barking at every other dog in range often comes out of physical boredom and lack of exercise. Playing with your dog regularly gives it the mental and physical stimulation proper for its age and breed. If the barking continues, respond the same as you would if your dog were lunging: get the dog distant and offer treats, so every time he sees a dog, he gets used to turning his attention to you.

Tips and tools to stop your dog from pulling on the leash

You might find your daily walk with your dog is a classic case of “Who’s walking whom?” as the dog pulls you along and you haul back, back and forth. If that’s so, it’s time for concentrated work on leash manners.

Top trainers recommend using a loose leash with a flat collar, front-hook harness, or head halter, rather than a regular body harness, for this level of training. The three items mentioned have proven to be more effective than the harness for redirecting the dog’s attention back to you. Reward that attention shift with plenty of treats.

Starting off with a leash: This can be done in a fenced yard or a room or hallway of your house. First, you walk around and ignore the dog. Then call them in an excited voice. When they come, they get a treat.

Next, keep walking around, but talk to your dog in a happy voice, encouraging them to stay at your side. Every couple of steps, reward the dog with a small treat. After about ten to fifteen steps, go back to ignoring the dog. After a few minutes, call them back and repeat the process. This exercise gives the dog a chance to take a mental break after working with you, yet it shows the dog that good things come when they are walking at your side.

Outdoors on a leash: Now go out on a walk with your dog. When your dog pulls, stop and take several steps backward. While stepping backward, call your dog in a cheerful voice, and reward them when they return to your side. By doing this, you are redirecting the dog away from the direction they were trying to go.

Start moving forward again. If your dog stays by your side, reward them with a treat every three to four steps. If they begin to pull forward again, repeat the process. Your dog will learn that in order to move forward, they must not pull on the leash—and staying close to you means rewards.

As your dog gets accustomed to this exercise, start increasing the number of steps taken before giving the reward for staying at your side. Once your dog is able to walk politely by your side, continue to reward at random so they can’t predict your responses.

Remember that in order for this exercise to work, you must do it every time your dog pulls. If they are allowed to pull on some occasions but not others, it will only confuse them. All in all, good leash training ensures your dog returns home with you safely, exercised and happy.

Tractor Supply makes life easier for you & your pets. TSC offers a variety of pet supplies including collars, leashes and harnesses to train your favorite four-legged friends for an enjoyable walk. Subscribe to our autoship program and receive regular deliveries of food, treats, flea & tick preventatives, supplements and more, all while saving you time and money.