Learning how to train a dog to walk on a leash is a extremely important lesson because it will make you & your canine's life so much easier. Even if you live in the country where daily walks are not always necessary it is still important to train your dog to walk on a leash correctly. It is beneficial when going to the vet or any outing and is just an all around great tool!

The best place to start is when they are puppies. Really it's the best time to begin any training of your canine. How ever if your dog isn't a puppy don't give up! Don't give in to the saying that 'Old dog's can't learn new tricks' because they can! Normally it is much easier to get your puppy trained then wait till they are older or set in bad habits etc. but it is most definitely NOT impossible to train an older dog. Don't be discouraged.

To begin you should have a plain, appropriate sized, lightweight but durable leash and collar. Often this means your basic nylon or leather. There are also many head & harness type collars that can be great for 'pullers' because they are especially designed to deter tugging. Don't use a retractable or other long leash as they give you less control. Once your dog is well trained you can think about retractable and other leashes. Choke collars are definitely under debate, some use them as a tool while others claim they are cruel and punishment based. There is no question they can do damage and should especially not be used for smaller dogs & those with neck, tracheal or other breathing problems. Choke collars and leashes do what the name implies. As your dog pulls they constrict 'choke' around the neck. It's not a very effective way to train as many dogs just keep pulling, how ever Iv seen them used in a positive way with dogs who where difficult to leash. I don't recommend them for training as they are normally misused.


Once you have an appropriate collar and leash you should make sure your dog is comfortable with a collar. Puppies & dogs who aren't already use to wearing collars may not be too thrilled at first. Often it is best to put a collar on as you give them a tasty little treat or toy. This way they are not only distracted with something positive but that can lead to a connection of tasty treats & collars. Making the whole experience as positive as possible is key.

Now that you have it on it is important to make sure they are comfortable with their collar before moving on to a leash or things could quickly go down hill. Once they seem at ease with the collar do the same thing with attaching the leash. Use a small treat reward or other positive distraction and fasten the leash. Now it's time for them to become comfortable with the leash. Don't start tugging and pulling them because they won't understand, they will only become frustrated and confused. You can just let it hang for a little bit but don't let them run out of sight. It's dangerous to leave a hanging leash on a dog when unsupervised.

Once your dog is comfortable with their leash it's time to pick it up. This changes things a bit because now your dog can't simply go his own way but he may not be interested in that yet, he could want to simply follow you which is great! If that is the case then reward and praise him because that's what you want! Your goal is to be able to calmly walk your dog with a loose leash.

 Walking your dog should NOT consist of tugging and dragging. If your dog tries to pull the leash in any way do not reward this behavior! A reward can be more than a treat it could letting him drag you where ever he wishes, by simply being dragged along you are letting him know that this behavior is acceptable because he is getting what he wants.

If your dog is pulling you there are a few things you can do.

• Simply stop & call him over. When your dog stops pulling & comes to you, praise & reward!! Then you can move on with your walk.

• Stop and say No or a sharp 'ah~ah'. When your dog comes to you or leash is loosened, praise & reward!! Then begin walking again.

• Turn and go in the other direction. When he is not pulling, praise and reward!

• When ever your dog is walking calmly/loose leashed with you (ie not tugging or pulling) then reward and praise him. It won't take him long to figure out that pulling is not going to get him what he wants but not pulling gets him praise and rewards!

You should never have to jerk your dog, pick them up or drag them in the other direction. You want to make this a fun learning experience not tug of war or a battle of the wills.

Giving your dog a SMALL AND GENTLE tug is ok ie. to let them know it's time to go in the other direction but don't misunderstand this because jerking/dragging a puppy, or jerking/dragging an older dog can be extremely harmful, it also will not teach anything so is a huge waste of effort.

Another great thing to teach your dog other than walking is to stop & go on a leash. This can often be useful when you need to cross a road etc. You simply say stop and come to a stop, then go and say go. Of course praise the appropriate behavior. You can practice this when your dog is more used to being on a leash.

Always keep keep your training sessions short, so that neither human nor canine becomes frustrated. Stay clear about what you want your dog or puppy to do or they will never understand. They are not born knowing these things so must be taught but it should be in a positive way. Learning how to train a dog to walk on a leash will be a GREAT tool and even though it may take some time, and most definitely patience and consistency. You will be extremely happy with the reward of walking your dog on leash with ease.