It’s easiest to teach good manners, including walking on leash, when your pup is a youngster. However, many people never taught their dog, or adopted an adult dog who came with some bad habits already in place.
No worries, we’ll have your dog walking politely in no time. Here’s what you need to know:
- Dogs do what works for them. If pulling you down the street works for the dog, he’ll keep doing it. Not because he’s stubborn or ornery, but because, simply, it works.
- Dogs need to be taught how to walk nicely on a leash. They aren’t born knowing how to walk without pulling.
- Like most things in life, quick fixes aren’t really quick and they aren’t really fixes.
- Loose leash walking is just another trick to teach your dog. It’s not complicated. It’s not hard. And it’s definitley not a “serious” behavior. [Many people think their dog should heel, and say the word very seriously and expect immediate compliance, perfection from the dog — most people (and dogs!) wind up hating the heel precisely because it’s (1) an unreasonable goal and (2) because it’s no fun for the dog or the person.]
Knowing those things, here’s how Smart Dog U does loose leash walking. You’ll start in a very boring location (inside your house, preferably) with your dog on a leash, and with delicious pea-sized treats in your pocket (or in a treat pouch). [Yes, the video was shot in a park. Not the ideal location to teach loose leash walking — there were lots of distractions. Teaching your dog in a boring location is much faster.]
STEP 1
Find something to click. Start out facing your dog (you’re standing) and click (and treat) the dog five times in a row — for nothing. Just click, then feed; click then feed; click then feed, five times in a row.
STEP 2
Raise the bar a bit and get some movement going. As soon as you’ve clicked five times, take onestep backward. Yep, you’re walking backwards to start this exercise. Don’t worry, you’ll be facing forward in no time. Click your dog as soon as he moves toward you. Take another step backward as soon as you’ve fed your dog. Click again as soon as he moves toward you. Your goal for this step is that your dog “fills the gap” as soon as you move backward.
STEP 3
Add another step. Now that your dog has aced the whole “one step backward” task, it’s time to add another step backward before he earns the click. Take two steps backward and click when the dog moves to fill the space. Your goal is to have the dog hurry forward with you to fill the space.
Step 4
This is starting to sound familiar: add another step. Now that your dog is sticking to you like glue when you take two steps backward, add a third step before you click. Your goal is to have the dog forward with you to fill the space.
Step 5
Big changes at this step. You’re now going to walk forward! Like a normal person! Yay! It’s really easy — after your third step backward (see Step 4), just turn around and walk forward. Click and treat the instant you turn forward.
Step 6
Lather, rinse, repeat. You remember how you clicked and treated every step when you were walking backward? You’re going to do the same thing now that you’re walking forward: click every step forward you take.
Step 7
Practice. Really, practice. Every day. Several times a day, if you can. The next video installment will have the next steps. But you won’t be ready for those steps unless you practice these steps with your dog.
Throughout this article, I mention “click.” Know that every time you click, you’ll also treat. No matter what. Also, it’s not imperative that you click; you can certainly teach your dog to walk politely without the clicker. The clicker, however, will really speed the process up and make it much easier for your dog to understand precisely what you want.
Great tips Laurie! I love the step by step breakdown. Sending this to the kids I work with at the dog daycare.
It is really hard with a Dane because they are not always good motivated
Food I meant
Haha, Lisa. When I read this through, I read it as “food,” didn’t even notice!
Yes, some dogs aren’t as food motivated. I’ve had to work really hard to find something that Schooner, the Dane in the video, will work for. I’ve found that — for now — summer sausage and colby cheese are pretty good for him. He also likes homemade salmon leather (or liver leather, but the liver stinks!).
I’m always trying new things with him to keep learning what he likes. Here’s the thing: sometimes dogs are picky. I get that, I’m a picky eater, too. I won’t eat just anything. So I’m willing to go the extra mile to find what motivates each dog.
Alternatively, you could use play, too. I will mix it up when I’m working with Schooner. Here’s another article — with video — about how I use play to reward loose leash walking. http://smartdog.typepad.com/smart_dog/2013/10/how-to-train-when-your-dog-doesnt-like-his-food-or-treats.html
Joan, thanks for stopping in! And for your comment. I’m thrilled that you like it — that’s high praise! Makes me giddy. 🙂
Hi Laurie,
My name is Connie Bame and Dana is my cousin. I have not had the pleasure of meeting you in person. I live in Lock Haven, PA. My husband and I recently adopted a Shichon puppy named Cooper. He is a great little boy so far. He is well behaved and has been easy to train except for going on walks. He walks ok on a leash for 50 yds then he just sits down and won’t budge. He is almost 4 months old. Am I expecting to much to soon? I am excited to try your method.
Hi Connie, good to hear from you. Dana says “Hi!” Yes, you can definitely expect your 4 month old puppy to be able to learn these steps. We get our service dogs in training at about 8 weeks old and we start teaching them right away. Especially the big Great Dane, who is 140 pounds at 10 months old. He’s huge and strong — and he needs to have impeccable loose leash walking manners for his partner. So yes, definitely, get started with your pup! You’ll love it!
Thanks so much for great training videos! It really helps to see how you juggle the leash, clicker, and treats while stepping backwards! I need to dig out my clicker and try it again!
So, this article is a year and a half old and I am just now discovering it! Well, no matter because this is just fabulous information! I have a rescued Doberman, my fourth Doberman, that has so far defied all my efforts at teaching loose leash walking. Someone at the Doberman Rescue suggested your website and I am so glad they did! Tucked away in a drawer for years is a wonderful clicker that I never really used. I have just attached it to a lanyard. We are getting ready to have some fun!
Okay, I treated more than five times just standing and facing my dog. Took a step back. He just looked at me, not moving a bit. I waited. Nothing. What should I do next? What I did do was end the session. Figured if I moved back toward him and started treating, he would have just trained ME to come to him!
Take another step backward. Sometimes, if a dog has been heavily reinforced for sitting, it takes them a little bit longer to understand that staying with you is a good thing.
YEA!! It worked, Laurie! I took the second step back and if anything, his SIT got even better. But, then I showed him the treat and he gingerly took a step toward me. Click/treat. From then on, it was great! Progressed through up to five steps back. Then, turned around and progressed through up to six steps forward.
Great work!
So, now we are going to practice this several times today and tomorrow before I go to your next page/video.
Background: Jax (not the dog in my profile pic) is my 4th Doberman. All have been adopted. He and I just completed our first group obedience class after a private lesson with my trainer. We have been using a Herm Sprenger prong collar. That worked with all my previous Dobermans and other dogs. Not with Jax, my current dog. Jax was oblivious to any correction. I came to the realization that I needed help. I will not knowingly hurt or abuse my dog and I think it was getting close to that. Jax is 2-1/2 years old and gets along so very well with our female lab/golden mix, who is probably just a bit younger than Jax. We rescued her from off the street, so it’s hard to know her exact age. I look forward to successes using your methods. If you have the chance to pop in here and on your other two pages once in a while, great!!
Can’t use a clicker when the dog in question can’t handle noises like that….