Tips for Loose Lead Walking

Leash walking is the number one challenge my clients struggle with, and it’s one of the most frustrating! It’s also extra important to get right when it comes to our higher strung dogs struggling with frustration related challenges.

Here are some of my top tips.

🎉 Decide where you want the dog to be and make that where good stuff happens. I mark “yes” and consistently reward where I want their nose to be so they’re more likely to want to be there in future.

🙅🏻‍♀️ Use the right gear. If your dog is a puller, DITCH THE HARNESS. Harnesses are wonderful for tiny puppies, hiking or for long line time. For stopping determined pullers though, they’re not helpful for communication. I like a simple well fitted collar and leash, or with trainer guidance - a slip lead for added directional control.

✌🏻 Start with calm. This is a biggy, and makes such a difference. If you can’t achieve calm at a stand still, you’re going to struggle while you’re moving. This includes getting out of the car when you arrive somewhere.

✅ Teach them what leash pressure means. You put pressure on the lead, they give to the pressure = loose comfy lead + a reward for doing good stuff.

📶Start small. Don’t expect a 5km right away. Can they do a loose lead walk on your driveway? How about down your street?

📚 Set the expectations and be consistent about it. My rules are that we don’t go and sniff until released to go sniff (great to use as a reward for some good walking), we don’t bark at other people/dogs and dogs stay at my side or behind. I teach these rules, and I uphold them. Clarity is king.

Bonus tip - strong dog pulling you off your feet to get somewhere? Don’t pull straight back where they’ve got their whole body weight against you. Plant your feet, find your centre of gravity and use sideways leash pressure as much as possible. They’ve got less power that way, and you’re working against their balance - the same concept as an emergency stop on a bolting horse. 🐴