Train Loose Leash Walking For Your Dog

Do walks with your dog feel like a game of tug-of-war? Teaching your dog to stop pulling and to walk on a loose leash could be important for regaining control. After all, it’s supposed to be you walking the dog, not your dog walking you. 

Being able to walk your dog with a loose leash is vital for a few reasons:

• If the leash is attached to a neck collar, training your dog to walk on a loose leash could be essential to prevent them from choking themselves and injuring their neck muscles.

• Not having them pulling is less of a workout on your arms and could be important for maintaining control if your dog is large.

• Being able to walk your dog on a loose leash allows you to focus on your surroundings.

• Other dog walkers and people on the sidewalk are likely to be more trusting of your dog if you have a loose leash. 

• Not having to wrestle over the leash makes each walk less stressful for you and your dog - it’s a chance for both of you to relax.

The three walking styles

These aren’t official terms, but to help to distinguish them we’ll give them the following names:

Pulling

This is the walking style that you want to AVOID - unless you need to quickly pull your dog away from a hazard. In this walking style, you and the dog are pulling against each other. The leash is completely taut and the dog thinks they are the boss. 

Heel

In this walking style, the dog walks directly beside the owner in line with their heel. The leash sits in a loose ‘J’ shape. This is the position of an obedient dog and is the position you want to train your dog to get into first. This is also an ideal position for when there is a crowd or other people/animals around.

At ease

In this position, the dog has the freedom to walk around you to stop and sniff things or even walk on the opposite side of you. However, the leash remains loose - although allowed to wander, the dog knows to keep at your pace and stay within the limits of the leash. This is a great positions for when you are wanting your dog to have some sniffing enrichment. 

How to train your dog to walk in the loose leash ‘heel’ position

The first stage should be to teach your dog to walk in the ‘heel’ position. The following steps explain exactly how to do this.

1. Start by choosing the right leash

Ideally, you want a short non-extendable leash of about 4 to 6 feet to encourage your dog to stay close.

2. Choose which side your dog will walk on

The ‘heel’ position involves training your dog to walk beside you. Decide whether you prefer them to walk on your left hand side or right hand side. 

3. Put some treats in your pocket

Place some treats in the pocket of your pants on the side that your dog is walking (if they’re walking on the right hand side, put the packet of treats in your right hand pocket). You will feed these treats to your dog as you walk to encourage them to stay at your side.

4. Hold your leash in the opposite hand

Hold your leash on the opposite side of your body to where your dog and the treats are. For example, if your dog and treats are on the left hand side, hold the leash with your right hand. This allows you to easily pull out treats from your left hand pocket with your left hand. Aim to form a J-shape with the leash. 

5. Walk a step, stop and feed

Start by walking a single step, stop and then hand a treat to your dog. Make sure to keep your hand to your side as you feed them to encourage your dog to stay by your side. 

6. Delay feeding if they run ahead

If your dog runs ahead and tries to pull on the lead, stop and don’t feed them. Keep taking a step and only feed your dog if they stay by your side. 

7. Increase the steps between feeds

Start to increase the steps before stopping and feeding: first 2 steps, then 3 steps, then 4 steps. If your dog runs ahead, stop and don’t feed. If they stay beside you during all the steps, stop and give them a treat. Your dog will soon realize that they need to stay by your side if they want to get a treat. Continue to slowly build up the distances that you’re able to walk with them by your side before giving them a treat. 

8. Come up with a name for this walk

Every time you start walking with them by your side, use the same cue. This could simply be ‘heel’ or ‘with me’ or ‘side’ - whatever you prefer. Eventually your dog will automatically walk by your side whenever you say this word. 

How to train your dog to walk in the loose leash ‘at ease’ position

Once you’ve done a few walks with your dog staying by your side and the leash remaining loose, you can graduate to the ‘at ease’ position. In this position, your dog has more room to wander, but the leash is still loose. The following steps explain how to do this walk.

1. Allow your dog more leash

For this walk, you can use a longer leash - including an extendable one. Or you can keep with the same leash. Instead of holding it beside you, consider holding it front, or as you would have before teaching the ‘heel’ walk. At first, your dog may stay in the ‘heel’ position, but they’ll gradually see that you’re giving them more leash and that you don’t mind them roaming.

2. Come up with a new name for this walk

When assuming this walking position, you’ll similarly need a command. This could be simply ‘at ease’ or something else like ‘free time’ or ‘off you go’.  

3. Stop and call back if they pull

As soon as your dog tries to pull again, stop walking and then start over. This will help teach them the limits of being able to walk ‘at ease’. 

4. Use the ‘heel’ cue word if you need them to walk by your side

If there’s a cyclist passing or you want to keep them by your side while crossing a road, use the ‘heel’ cue to keep them close to your side again. Make sure you have treats in your pocket and that you adopt the same position with your leash.

5. Use the ‘at ease’ cue work to let them know they can exit the heel position

You can then use the ‘at ease’ cue again when you want them to exit the heel position and continue walking freely. Treat them before exiting to reward them for walking in the ‘heel’ position. While in the ‘at ease’ position, continue to stop whenever they try to pull. 

Loose leash walking training can take some patience - it’s important to teach it slowly step by step and only move onto the next step when you’re certain that your dog understands. Focus on getting them to understand the ‘heel’ and ‘at ease’ cues, feeding them a treat whenever they successfully walk in the ‘heel’ position and stopping/not rewarding a treat whenever they pull.