Loose leash walking means that your dog is walking by your side and not pulling on the leash at any time during your walk. So many owners expect dogs to just know how to walk on leash out of the gate but unfortunately, that is not the case.
There are so many stimuli luring them in all sorts of directions like, other dogs, noises, people, smells, marking opportunities, etc. Teaching loose leash walking not only makes walks more enjoyable, but also serves as a platform for building and eliminating many other essential skills and behaviours, such as:
- Leash Reactivity
- Tantrums
- Constant marking
- Reduce fear response
- Trail Etiquette
Characteristics of loose leash walking include:
- No leash tension
- The leash is in a “J” shape
- Your dog is walking by your side
- Your dog doesn’t sniff or mark constantly, except on command.
- Your dog ignores other stimulus like dogs, noises, and people.
Loose Leash Walking Tools
For a successful outing, you’ll want to bring along a few essential tools on every walk. You won’t always look super fashionable, but you’ll have the best trained dog on the trail.
Treat Pouch
This is where you will store the goods! I prefer those with waist belt or a vest with a treat pouch built in.
Treats
Rather than use treats alone, take your dog’s meal, and pour it into your training pouch. You can even mix in a few high value treats to keep your dog engaged.
Rather than feed your dog their meals in their bowl, feed them throughout the day during your training sessions. This will make them more eager to please.
Collars
I personally use a prong as I find this tool allows me to better communicate with my dog, opposed to a traditional flat collar or relying on treats alone. An alternative collar style that I’ve also used is a martingale. Once the dog has a basic understanding of loose leash walking, you can even use an e-collar.
Clicker
Clickers can work well to mark behaviours. They give your dog a signal that they did what you want. They’re affordable and you can get them at any pet store.
I do not recommend nor advise the use of a prong or an e-collar without the guidance of a professional trainer.
If you do not wish to use a prong at this point don’t, use what you are comfortable with.
However I do not recommend the use of:
Harnesses – I do not believe that they allow effective communication between handler and dog. They are designed for pulling, (yes, even the “no pull” harnesses) and this is the exact behavior we are trying to combat.
Gentle Leader/Face Harness – It does prevent pulling but can be harmful to your dog’s neck.
Walking on a loose leash is an important skill for your dog to learn, and it can make taking your dog in public places much easier. While training your pup will take time and patience, you can teach your dog to walk on a loose leash with only a few pieces of equipment and some basic training techniques.