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Loose Leash Walking

The leash is a brake, not a steering wheel. Rock climbers use ropes in case they fall, not to help them climb.

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You're out for a walk with your dog when suddenly, the leash breaks.
Do you still have your dog? 

The key to teaching your dog to walk nicely with you is to make the leash irrelevant. Your dog wouldn't pull on a leash if there was no leash to pull on. Leashes are a safety tool for "just in case" and to comply with leash laws. We definitely need them. But, our job is to make them as unnoticeable as possible. Teach your dog to stay connected with you so that if the leash evaporates, you still have your dog.

See the photo above.  The dog is WEARING a leash but is not HELD by the leash. The leash hangs loosely from the collar, and the excess length is folded in the man's hand.  

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Shorten the leash. Don't tighten it. 

To keep your dog from getting into another dog's space, hold the leash closer to your dog's collar while keeping your arm relaxed. If they try to lunge, the leash will be too short to let them. 

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Keep your leash arm relaxed.

Hold your arm as you would if there were no leash, or rest your leash hand on your belly button. If you've made the leash short by holding it closer to your dog's collar, the leash will stop them from getting into trouble. You don't need to "hold them" by the leash.

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Make the leash smile.

If there is no tension on the leash, it will hang down in the shape of a smile or a "J". If you do need to pull your dog to keep them out of trouble, release the tension quickly. Continually check that you aren't holding tension on the leash.

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Keep your leash arm close to your body. 

It keeps your center of gravity balanced. Holding your arm out in front of you puts you off-balance, making it easier for your dog to pull you over. Also, if your arm is out in front of you, it means the leash is tight.

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Don't use the leash to "steer" your dog. 

Don't use the leash to pull your dog over to something or turn them a certain way. If you pull on the leash, their reflex is to pull back so it teaches them to pull on the leash. Use the Touch cue instead.

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Fold, don't wrap.

Wrapping the leash around your hand makes it too rigid. It's a good way to get pulled off your feet or have fingers broken. Instead, fold the extra leash accordion style in the palm of your hand. The "leash lock" method is a secure way of holding the leash while maintaining control.

Leash Lock
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DON'T ALLOW PULLING

By the time they get into obedience class, most dogs already have a habit of pulling. Habits get stronger the more we do them. They will never stop pulling on leash if they are practicing pulling on the leash every day. 

  1. Stop walks for now if they are not necessary.
    The extra training you are doing will make up for not getting the walks for a while. Play extra rounds of fetch or tug.
     

  2. Use up some energy before walking your dog.
    Play fetch or tug or do some other training before taking your dog for a walk. Tire them out a little so they aren't going out on a full tank of gas.
     

  3. Use good leash-handling skills.
    If you pull on the leash, your dog will pull the other way. Hold the leash short but do NOT hold it tight.
     

  4. Commit to not take a single step forward if the leash is tight.
    If the leash gets tight, turn and walk in the opposite direction until your dog is next to you. Praise and treat for being next to you. Then turn back the way you were going.
     

  5. Practice the mechanics of loose leash walking inside your home first before going outside.
    We learn how to operate a car in a parking lot first before driving it in traffic. Teach your dog how to walk on a leash before asking them to use the skill in "traffic".

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