Important steps that will help to facilitate both yours and your dog's life, allowing to enjoy this daily need of your beloved pet, without tension and uncontrollable situations.
A nice walk is a great way for both to bond and exercise, on a daily basis. Unfortunately, the walks are not much fun when you're constantly dragged by your dog. Usually the reason for that are the various scents he would like to follow but you are not walking fast enough for it.
Wondering how to train your dog in order to walk calmly beside you, stopping when you stop and moving along with you ignoring other dogs and people? It is probably the most difficult thing that you will ever teach it to do but it can be enjoyable and it definitely worths the effort!
The training process will likely last several weeks and in some cases even more. Buy a training leash for its sessions and use the existing leash for its everyday walks (biological needs).
Step One: INDOORS
To start, you will need its favorite treats, into small pieces and an open area in your home. A space of two meters in your living room, bedroom or any the other open area, will do just fine. Stay away from open windows and remove any toys to make sure that it has no other external stimuli during its training. Keeping the training sessions short, like three-minutes walking full of delicacies, will help your dog to stay excited for the next time. Try to be patient and don't worry if it takes a few days more for it to start strolling beside you without the need of treats.
- Decide which side you want it to walk beside you, left or right. You must always give the treats on that same side and over your thigh. Soon it will remain close to that side, since treats are appearing over there.
- Before you get to the walking part, you need to start with turns. Aim to make a narrow circle around the dog, forming a quarter of the cycle each time. During the course, pull gently on the leash to make sure it stays on your side. Uppon completion of a full circle, reward it with praises (well done) and a treat at the height of your thigh on the dog's side. Then, repeat the whole procedure a few times until you have mastered it.
- When you believe it is comfortable enough with the turns on this side, it's time to try the other one. Rotate your foot and use a treat to make it walk in a small circle around you, stopping at intervals of 90 degrees. Once you complete the cycle, make sure that the dog is on your side and give it a treat.
- Now that it has mastered the turns it's time to move on, literally, a few steps forward. After a few steps, stop and make a 90 degrees left turn. As soon as you complete the turn with the dog on your side, take a few steps forward, and use a few treats to make it walk to the other side. Once you're done, reward with praise and a treat.
- Continue to follow this pattern in many short sessions, and make sure your dog stays by your side constantly. Over time, you can do more steps between each turn and give it fewer treats.
If it doesn't seems to be interested in treats, try again at a time when its hungrier.
Step Two: Exiting the house
Use a short leash for the duration of its training, as it allows better control and reduces the possibility of injury from the collar, since it can't build up speed before the leash pulls it back.
A untrained dog which has not been taught how to behave, could be challenging. It is common when you pick up the leash, to manifest explosions of joy with repeated jumping, barking and extreme tail wagging. To avoid any super-excitement, you shouldn't announce that you will go for a walk before picking up the leash. Try to calm it down and make it understand that if it doesn't calm down, there will be no walking anywhere. Truth is, this could be a lengthy process specially at start and you need be patient. If it doesn't calm down, put back the leash and try again until you notice a milder reaction. Gradually, repeat the process until it's completely calm during the leash strapping.
It's time to open the door, and the expected reaction is to rush to the exit for that most-wanted walk. At this point you need to prepare yourself with much patience and keep it from running to the exit and instead pull it back and close the door. It will take many tries and an equal number of openning and closing each door leading up to the exit. The objective is to make it sit calm with the door wide open in front of it.
Step Three: Outside
Although, in theory, you and your dog are ready to continue your training outside, it's still not that time yet, since out there you will find many possible distractions.
It is necessary for a couple of days to extend the indoors training at the yard or the entrance of your home, before attempting to get out on the streets. Limit your steps, from ten to twenty and back, repeating this pattern. This way you are helping your dog realize that it has to walk beside you instead of pulling and all those things you learned so far are used outside the house as well.
Limit your training sessions in three to five minutes at a time, so that it's looking forward to the next time you hand it some treats, while learning new things.
Step Four: THE FIRST WALK AFTER TRAINING
Consult your vet for the type of collar that is suitable for your dog, since it depends on the size and energy levels.
Don't give any treats apart form the training sessions, for the duration of its training, since it will speed up the proccess.
It's time to try your first walk outside using its training leash.. Make sure that your dog is located on the correct training side, hold the edge of the leash with one hand and have your other hand other around 30- 40 cm away from its collar holding it loosely. At this point it should not pull on its leash. Pulling its leash creates tension and the instinctive reaction of a dog, is to pull back. But if you keep it loose, you are letting your dog to think and judge for itself how it wants to behave.
Make it understand that walking beside you with a relaxed pace is the only of moving forward and pulling you, will get it nowhere. When the leash starts to stretch, stop walking and just stand without doing anything. If it's not turning back to look at you, try to walk a few steps in the opposite direction, so it focuses back to you.
It's important to be aware of your surroundings so your dog focuses on its training. So if you see another dog coming towards you, cross to the other side of the street or find a place where you can sit out of the way and give your dog some space. Make sure that focuses on your walk and not on any other distractions. Finally, there are moments where its will want to make its biological needs and it is reasonable to pull you for a while. This is entirely to be expected, but after its done and you clean them up, call it back beside you and continue your training.
Step Five: DAILY WALKS
While walking around the neighborhood, you will apply the same techniques that you made at home, but now several distractions and challenges, will appear, as friendly people, cats, and other dogs that will complicate the situation. Don't forget to offer treats when it walks by your side, especially when it remains beside you, dispite the distractions that present around it.
Key to Success
The key to success is consistency, patience, and perseverance! Be consistent with your training, every time you go out for a walk with your dog. This may take some time, since the walks you will be doingduring training, will last longer than before but it's definitely worth the effort because when you succeed, your reward will be a calm, happy dog that will enjoy walking beside you.
