Guides and tips
How to teach my dog to walk properly
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).
Guides and tips
Inside the house
First step
Initially, you will need your dog's favorite treats cut into small pieces and a good training spot inside your home. A two-meter area in your living room, bedroom, or any other open space is suitable. Stay away from open windows and remove any toys to ensure there are no external distractions during the training session.
Generally, it is best to keep training sessions short, as a three-minute session full of treats will help keep your dog excited for the next time you train. Arm yourself with patience and don’t worry if it takes a few extra days for your dog to start walking with you without needing treats.
Use a short leash during the training, as it provides better control and reduces the risk of injury from the collar, since the dog won't be able to build up speed before you stop it with the leash.
If it doesn't seems to be interested in treats, try again at a time when its hungrier.
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 walking, you need to start with turns. Begin by making a tight circle around your dog from the side you’ve chosen for them to stand on, forming a quarter of the circle at a time. Throughout the process, gently pull the leash to ensure they stay by your side.
Once a full circle is completed, reward your dog with praise ("good job") and a treat at thigh level on their side. Then, repeat the entire process a few times until they become familiar with 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 your dog is comfortable with the turns, it’s time to move forward, literally, a few steps. After a few steps, stop and make a 90-degree left turn.
Once you complete the turn with your dog at your side, take a few steps forward and use some treats to guide it to the other side. Once you finish, 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.
Guides and tips
Leaving the house
Second step
A puppy that hasn't had basic training and hasn't been taught how to behave can be challenging. It's common for them to burst with excitement as soon as you grab their leash, with jumping, barking, and wagging their tail. To prevent excessive excitement, it's a good idea not to announce that you're going for a walk before you grab the leash.
Try to calm them down and make them understand that if they don't settle, you won't go for a walk. The truth is, this process may take some time in the beginning, and you will need to show patience.
If it doesn't calm down, put the leash down again and try after a few minutes until it shows a calmer reaction. Gradually, this process is repeated until it is completely calm when you put on the leash.
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.
If your dog shows aggressive behavior during walks, speak to your veterinarian, who can refer you to the appropriate specialist.
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.
Guides and tips
Outside the house
Third step
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.
Guides and tips
The first walk after training
Fourth step
It's time to attempt your first walk outside for the first time with the training leash. Make sure your puppy is on the correct side of you, just like during training. Hold the end of the leash with one hand and keep the other hand about 30 to 40 centimeters away from the dog's collar, holding the leash loosely.
At this point, your puppy should no longer have the desire to pull. When you pull on the leash, it creates tension, and the dog's instinctive reaction is to pull back. However, if you keep the leash loose, you allow your puppy to think and decide on its own how it wants to behave.
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.
Let it understand that walking next to you at a relaxed pace is the only way to move forward, and if it pulls on the leash, you won’t be going anywhere.
When the leash starts to tighten, stop walking and simply stand still without pulling it back or shouting at it. If it doesn’t turn back to you, try walking a few steps in the opposite direction to refocus its attention back on you.
It’s also important to be aware of your surroundings so your puppy can focus on the lesson. If you see another dog approaching, move to the other side of the street or find a spot where you can sit at the edge and give your puppy space. Make sure it stays focused on your walk and not on distractions.
Finally, there will be times when your puppy needs to take care of its business, and it's natural for it to pull for a moment. This is completely expected, but once it’s done and you’ve cleaned up, call it back to your side and continue.
Guides and tips
Daily routine
Fifth step
On your neighborhood walks, you'll apply the same techniques you practiced at home, but now there will be various distractions and challenges, such as friendly people, kittens, and other dogs, which will complicate things.
Don't forget to give it treats when walking beside you, especially when it maintains its pace despite the distractions that arise.
If the dog doesn't want to go for a walk, take it with some form of transportation a few kilometers away from your home. It’s more likely to want to walk towards the direction of your home!
Key to Success
You must never use violence on a pet to make it obey you, apart than being a crime and you will be criminally prosecuted, it never generates the desired long term results.
The key to success is consistency, patience, and persistence! Be consistent with your training every time you go for a walk with your dog.
This may take time, as the walks during its training will last longer than before, but it will definitely be worth the effort. When you succeed, your reward will be a calm, happy dog that enjoys walking by your side.
