Training Your Dog to Walk - A Comprehensive Guide

This dog training guide will provide tips for leash training your dog - an important technique for walking your dog. Your dog will need to be on a leash for most of their time out in public settings, for their safety.

A dog behaviour training guide will give you the best techniques for effectively training your dog to walk on a leash comfortably, without pulling or tripping you up to lunge at bicycles, other dogs or people. There are some ways you might be ruining your dog’s walk unconsciously with the things you do. 

As with any training exercises you go through with your pup, it is important to remain calm, patient and positive so that you can continue to grow a great relationship with your furbaby. 

Importance of Leash Training

To boost your puppy’s confidence and enable you both to go out and experience new and exciting environments safely together, your furbaby must know how to walk on a leash. 

A dog that has not been taught how to walk on a leash will likely swing one of two ways: they will either become fearful of new environments, noises and people when taken for a walk - see our tips to train anxious dogs, or they will become aggressive and overexcited. 

Our tips to train an aggressive dog will help you regain control over your dog in these situations, which can be quite difficult for inexperienced pet owners. 

When Is the Right Time to Start Training Your Pup to Walk on a Leash?

By the time they are eight weeks old, your pup can begin leash training as they are ready to learn simple commands by this age. 

For most puppy owners, this will mean that as soon as you bring them home, you can begin their training. These essential skills, as well as tips to train your dog for toddler safety, are important for your dog to learn. 

Be aware that a puppy at such a young age does not have the stamina for long walks and shouldn’t be in public areas until they are fully vaccinated. Increase exercise slowly over time to avoid any injury to growing bones and developing muscles.  

Tips to Train Your Dog to Walk on a Leash

Training your pup to walk on a leash means that you will be able to walk your dog in new environments and explore more together. To learn how to train a dog to walk on a leash, you need to know how to stop your dog from pulling and also get some tips to prevent your dog from jumping and biting on walks.

Let your pet get used to a harness/collar

Wearing the harness or collar around the house for short periods, whilst you offer treats or play with your puppy is a good way to allow them to get used to it. 

Introduce your pup to a cue

Some people click their tongues, or other people say a word. Whatever you use, associate it with ‘food is coming’ so that your puppy learns to look at you and come when they hear and see your cue. 

Make your pet come to you

When wearing their harness and collar, begin training your dog to come when called and use this cue you have taught them. As your puppy approaches, back up a few steps and reward them as they reach you

Practice indoors in a room with no distraction

Your furbaby doesn’t have the greatest attention span and is also easily distracted. Ensure you start this training in a quiet space at home, and inside and keep the lessons short but frequent. 

Go outdoors once your pup is ready

Be prepared for a host of new challenges as you embark on the great outdoors, with sights, smells and sounds all intriguing and distracting. Keep the walks short and offer treats and praise as your puppy comes with you with the leash on. 

Practice loose leash walking

Loose lead walking is when your dog is comfortably walking alongside you and at the same pace as you so that their leash is loose. It takes consistency and patience to reach this level, but even an old dog can learn this new trick. 

Reward your pet

Reward-based training ensures you have a positive relationship with your dog. Be sure to avoid any punishments if your furbaby doesn’t get what you’re trying to teach them straight away.

Common Issues You May Experience While Walking Your Dog on a Leash

Whether you’ve got a new puppy or you’re leash training an older dog, you’re likely to hit some stumbling blocks along the way. Often you’ll see a dog walking their owner down the street, not the other way, so some tips to stop your dog from pulling on lead never go amiss. 

Leash training an adult dog can be done, it just takes patience and the right tools and method to ensure they can progress in their own time. Here are some common issues that you may come across whilst leash training your dog:

Your pup may pull in the other direction

If they do this, become a ‘tree’ and stay very still, refusing to move until they come back to you. Do not be tempted to begin a game of tug-o-war, where you try to drag your dog away. 

Your pup lunges towards other objects

Whether it’s a car, cyclist, skateboarder or another dog, be proactive and watch out for whatever it is your dog lunges at. Redirect their attention with a treat before they notice or move to create further distance between these objects. 

Your dog may bark

This is sometimes a sign of a lack of mental and physical stimulation and a habit of barking whilst on walks can be quite bothersome. Like with lunging, attempt to redirect the behaviour before it begins by getting their attention turned onto you. 

Your dog may get too excited

With too much energy and getting completely overexcited, your dog can become completely uncontrollable on the lead. Try letting them burn some energy off with a game before a walk so that you can reward their good behaviour when walking quietly. 

Take Home Message

Whether it’s potty training your pup or teaching them to walk on a leash, it’s important to begin these lessons as soon as possible. Your puppy is capable and willing to learn, you just need to provide positive and calm guidance to help them to learn. 

You can certainly teach an old dog new tricks here too, with adult dogs and puppies alike learning how to walk on a lead with the right method and equipment.