Train your Dog Lead Walking

Calm, focused walking on the lead with your dog

Your dog mustn’t become over-excited when the lead comes out ready for walks.  Teaching our dogs to walk well on a lead is one of the hardest training activities and if your dog or puppy is overexcited when you start you’ve just made it even harder.

Teach your dog to attach less meaning to the lead.

How?

Start by getting the lead out and carrying it around the house at times when you aren’t going for walks.

For example:

• Get your dog’s lead out and make a cup of tea.
• Get your dog’s lead-out and sit down to watch television or read a book.
• Get your dog’s lead out and just move its location.

If your dog is already over-excited by the lead, you’ll need to this in slow bursts, helping your dog to understand, just because you get the lead out, it doesn’t always mean he is getting a walk.

Do the activities above frequently over several days.

Start making sure your dog sits calmly to wait for the lead to be attached to his collar. If he gets up or gets excited, put the lead away, try again a few seconds later.

Teach your dog, quiet, calm behaviour delivers the results he wants.