LEASH WALKING
Unsure how to train you pup to be safe on-leash? Dealing with a pulling pooch? Want to enjoy your dog walk experience? You’re not alone! Proper leash-walking skills are considered on of the valuable basic behaviors a pup should obtain.
I would say to students in my group classes during our Loose Leash Walking lessons: “Whoever said walking your dog in Los Angeles would be easy, LIED TO YOU.” That’s because I have a bitter sense of humor and I think using this amazing skill can be a good way to lighten things up a bit… But seriously, walking your pup can be a challenge! Especially if there happens to be anything going on at the time - other people, birds, leaves blowing in the wind, blades of grass…. Another bad joke, but if you’re still with me, you understand the challenges of walking and working with your canine companion in a competitive environment (like a busy neighborhood, or outdoors, or a new area). We utilize walks to allow pups to explore, eliminate, exercise and more, but ideally the activity should serve both ends of the leash - pet and parent alike. And no one loves being pulled around the block by a maniacal pooch, or dealing with barking or lunging at other individuals and passersby; this can be a big deterrent to dog walking at all, or otherwise getting pup the adequate exercise needed in order to feel well-mannered in the first place.
But if you head out for a dog walk and your companion immediately starts whining, pulling, panting, hustling around the block, acting bonkers, and carrying-on, is that good exercise? What are they learning? What behaviors are trained when practicing this kind of walk?
When you commit to a walk experience with your dog, you are training them (whether you mean to or not), and providing your valuable time. During this opportunity, you can practice behaviors that contribute to your overall training goals, or not.
If you find walking your pup difficult, you are not alone! Dogs are often cued into excitement at the mere prospect of a walk experience, or at the sight of the leash, and many dogs learn from the beginning that pulling along the way just works!
Here are some helpful tips and reminders below to consider when creating the walk you want…
Equipment
You’re gonna need some stuff to walk your dog successfully, so get geared up accordingly. Harnesses are recommended to provide a safe and secure walking experience, for both ends of the leash. A well-suited harness will decrease pressure and stress, provide superior directional awareness and mobility, and keep your pup’s bod, neck, and spine safe! A regular leash, 4-7ft in length, depending on what is comfortable for dog and handler, will not encourage pulling or bad posture like an extendo or flexi lead will. Comfort and reliability is key, so experiment with whatever feels like a good fit for the team. A treat pouch will allow you to store keys, poop bags, and goodies in a convenient, easy-to-grab way and to stay organized along your walk experience. Having treats ready - like in a handy pouch - is a great way to reward good potties, good decisions, and good walking behaviors spontaneously along the way!
Conditioning
One of the bigger mistakes that pet parents make, is rushing through walk experiences, and not showing their pup the ropes (literally) beforehand! We often buy a new harness or piece of equipment, slap it on, and head out for a hurried hustle around the neighborhood. Make sure your dog is comfy and already well-versed in their equipment! Just like new shoes, if you throw on a fresh pair of boots and go hiking right away, you could end up with a mild injury, or way worse. Allowing your pup to acclimate to their fresh gear with games and meal time, is a great way to get them used to operating efficiently while wearing new equipment, and avoid freaking them out with it. So before you head out for a walk, practice with your stuff and get comfy!
Start Strong
Your walk starts before you grab that leash! If you’ve decided to go on a walk, look at your pup to determine if their current behavior has earned that experience. If not, you may want to teach your pup that a ‘sit’ is a good way to get things going! Wait for your pup to be calm before you walk them and avoid exciting announcements. Get a rewardable behavior or a good idea from your dog, before putting your hands on any walking equipment. When you open the door to the next experience, teach your pup to be seated patiently. Once you get outside, provide an acclimation period immediately, wait for your pup to get re-engaged with you, maybe another ‘sit,’ then proceed.
NO Pulling!
Dogs are logical. If they intend to move forward and pulling allows that to happen, then that is what they are going to do. Don’t allow your pup to learn that pulling works - ever. Teach your pup to walk nicely with fun training games. Manage pulling by using a front-attachment harness. Interrupt pulling behavior by stopping immediately if you suspect leash tension, and/or swiftly changing directions - now your dog is behind you! Most importantly, keep your companion engaged with you along your walk.
Training Games
Getting prepared with fun exercises will help your pup pay attention to you and walk nicely! First off, feel free to practice almost anything your dog already knows, while on-leash (sit, down, touch, stay etc) - this is always great practice! And repeat outdoors as well. Rewarding your pup for offered eye contact and engagement, while on-leash, is another proactive way to stay ahead of future distraction challenges.
Doing a little ‘Hansel and Gretel’ game with a trail of canine-appropriate cookie crumbs will teach your pup to slow down, or follow behind you on a loose leash! To begin, start with a calm pup on-leash. Place tiny treat on ground for your pup to get and take off a couple steps ahead of them so you’re in position. After consuming their treat, as soon as your pup takes one step towards you say, ‘yes!’ or click, and put another treat on the ground, behind your foot, and get a couple steps ahead of them again to keep it moving. Continue to say, ‘yes!’ or click for trailing behind you on loose leash, followed by treat reward for doing so, and so on. Good training games are usually 1-2min long! Practice for only a couple minutes at a time, and switch to new environments once you’ve got it down! There are many fun training games to try with your pup.
An animal that can maneuver well on-leash is better prepared, more confident, reliable, and safe. But there are many reasons why it is a great idea to prepare your pup with leash-walking skills, and pet parents can prevent future behavior problems before they exist (like leash excitement, reactivity, and barrier frustration, to name a few)!
Want a better walk? Get in touch with Competent Pup for more expert training advice from a certified professional!
