Patience and diligence are required when you train your dog loose leash walking. It’s a tedious method that requires you to redefine what it takes to walk your dog. The process is tiresome, but is temporary, and the end product will make you proud.
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What is Loose Leash Walking?
Rolling on a loose leash ensures your dog walks alongside you and does not tug on the leash at any point during your stroll. Many people want their pets to know how to walk on a leash right out of the cage, but it takes time.
Sounds, people, smells, marking opportunities, animals, and other stimuli all entice dogs in various directions. Teaching loose leash walking reduces bad habits including:
Tantrums
Frequent Marking
Fears
Leash Reactivity
Features of Loose Leash Walking
Every kind of dog training has its features. Loose Leash walking too have a few features, which includes:
The Leash must be in ‘J’ shape.
The dog is always by your side.
Reacts on commands.
Rejects stimulus like noise, people, smell, etc.
How much time does it take to Loose Leash Train a Dog?
How long it takes to leash train a dog is entirely dependent on how committed and compliant you are with your preparation. Ideally, you would like to loose leash train your dog for 3 to 5 minutes twice or thrice a day. A proper routine and focused training (meaning you are not multitasking but focused on the training) will help speed up how fast your dog learns.
Puppies will generally learn faster than older dogs. As you can imagine it is harder to override years of pulling behavior. However this does not mean it is impossible to teach an older dog; it simply would take longer and more effort.
Does Loose Leash Walking Matter?
Yes, it does. It’s critical to teach your dog to walk on a loose leash in public, but it can be challenging for a new pet owner.
It is challenging to set aside time to exercise correctly multiple days a week, with the dog being exposed to ever higher amounts of distraction. So, if you want to learn how to train your dog on a loose leash properly, you’ve come to the right spot.
Running on a loose leash isn’t about more relaxation. It’s just a matter of protection and security. It is essential to train the dog to walk respectfully on a leash, whether big or small. Even if it’s only out of interest, if your dog jumps on another person, it might injure them, particularly if they’re elderly or a young child who might fall and get scared.
If you have a big dog, you’re undoubtedly already aware of the pitfalls of being pulled forward suddenly as your dog pulls on the Leash.
So, keeping these in mind, let us look forward to Loose Leash Walking’s training methods.
Loose Leash Walking – Step By Step Training Guide
It can be stressful at first, but dog training is a rewarding experience. Using motivational training strategies to make it comfortable for all of you.
Beginning with puppies as young as eight weeks old, this introduction of leash training will progress to adult dogs. Let’s get started with a short mission.
Each training session should last no more than five to ten minutes and be followed by a fun romp together.
Training 1: Hey pup, Be Near
Proceed in a safe, control zone, with no other pets, humans, or toys to distract the dog. Keep a fistful of tempting goodies by your side in a clenched fist.
Stroll quietly through the field as your dog investigates it.
When your dog sniffs at the treats in your closed palm, open it and let your dog nibble some. Close it again and continue walking.
Don’t be concerned if your dog wanders off again. Continue walking softly.
Release another reward or two as your dog returns for another sniff.
For a short while, the dog will remain next to you and continue sniffing at your hand to see if the dog can get some of those delicious treats.
Training 1’s goal is to clearly show your dog that rewards will appear from your side when she sits next to you.
Training 2: Hello pup, this is your Leash
Do this exercise in a covered area, such as your garden or your building courtyard.
Attach the Leash to the neck of your pooch.
Allow it to dangle behind your dog on the carpet. Your dog will explore it, perhaps chew on it or picking it up and carrying it around in the mouth.
Stroll in slowly throughout your space, as in training 1, while calling your dog to join you. If your dog doesn’t walk with you more than a few steps because your dog is irritated by the Leash, offer a reward or two while you’re walking to get the dog’s mind off the Leash.
With the Leash trailing behind your dog, the dog should be able to stroll across the yard with you. Also, your dog can disregard the Leash, come to you when called, and walk with you for at least five steps before heading off.
Training 3: That’s your limit, do not go beyond, little pooch
Return to your classes in the garden, where there will be no distractions. This time, around your wrist, wrap the Leash’s end. Keep a couple of handy treat pouches.
Take a stroll around your yard, stopping every few steps from giving your dog a treat. Offer the treat by the side of your thigh. This will make your dog walk right beside you.
If the dog pulls forward and approaches the end of the Leash, immediately stop walking before you have enough space in the line to proceed.
Gradually decrease the rewards to every ten moves, then every twenty, and so on.
The auditory command “heel” is often used to teach the dog to reduce speed or walk gently.
After training 3, the dog should avoid the Leash and walk next to you instead of continuously racing to the end of the Leash.
Once your dog is well adapted to loose leash walking, let us begin by introducing distraction.
Training 4: Powerful Recall
A good recall is needed to prevent your dog from chasing after any distraction and pulling against the Leash.
It is better to call your dog by name, as it makes it easier for them to look directly up to you. This way, you can prevent your dog from distractions.
Training 5: Command “About Turn” stroll
The military-style of turning 180 degrees in place and heading in the opposite direction gave rise to the “about turn” walk.
You would choose to practice this approach with your dog off the Leash first, so you’re both familiar with it.
With your dog at your side, take a short stroll in one direction. (If you need to, start with a few treats to get the dog’s attention.)
Shift course abruptly and begin heading in the opposite direction.
Please do not call your dog or attempt to get the attention in some way.
At this point, you’re not training your dog to listen to you; instead, you’re teaching your dog that you’re unstable and that your dog should keep a keen eye on you.
If you’ve mastered it, try it with the Leash in your hand.
If you exercise the “about turn walk” for at least a month, it will be successful. You probably wouldn’t be able to go on a regular family stroll while doing this, and it would drive everyone around you crazy. It would be best if you do not take your dog on some other sort of stroll for a month.
Training 6: Create Distractions
The final stage of loose leash walking will be an ongoing project that will last the remainder of your life with your dog.
The last step in every behavioral therapy program is to introduce disruptions.
This means you’ll have to refine your walking skills in various settings before moving on to more enticing and unpredictable scenarios.
Start with walks in your neighborhood, then move on to parks with other people and pets.
Practice in both bustling cities and seemingly peaceful country-sides, which would be full of wonderful fresh flavors to distract your dog.
Make sure to bring a couple of treats any time you raise the impulses around you to encourage and inspire your dog to look after you all the time.
You will steadily reduce the desire for incentives.
While this training procedure goes on, there might be incidents of your dog jumping on you or any other person he sees nearby. What to do then?
Go to the basics and follow positive reinforcement. If your dog jumps on you, then ignore and stop strolling. When your dog is on his limbs, start walking.
It is always important to keep training the basic with regularity.
Conclusion
Loose Leash Walking is the best thing when you are on a stroll with your dog and puppy. The fact is, it takes time, but consistency can train your dog how to walk on a Loose Leash. It is training that teaches to be ignorant if there is any distraction and always follow the handler’s commands. It is always a success story when a dog or puppy learns to walk on a Loose Leash. So, if you are still struggling with this, follow the steps and enjoy!
