Dog walking is a fundamental part of your dog’s routine, providing physical exercise and mental stimulation. However, an unruly dog that pulls on the lead can turn an enjoyable activity into a stressful experience for both the dog walker and their furry friend. Loose lead walking, on the other hand, creates a calm and relaxed atmosphere, allowing dogs to explore their surroundings while maintaining control, safety, and mutual focus.
At No Fluff Petcare Services, we believe in harnessing the power of positive reinforcement to educate and guide our furry companions. By rewarding desired behaviours and guiding our dogs with confidence and leadership, dogs associate walking politely on a loose lead with positive experiences, strengthening the desired behavior over time. This balanced approach fosters trust, improves communication, and deepens the bond between dogs and their walkers.
Techniques for Loose Lead Walking
We totally understand it can all be a bit overwhelming to get started, and you may feel like you will never get there. But, practice makes perfect and consistency is key. Our dog trainer Sam shares some of her techniques to get you started!
1. Starting Indoors:
Begin the loose lead walking training indoors, where there are minimal distractions. Use treats, a clicker, or verbal praise as rewards for walking at your side with a loose lead. Ensure the dog acknowledges the desired behavior through consistent recognition.
2. Short Distance Training:
Take the training outdoors, starting with short distances in familiar surroundings. This step ensures the dog understands the expectations without overwhelming them. Gradually, increase the distance and exposure to new environments. Remember, the quality of the walk is more important than the distance that you cover. Training is great mental stimulation and enrichment for your dog and will challenge them in amazing ways!
3. Direction Change Technique:
When the dog starts to pull or tense the lead, stop moving. Dogs will naturally want to pull into pressure and not against it, and allowing them to do this is self rewarding as they are getting where they want to go through pulling. Instead, gently pull against the lead until the dog releases the pressure and walks with you in the opposite direction, and mark this with a verbal cue such as ‘yes’ and reward them for responding and walking alongside you. You don’t want to actually pull your dog, but teach them how to release that pressure by walking with you.
4. Stop-and-Go Technique:
Another effective technique is to stop and wait when the dog pulls. Similar to direction change, using pressure release if the dog is pulling, apply some pressure and as soon as they release that pressure and walk with you, mark with a verbal cue. Only proceed when they return to your side with a loose lead. Consistent rewards and patience will reinforce the concept that walking on a loose lead is rewarding, while pulling leads to pauses in their walk.
5. Consistency and Practice:
Achieving loose lead walking perfection requires consistent practice and repetition. When practicing loose leash walking, you need to ensure that the dog is not getting where they want to go through pulling at all, and that the training you are using is consistent and clear to your dog. Regularly reinforcing the desired behaviours and upholding consistent expectations and accountability through small training sessions, gradually increasing the difficulty level. Remember, Rome wasn’t built in a day – be patient, and success will follow.
Conclusion
Loose lead walking training is an art that dog walkers can master through consistency and patience. By adopting these techniques, dog owners and dog walking professionals can transform walks into enjoyable experiences, deepening the connection between humans and their four-legged companions.
At No Fluff Petcare Services, we pride ourselves on providing expert dog walking services that prioritise the physical and mental well-being of every dog in our care. Start implementing these techniques today, and witness the joys and benefits of loose lead walking unfold before your eyes!
Contact us
Whether you struggle to take your dog on a walk, you don’t want your dog to be alone for too long whilst your out, if you want your dog to make more hooman friends or if just want some me-time, let us help you out!
Our team consists of dog walkers who specialise in private dog walks. We are experienced in taking doggies on solo dog walks that are customised to their requirements. If you’re interested in booking an introduction walk with one of our team, please reach out to Mel for more information and availability!