Leash walking is an important part of dog training. It means that your dog walks on the lead without pulling. This is particularly important in the city or when other dogs are around. You can learn this through body language or signalling.
Leash control with body language
One method that is often recommended is the use of body language. This involves cutting off the dog's path by jumping in its way or pushing it back with your body, leg or hand or stopping it when it overtakes. It is also often said that you “walk into the dog” or push it away in a circle. This method is based on the fact that the dog must never walk in front of the human. A dog that does not walk in front cannot pull.
Leash control by signal
You teach your dog to listen to your signals and follow you. There are various methods for training your dog to walk on a lead. Here are some steps you can follow:
- Start with short training sessions of just a few minutes. Make sure that the training always ends on a positive note.
- Use a short lead (lead line) to show your dog that he should stay close to you.
- Reward your dog when he stays close to you and doesn't pull. Use treats or praise.
- If you notice that your dog still wants to go over to the train, a short jerk 3 times will also help. The jerking should be like nudging a person (it serves to attract attention).
- Repeat the training regularly to ensure that your dog has mastered leash walking.
With fair consistency, your dog will show the desired behaviour after a few months. The right dog training is the be-all and end-all.
When should you start practising
In principle, you can already practise this with puppies, but you should only take very small, short steps. Your training should be tailored to their age.
From the age of around 6 months, you can then start proper training. Your dog is now old enough to expand the training more.
If you already have an older dog, you will need to be more patient with the lead than with a young dog.
