We want to make sure that anytime the leash is loose the dog gets paid and when there’s a tight leash, they don’t.
The following method requires first, that all or most reinforcement will come from behind you and second, that you toss the food to the ground- not far- just so the dog has to look for it.
Lets play!
Loose leash walking is going to start off as a game. Here are a few steps that you will need to train BEFORE you do any walking with your dog.
- Put the leash on your dog and stand still. When your dog releases the tension on the leash, click and show him the treat n your hand. While he watches you, place the treat on the outside of your left foot. Once he’s eaten the treat, move to the end of the leash so it’s stretched and stand quietly. When he moves to release the tension, click and then place the treat on the outside of your left foot. Don’t worry about eye contact just yet. What we’re clicking and rewarding for is the releasing of the tension on the leash. Do this a number of times. We want the dog to regularly want to get closer to us/release tension on the leash.
- Continue step 1 but add the eye contact. So move to the end of the leash and when your dog comes closer and maybe offers a glance at your face, click and treat. Click and treat 3 times for looking at you while on a loose leash.
- Again, just standing with your dog on a loose leash, looking at you, toss your treats right past your dogs nose about 3 feet away. When dog eats the treats and comes back to you looking for more, click and treat by placing the food one the outside of your left foot. Move and repeat.
- Again toss the treat right past your dog’s nose. When your dog finishes eating it and turns around to come back to you, you turn your back and start walking. Just take a few steps in the beginning. When your dog catches up with you , but before he gets past your pant leg, click and treat. Repeat.
NOTE: Make sure when you toss the food it goes right past your dogs nose. Now that you have the dog following you for a few steps it is time to start walking and reinforcing behind or next to you.
Training on the move
While your dog is on leash, turn away from him and start walking. As your dog catches up to you (maybe makes eye contact)- click and treat, dropping the treat next to your left foot. Wait for him to finish the treat and then start walking away , as he catches up, drop the treat next to your left foot, or a little behind you. Make sure to stop and wait for him to finish eating before you move away from him.
NOTE: Dropping food next to your side or a little behind helps the dog to stay close to you. It prevents the dog from anticipating and forging ahead. So drop the food behind you or you can even let the dog take it out of your hand behind your back. Don’t drop the food so far away that the dog has to drag you to get it.
Continue practicing
Don’t let the dog get in front of you. If he does, pivot away, wait till he catches up BUT is next to you or slightly behind you (or his nose is at your pant seam) and drop the food.
Now you’ll need to increase the number of steps you take before rewarding your dog. You can vary the steps as you practice (ex: 3 steps, C/T. 5 steps, C/T. 2 steps, C/T. 7 steps, C/T. etc.). You can now treat your dog at your pant left leg or continue dropping the treats behind you.
As you get better at walking longer and longer distances without your dog going ahead of you, don’t forget to reward intermittently. You want your dog to believe that it’s better for him to stay close to you rather than attempting to pull since you haven’t paid in a while.