Step 2: Turn before you walk
Before you and your buddy get to walking, you need to work on turning. To start, say the word “heel” one time. Start walking to your left to make a tight circle around your dog, a quarter of a circle at a time. During this, gently pull your dog back with the leash to make sure he stays at your side. Once a full circle is completed, stop and give your dog a treat while his head is next to your leg. Then repeat the whole process again.
“It sounds really funny, but you’ll want to keep going,” Silverman says. “Do another revolution and give the dog a treat. If the dog understands from day one that his master can turn in any direction, he’s not going to assume it will always be a circle. He is learning that he doesn’t know where to go, so he has to stay next to your leg.”
After your dog shows that they are comfortable with left-hand turns, it’s time to move to the right. Pivot on your right foot and use a treat to guide the dog in a small circle around you, stopping at 90-degree intervals. Once you complete the circle, make sure your dog is at your side and give him a treat. If you’re having trouble visualizing how to complete either turn, watch Silverman show off both left and right turns below.
In general, it’s best to keep training sessions short. Three-minute sessions and a few treats will help your best friend stay interested and excited for the next time you train. Don’t be worried if it takes a few days for your dog to get the hang of things – eventually your pooch will start turning with you without treats.
Step 4: Short walk and turn
Now that your dog is a turning master, it’s time to move forward – literally. Have your dog at your left side and take a couple of steps forward. After a few steps, say “heel” and go into a 90-degree left turn. Once you complete the turn with your dog beside you, take a couple more steps forward and use some treats to guide him to the right. Once you’re done, reward that “good boy” with a treat.
Keep following this pattern over multiple short sessions, making sure that your dog stays next to your left side. Over time, you can take more steps in between each turn and your dog can graduate to an exciting new training location – your front yard.
Training Your Dog To Walk On A Leash Should Be Fun For Your Pup… And For You
Young pups are hungry for your attention and most of them really want to please you. And you want them to want to please you. So, if you have the right gear and use the right training methods, teaching your pup good behavior on training walks should be fun and productive.
Your dog can not only read verbal cues, but they can also read your hand signals and body language. And you should learn how to read their body language. The training process should be a time meant to train both you and your pup. It’s a time for good communication and bonding.
Start by simply introducing your little pup to their collar or standard harness and leash. While inside your home, just allow them to get used to wearing them. Again, the correct area for this introduction is at home. To get your pup really comfortable, choose to introduce the gear while playing and giving them their favorite treats. According to the American Kennel Club, your pooch should love their leash and collar time because it means fun and treats!1 Remember, treats and fun — these are the things dogs love.
When you begin training your puppy, you want them to know that if they perform well, food is on the way. A simple verbal cue and hand signal can communicate to your pup that if they complete a simple task like walking on your left side or getting into a heel position, you’ll reward them with a treat. The word “yes” and a hand signal with your left hand can mean “food” to your dog. Just be consistent. Always use the same hand, the same word, and the same type of reward (ie: food).
Again, train in the correct area: a safe, low-noise, distraction-free zone. It helps to use a loose leash when training. If you bring your dog to the same spot for training sessions every time, they’ll recognize the reference point and know it’s time for some fun, bonding, and food.
To help your dog achieve excellent leash manners, you should have the right leash. A standard-length leash should do the trick. This leash will be 6 feet long. You may opt to walk your dog using a standard harness, as well, instead of a full harness or front-attachment harness. Your basic standard harness has a single loop around your pet’s ribs. Then there’s a loop around the neck and a D-ring that should line up on your pet’s back so you can clip your dog’s leash to it.
It’s best to work with your dog through any behavioral challenges with consistency and positive sessions. You may think a choke collar or extra-short leash will help give you extra control, but these shortcuts aren’t necessarily what’s best for your pup.
If you feel you might need a little extra help, go ahead and talk with a trainer.