I think you know the feeling.
You’re out with your dog, and he’s pulling on the leash like a freight train.
The harder you pull back, the more he pulls forward.
It’s not fair!
Your arm is sore from trying to keep up, but your dog just keeps going.
Is there anything that can be done about this?
Well, we’ve got some tips for training your pup to walk nicely on a leash without hurting yourself in the process!
In order to teach him what ‘heel’ means (or any other command), you need to reward him when he does it right.
Table of Contents
- Why do we need to train our dogs on a leash?
- How to teach your dog to walk on a leash
- Tips for training your dog to walk on a leash
- Give Him His Own Space to Rest
- What are the benefits of walking my dog with me as opposed to letting him roam free in the yard
- The importance of having clear expectations when it comes to training your pet
- What does it take for you and your pup to be successful at walking together, both indoors and outdoors?
- 5 ways to train your dog not to pull when walking on a leash
- 3 things you can do if your dog pulls while walking on the leash
- Most Common Mistakes and Solutions When Walking Your Dog On A Leash
- 1. One of the most common problems when using a leash is reaching to grab it.
- 2. Another common problem is when people pull back on the leash.
- 3. Teaching a new puppy that wearing a collar isn’t something scary.
- 4. He wants to go over to something or someone.
- 5. Another tip would be teaching your pup that its name means ” come back here .”
- Conclusion
Why do we need to train our dogs on a leash?
Dogs need to learn how to walk on a leash, because it’s essential for their safety and for the safety of those around them.
Dogs who don’t know how to walk on a leash are at risk for injuring themselves while they run, pulling so hard that their muscles or bones can become injured.
There are so many health benefits to walking for your dog, especially a big dog like an American Bulldog!
It’s important that you teach them how to do it right.
And if you’re planning on taking your big guy in public with you, he should learn the correct way of walking on a leash in public before doing it without any training at all!
How to teach your dog to walk on a leash
In order to teach him what ‘heel’ means (or any other command), you need to reward him when he does it right.
When he pulls, try to gain his attention by calling out his name. ‘Henry!’
Then give him a treat and praise him for walking nicely with you on the leash.
If your dog is over 8 months old, then you need to start training him from an early age using positive reinforcement.”
Tips for training your dog to walk on a leash
There are a few basic tips for training your dog to walk nicely on a leash.
It’s not like teaching them how to sit, stay, or come.
Leash training is something you want to start early and keep up with over time.
You can start teaching your dog the correct way to walk on a leash at an early age using treats as a reward.”
1. Loose Leash Walks – Be Positive and Use Treats
The most important thing to do when teaching your dog how to walk on the leash is making sure it’s a positive experience.
It will make the process much easier if you don’t get frustrated or angry at your pup.
Instead, reward him when he does what you want and ignore his mistakes.
You’ll be able to train him much faster this way!
Reward him with treats during walks for sitting still, listening to commands, or doing anything else that’s right.
As far as treats go, try using something small like bits of hot dog or cheese.
Treats will help your pooch associate walking nicely on the leash with getting extra food!
2. Practice With the Leash Inside
The most ideal place to practice the leash training routine is inside your home, when there are no distractions around.
Try practicing right after breakfast or dinner time so that your dog will be more interested in treats.
Don’t move too fast or go outside yet!
Work on teaching him the commands and getting his attention first.
Only move on to outside training when your dog is focused and ready!
3. Keep the Leash Loose!
The most important thing to remember about teaching your dog how to walk on a leash is that the leash needs to be kept loose at all times.
If you’re using treats as a reward, then the best way to do this is by feeding them one at a time.
This lets your pup know what he’s being rewarded for, makes him more attentive to you, and keeps his mind off of the treats that are coming next.
Bringing his level of excitement down just enough so that he will pay attention to you instead of tightening up or leaning into the string will help you get him to listen to your commands and learn the correct way of walking on a leash.
4. Practice!
You can’t just teach them how to do one walk nicely, then consider you’re done after that!
It’s important to practice with your dog as much as possible so that he’ll know what is expected from him when outside on walks.
Try working inside first and then moving into outdoor training slowly.
If you notice that he seems uncomfortable or scared while outside, don’t make him walk in those conditions!
He needs to be comfortable and confident on the leash before doing it anywhere else.
5. Reward With Praise Not Treats!
Although it’s great for your pup to know they’re getting a treat after walking on the leash, your dog also needs to be rewarded with praise.
Strive for 5-star treat walks with at least five treats given out during each session.”
Praise him or tell them “good boy” whenever he does anything correct and ignores distractions outside.
It will serve as an extra reward for doing things correctly and without the use of treats!
Give Him His Own Space to Rest
When you’re out with your dog, it’s important to make sure he doesn’t get overexcited.
Remember that every pooch has his own pace of learning, especially when it comes to dogs like American Bulldogs who think they’re pack leaders.
If he gets overly excited while walking outside then it will be very hard for you to get him to calm down and focus on your commands.
You want your dog to stay relaxed while out on walks , not constantly trying to pull ahead or going crazy from all the new scents around!
Sometimes, taking away his treats for a bit can help with that.
Doing so will also make him more attentive during walk time since he’ll only be able to get a treat when he listens well.
What are the benefits of walking my dog with me as opposed to letting him roam free in the yard
By allowing him to roam free in the yard while you’re gone, he can’t play with anyone.
But if you’re walking your dog regularly then it makes sense that he will stay out of trouble since he’ll have something more exciting to do.
Plus, your dog will love getting out and about!
When he’s with you on walks, he can see new sights, explore different environments and meet new people (and animals!).
Walking with you will also help to keep your dog safe if he ever gets loose from the yard or escapes from an injured leg.
As a responsible owner, it’s your responsibility to make sure that he stays away from danger and feels as comfortable inside the house as possible.
The importance of having clear expectations when it comes to training your pet
Remember that every dog has his own pace of learning.
Your pup might take a few more months to learn how to walk on a leash than another type of dog, but it doesn’t mean he’s less intelligent or incapable.
It just takes time and patience for each individual animal to become comfortable with something new like walking outside in public.
You want him to know what is expected from him when out on walks, so be sure that you’re very clear about this before starting with any training sessions.
Always offer rewards as soon as your dog does the right thing according to your commands.
This way, he’ll be able to clearly understand what behavior earns him praise and attention instead of treats and love.
And these rewards can be anything from a treat to a long game of fetch in the backyard or something more fun.
Just make sure they are always positive rewards that only happen when he does a good job on the leash.
You may also want to walk him throughout different areas so he’s more comfortable with other families and their dogs around.
Walking your dog through these different areas will also help you to learn how he responds to people and other animals.
It will allow you to understand his reactions as well as know if he’s uncomfortable around certain types of dogs or people.
You will also know when he’s on high alert and may react incorrectly to what others are doing around him.
If this happens, you can make sure to step in and stop him from biting or growling.
The final tip for walking your dog through multiple areas has to do with those treats.
These will always help your pup feel more comfortable if they’re offered through special training sessions outdoors.
You want to help him see that positive things happen when he’s on a leash, not just while at home.
After all, this will be the time when you’re outside and interacting with other animals or people.
What does it take for you and your pup to be successful at walking together, both indoors and outdoors?
Have you ever felt like your dog or puppy is constantly pulling on the leash and making it hard to take him on walks?
As a result, you’re worried that he may not remain safe if you continue to let him walk on a leash.
Well don’t worry too much because there are many ways in which you can make sure your dog will be able to remain safe while outside of the house and have an easier time walking with you.
All you have to do is follow these tips.
Get an easy-to-use harness for your pup so he can become accustomed to being on a leash without pulling and causing discomfort.
This dual pull control system will help to prevent sudden movements or unexpected pulls from your pet. It’ll also keep him from jumping up into car seatbelts.
So if it’s possible for you, try to take your dog to a training class.
This will help him learn and understand what’s expected of him on walks.
Just make sure that you’re willing to follow through with the class and not get discouraged once picking up where things left off.
For instance, if he begins pulling and causing you discomfort then just stop walking altogether. If it takes more time to correct the behavior then so be it.
Make sure that you are very involved in his daily exercise routine at home by making use of pet toys such as dog pull toys or rope tug-o-war games.
These are great for helping him burn some extra energy without being on a leash outside.
Just make sure to be careful if you’re playing or walking on sloped surfaces.
Wearing a dog collar can also help when it comes to maintaining control as well as preventing your pup from being able to get away or run off after chasing after something that catches his eye.
You must also keep in mind the type of collar you use for your pet.
If it’s too tight, this could actually cause him discomfort and even restrict blood flow through the veins in his neck, which will only lead to more problems later on.
Training him properly so he knows how to behave when on a leash indoors and outdoors is also very important.
This is something you should do since dogs are very curious creatures and will always want to explore their surroundings.
They’ll sometimes just run off after something that catches their eye if they aren’t properly trained.
Besides this, you also need to get an easy-to-use harness for your pup so he can become accustomed to being on a leash without pulling and causing discomfort in the process.
This will help him see that positive things happen when he’s on a leash, not just while at home.
If possible, it’d be better if you could take your dog out when there are fewer people around.
You can do this by cutting back on treats so your pooch is able to behave much better once on a leash.
By doing this, you’ll now have the ability to take him out during off-peak hours and avoid having to deal with other people when walking.
This way, your pet will also have no problem walking on a leash while outdoors.
And if he begins pulling and causing discomfort then just stop walking altogether.
If it takes more time to correct the behavior then so be it.
5 ways to train your dog not to pull when walking on a leash
There are many ways to train your dog not to pull on a leash, and you will have to try out some of them until you find the one that works for you.
1. Over time teach the dog that when he is attached to the leash.
You can use treats or a clicker at first but eventually you will be able to encourage him simply by saying “heel” or “let’s go” without anything else.
The dog should learn where your left foot is going so that he can move into position next to it easily.
When walking with the leash, never let the dog walk in front of you because this will cause him to think that he is the leader and it could cause a lot of problems if you let him get away with walking in front.”
2. Try learning how to properly hold and use a prong collar if possible.
This type of collar is known for being effective and simple to use as long as you know how to properly put it on your dog during walks.
3. Try out some other methods.
One example would be to start reinforcing good behavior by rewarding him with treats each time he follows instructions correctly.
Over time this will cause him to associate being leashed up while walking outside with good things happening.”
Another option you have is to make sure that you keep his leash longer than what it needs to be.
The idea behind this is so that he will have to walk closely beside or a little behind you when on a leash.
When out walking, keep the lead short and allow the dog to walk at your side.
This tells him that it is safer and better for him to be close to you.
So what stops people from doing this?
If he pulls then he should get no reward. Along with this, don’t let your dog drag his leash along the ground since this will cause him to become used to pulling and eventually associate being on a leash with going forward while dragging stuff behind.
However if possible, make sure you practice using all of these methods in order so they can build up sure you make your dog wear a harness while walking.
This will help him learn how to walk beside you without pulling.
4. Your pup to stop pulling on the leash.
When not leashed, allow him to wander around and sniff but when it is time for a walk, pick up his leash and tell him what a good dog he is while slowly taking steps forward.
If he pulls back slightly then pull backwards slightly until he realizes that standing where he is won’t accomplish anything because to move forward means no tugging.
Once this happens reward him with treats or simply clap and talk in an exciting voice.
As soon as you start walking forward then he will most likely get excited and want to follow close beside or behind you.
5. If your dog is able to walk on a leash without pulling.
First, make sure that you always use positive reinforcement techniques.
You cannot just punish him when he pulls and assume this will discourage him from doing it again; instead you must reward him every time he follows instructions correctly.
If he begins pulling then stop walking and let him know that the behavior is not acceptable by saying “eh eh” in a firm voice.
Make sure to do this while watching for any sign of improvement such as listening better or stopping his bad behavior entirely.”
Another way to get him to stop pulling is by using food.
The idea behind this method is that you can teach your dog how walking slowly and staying by your side is the best thing for him since it will give him access to a tasty treat.
Food should be used as a reward during training sessions or when he does something well.
This will allow him to learn that treats are given out when walks are kept short, enjoyable, and calm.
“If he has been taught “heel,” practice it in short periods of time while on walks.
If there’s an object like a sign post (which I point my dogs at) or some other marker along the way, use this to reward him for heeling by going over and “tracking” (touching a finger to the object, guided by you).
If you are unable to follow these steps then try using treats as a lure.
For example if your dog is walking too fast then slightly pull his leash while getting ready to give him a treat .
3 things you can do if your dog pulls while walking on the leash
1. If you are walking in an area where there aren’t many people then try stopping and just standing still.
If your dog is pulling towards a person or another dog then keep on praising him and give him treats whenever he shows any signs of listening to you.
Once you start moving again then praise him for walking along next to you.
2. Use “eh eh” as a command when using food rewards.
This will let your dog know that pulling is not getting anything good, but instead it’s making the walk go much slower.
3. If your pup pulls while on walks or seems intent on going into areas that might be dangerous such as roads or bodies of water (like ponds) than try using a ” dead stop.
This is when you use a leash that has half of the slack taken out so if you do pull back slightly to discourage him from pulling then it will be very difficult for him to go forward.
If your dog breaks away from your side than keep on giving him verbal reminders such as “eh eh” until he comes back.
Make sure to reward this behavior with treats and praise.
Most Common Mistakes and Solutions When Walking Your Dog On A Leash
1. One of the most common problems when using a leash is reaching to grab it.
The reason this isn’t such a good idea is because your dog will keep on walking and not pay any attention at all to what you are doing.
To fix this problem try holding onto the handle/strap with just one hand and let your pup get used to having you move in different ways by running around behind him
(which still gives him room to bound).
After he’s adjusted then continue while holding onto his normal leash strap/handle.
Also another trick is if there are people nearby try crossing over the strap so it hangs down from your waist or chest instead of in your hand.
2. Another common problem is when people pull back on the leash.
This can cause your dog to become over excited and not pay attention to your words or commands.
A better way of discouraging pulling is by rewarding him for walking calmly at your side.
For instance try rewarding with treats and/or praise as he comes up next to you.
3. Teaching a new puppy that wearing a collar isn’t something scary.
The best way to do this is start off slow and get them used to having it on their neck while they are in their cage or kennel.
Next, take it off of his neck and have some fun! (this means play time).
After a few days of getting used to having the collar on you can attach a leash and let your pup roam around.
However make sure that you are holding onto the leash so he doesn’t go running off right away.
If he does try to get away then quickly pull back and stay face-to-face with him until he calms down.
After this he will know that wearing a collar isn’t scary after all!
4. He wants to go over to something or someone.
This could mean that they want to sniff or greet them.
To fix this problem try using treats as lures when approaching other animals/humans.
If you aren’t comfortable doing this then can use a toy to get your dog’s attention.
This will make him want to follow you.
And once he/she does walk at your side reward with treats and praise!
5. Another tip would be teaching your pup that its name means ” come back here .”
By saying his name in a firm tone whenever he starts to wander away then he will learn that going off somewhere isn’t something fun.
Conclusion
Now that you’ve read about all the benefits of walking your dog with a leash
It’s time to get started.
We recommend starting by teaching them how to walk on a leash indoors so that they have more practice and success before taking them outside.
Check out our blog for tips on training your pup not to pull while also setting clear expectations as well as what might happen if he does!
If this is still too much work for you, we want to show you some other ways people are getting their dogs exercise without having to go through the hassle of constantly walking him themselves.
You can check out our article here or download our free eBook “How To Be The Alpha Dog” which will give you step-by-step instructions on how you can get your dog to enjoy going for walks with you so that you don’t have to be the one always walking them.