Getting set up for a successful loose lead walk

This is blog 3 in a loose lead walking series, so if you haven’t yet read the first 2 blogs, you can take a look at them here as this one will make more sense to you then.

In the last blog, we looked at how building engagement through eye contact and response to name can really help your dog start to communicate better with you on walks.  This alone can really transform how they walk on the lead.  Adding some additional methods can get you from good to great, so read on to find out how to do it. 

Get yourself organised before you leave the house

If you aren’t as organised as possible when going on your walks, you probably won’t feel as in control as you would like.  Spending a couple of minutes ensuring you have all the right equipment and everything in the right place can make all the difference. 

As I said in the previous blog, learning how to loose lead walk is training for both ends of the lead.  It’s not a natural thing for dogs to do, and yet we expect them to do it perfectly.  So we need not only to help them understand what we want, build strong foundations, but we also need to ensure that we are doing our bit to make it as easy as possible.  So let's start by breaking down the different elements we need to be thinking about:

• Have you got the correct equipment for your dog?  They will need a comfortable harness (with a front clip if possible), and a standard length lead, not one that keeps changing length like a bunjy or a retractable.

• Where would you like your dog to walk?

• Does your dog know how far ahead of you can they go?

• What do you do when the lead goes tight? 

• What do you do when they get it right?

• Are your treats where you need them to be?

If you have thought about all these things and are clear about the answers, then it will be much easier for your dog to succeed.  If you aren’t clear, then you can’t expect them to be.

1 – Getting organised

Before you leave the house, ensure you have your treats easily accessible.  If you mostly hold the lead in your right hand, then having the treats on your left side might be easier.  Using a bag or a pouch that is easy to get your hand into will help.  Remember timing is very important in dog training. 

2 – Remember your marker word

Because timing is so crucial, your marker words are more important than ever as they buy you a bit of time from the dog doing the desired behaviour and you delivering the treat.  Your dog looks up at you, you mark it with “good” and get a treat out for them. 

3 – Lead length – let’s teach the dog how far ahead they can go

Your dog needs to learn how far they can move ahead of you before the lead goes tight and makes you stop walking.  If the length of the lead is constantly changing, or if there is always tension in it, it becomes very difficult for your dog to understand what is expected.  If you can imagine your belly button as an anchor where you will try to keep the lead held, this will make it easier for your dog to learn how long the lead is.  If you constantly wrap it around your hand or hold it up in the air, they won’t be able to learn.  Once your dog learns that when the lead goes tight you stop walking, they will quickly learn how far ahead they can go without this happening so try to be mindful of this part.

4 – Use different reinforcers

Sometimes when you are walking your dog and they check in, a treat would be a great reinforcer.  But sometimes, particularly if the lead has gone tight, you have stopped, and your dog loosens the lead without looking up at you, the best reinforcer to use is just to allow them to walk on.  They are often obviously trying to get to a particular spot – tree, lamppost, bin etc. to sniff, so by you using allowing them to get to this place as a reinforcer, this can be very powerful.  It isn’t all about the treats, but knowing what your dog wants at any given moment.  

5 – Where to deliver the treats

When you are giving your dog a treat, it is a good idea to create a hotspot where you will deliver all the treats, this is going to encourage your dog to walk in the hotspot as this is where all the goodies are delivered.

6 – Be consistent

You need to remain consistent if you want to make a lasting change in how your dog walks with you.  If you are consistent, then they will be too. 

In the next blog I will write about how we put all of this together in real time and have a successful lead walk.  We will troubleshoot problem areas so you know what to do to achieve your goal.

If you’d like help building engagement and focus with your dog, I run training walks and one-to-one sessions in Romford, Essex and surrounding areas. Feel free to

 or keep an eye out for upcoming events.