How to Train Your Dog to Walk on a Leash

A good walk is a great way to bond with your dog and get some exercise. Unfortunately, walks aren’t nearly as fun when your dog tries to walk you.

Dogs pull on their leash because they have places they want to go, and you’re not going quite fast enough for them. Fortunately, there are ways you can train a dog to walk beside you. Check out these steps from Professional Animal Trainer and TV Show Host Joel Silverman on how you can stop your dog from pulling on the leash.

6 Steps to Teach Your Dog How to Walk Beside You

Step 1: Start small

To start, you’ll need to find a good training space inside your home. A four-foot-by-four-foot area in your living room, bedroom, or any other clear space is perfect. Stay away from open windows and put away any toys to make sure your dog isn’t distracted for leash training.

Once you’re in your space, you only need a few things to start training. First, make sure your dog is on a leash and at your left side. Second, have a few tasty Bil-Jac treats ready to reinforce good habits.

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 3: Figure eights

Once your dog is comfortable with turning, it’s time to add some figure eights into the mix. For this, you’ll do half a circle of a left turn followed by half a circle of a right turn. This process will test your dog’s ability to change direction and get him used to staying by your side no matter the direction.

When you and your dog complete both half-circles, give your dog a treat. As with turns, give your dog some time to get used to this new pattern and move on to the next step once he gets the hang of things.

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.

Step 5: Practice walking outside

While you and your dog are ready to practice outside, it’s not quite time for a regular walk. There are many potential distractions outside of your home, so practice the figure eights, walking a few steps, and turning in your front yard before it’s time to hit the sidewalk.

“Dogs often get excited once they hit that sidewalk,” Silverman explains. “What you don’t want to do is go through all this training in the house and the front yard and have your dog think that you’re just going to take a walk.”

Silverman suggests taking a couple of days to train in your front yard or driveway before you move to the sidewalk. When you do, limit your steps on the sidewalk to five to 10 feet leading away from your house before turning back and repeating the pattern. Stretching out training like this will give your dog some sort of structure so that he realizes he should walk beside you instead of pulling.

Step 6: The big walk

When you’re ready to venture beyond 10 feet of sidewalk, it’s time to take your dog for his first post-training walk. Make sure you have your dog at your left side, just like you did during training. Hold the end of the leash with your right hand and have your left hand about 12 to 18 inches away from your dog’s collar. It’s also very important to make sure that you keep some slack in the leash.

“You never want there to be tension,” Silverman says. “When there’s tension, dogs want to pull. If you keep some slack, you’ll let the dog think and learn on his own.”

It’s also crucial that you stay aware of your surroundings and that your dog focuses on the lesson at hand. If you see another dog coming toward you, go on the other side of the street or find a place where you can step back and give your dog some space. A little anticipation will make sure your dog focuses on your walk and not on distractions.

Finally, there are times where your dog will need to go to the bathroom and pull in front for a bit. That’s completely fine. Once your dog has gone to the bathroom, clean up after him and give the heel command so that he can go back to your side.

Take Leash Training one Walk at a Time

Whether you just adopted a new puppy or need to retrain a pull-happy dog, it can take time for your furry friend to walk right by your side. However, that doesn’t mean that teaching your dog must feel like a chore. Leash training can be both a fun bonding experience and a serious training experience. If you stay diligent and make sure your dog is still excited to learn, the two of you will be able to walk side-by-side in time.

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