Teaching Leash Etiquette for a Positive Dog Walking Experience

By: The Charlee Bear Staff

Welcoming a new furry friend into the home is an exciting milestone, whether it’s an adopted puppy, a rescue, or a new senior dog. But this excitement also brings a lot of new responsibilities, and clients will soon realize that teaching proper leash etiquette is essential. Mastering leash manners not only helps both clients and their pets, but also ensures the safety of every passerby and neighbor too. Here are four helpful tips and techniques that clients can begin incorporating into their daily routine to get started on their leash etiquette training journey.

The first big step towards learning proper leash etiquette is having the right equipment. Buying a harness for your dog that clips in the front, along with a leash that isn’t retractable, is most recommended because it reduces a dog’s tendency to pull and provides clients with more control while walking. Dogs are often wary when asked to wear a harness, so getting them accustomed to the harness first by providing a treat after putting it on is a good way to reduce stress and create a positive association with it. Charlee Bear’s Grain Free Crunch treats are a great option since they are only 3 calories each, making them perfect for situations like this where frequent rewards may be necessary if the pet is having trouble getting comfortable with their new harness and leash.

Once a pup is ready to go with their harness and leash, one of the first and most essential tricks a dog should learn in walking training is to stay by their owner’s side. First, it’s best to begin leash etiquette training indoors where there are less distractions and a quieter environment, and then slowly build up to walking in larger spaces like backyards or around the neighborhood. Once in a quiet, small area with their dog, the client should take a small step in one direction and follow up with a treat once the dog follows their movement. Feeding the treat at the client’s side, head-level to the dog is best because it helps the pup learn where they should be while walking with their owner. Repeat this step until the dog has mastered following the client in one direction, and then have the client begin trying to move in a different direction and repeat this process of treating and praising the dog each time they take a step in the direction the client is moving.

Another common issue many pet owners face is their dog constantly pulling on their lead during walks. One tried and true trick to solve this problem is by having clients stand still and firm every time their dog tries to pull in any direction or lunge at objects they may come across while outdoors. Staying still and ignoring the pet instead of using verbal or physical reactions allows them to learn that pulling on a leash won’t get them anywhere quickly. Once the pup brings their attention back towards the client, they should immediately be treated and given praise to encourage focusing on their owner during walks. This same technique can be used for dogs that keep trying to move too far away from their owner during walks. Simply have the client stay still if they notice their pet starting to stray too far, and reward the pup with treats and petting once they turn their attention back to their owner.

This last training technique is great for any pet owner, but especially for those who are reactive during walks: teaching a dog not to bark when coming across other pups or humans. The best way to handle this situation is to distract the dog as soon as the client spots another pet or human heading their way on an outing. This can be done in several ways, whether it’s distracting the dog with a verbal command, a toy, or a behavior that the pet has already learned such as sit or stay. Immediately reward the dog with treats and praise once they move their focus away from the approaching pet or human. Repeating this will allow the dog to learn that when they see a trigger outside, turning their attention towards their owner is the best solution since they know to expect a yummy treat in return for doing so! Clients can also do this exercise indoors with a family member or friend first so that their dog will be accustomed to this practice before heading outside for the real test.

Overall, leash etiquette training takes lots of practice and clients should expect to encounter some obstacles along the way. Patience and consistency is key, and small factors such as the treats one uses to reward their dog or the amount of time spent training can make a big difference. Oftentimes, when treat rewards aren’t working to keep a pet focused and motivated to train, it’s because they are receiving too few treats or treats that aren’t tantalizing enough. High value treats offered in flavors that dogs naturally love, such as Charlee Bear’s Meaty Bites, are most ideal because they will keep pets coming back for more and eager to learn more. When training a pet, clients should try to keep sessions to 10-15 minutes each. This is the average attention span a dog has, so training a pet longer than this can cause frustration and exhaustion for both clients and their furry companion.

By utilizing these helpful tips and techniques with brief, daily practice, clients will soon be setting the stage for many enjoyable walks and bonding experiences with their pet! Although it takes time, clients will be thanking themselves later for helping create and maintain a healthy, friendly environment for themselves and those around them during walks.