How to Leash Train Your Dog

When it comes to walking our dogs, the leash often becomes a central part of the conversation. But what is the true purpose of a leash, and are we using it in a way that benefits both us and our dogs? In this post we will be exploring why the leash should not be used as a steering mechanism, its role as a safety tool, and common misconceptions about its use in dog training.

The primary purpose of using a leash on your dog is for safety. The leash ensures that your dog is unable to easily run into dangerous situations while walking, this may include running into traffic in an urban environment or running into another reactive animal. This tool is not meant to control your dog’s movement or direct them where to go. Instead, it should act as a boundary while you use other forms of communication like verbal cues and body language to guide your dog’s behavior.

Why is the leash not a steering mechanism? It is often a misconception that we need to guide our dog with their leash and that they should just know not to pull us around. However, using the leash to pull or drag your dog around can lead to miscommunication and frustration for both parties. First off, most animals, including dogs and humans, have what’s known as an opposition reflex. This is where you have a natural instinct to pull against pressure. This reflex can make your dog pull harder if the leash is used to control their movement. This leads to the next important reason why leashes are not directional tools, using a leash in this manner leads to frustration. Constant tugging or pulling can lead to stress on the dog, and its owner. Leading your dog in a demanding manner and not giving the dog any opportunity to do what it wants, leads to that frustration which then makes them not care about trying to listen. This goes hand in hand with building a functional, nontoxic relationship with your dog.

How do you avoid using the leash for direction? This is a very common question and is often missed by many trainers and owners when teaching their dogs how to walk on a leash. The simplest explanation is to put yourself in your dog’s shoes. Dogs do not have eyes in the back of their head, so they cannot physically see that they are reaching the end of their leash, and it is unfair to expect them to. We can help them learn to be self-aware of the leash length by speaking to them, letting them know when they are reaching the end or when we are changing directions.

There are a lot of misconceptions out there from many dog trainers on how to train leash manners. The most common tactic we see is leash popping/correcting. This method uses popping/ jerking on the leash in a forceful manner to punish unwanted behavior. I see this method as being very flawed because it often leads to fear and anxiety in the dog being corrected, it also directly leads to the breakdown in trust between the handler and their dog. Another common leash tactic many trainers use is over reliance on tools. It is very common to rely on prong collars to teach a dog how to walk on the leash. I do not, and will never, advise anyone to use a prong collar for leash walking. Using these types of tools means that you are using the leash inappropriately.

Modern, science-based training emphasizes relationship-building and communication over physical control. By viewing the leash as a safety tool rather than a steering mechanism, you empower your dog to make good choices and foster a stronger bond. When walking on a leash encourage your dog to do dog things, like sniffing. You use your words to communicate and let your dog know when they are nearing the end of the leash or acting inappropriately. For more information on how to better communicate with your dog in this way, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Happy group of dogs walking on leashes!