A dog owner has shared the ‘reward' method she used to stop her pet from pulling on their lead – and it's a game-changer for those who are struggling to walk their dog
Dog owners know the struggle of a pet that pulls on the lead, eager to explore every new sight and smell during their walks. One owner, however, has shared her successful strategy for teaching her dog to walk calmly by her side. In a TikTok video, Hannah revealed how she trained her dog Honey to stop pulling on the lead and instead maintain a “loose” walk next to her.
“We started training Honey to walk loosely on the lead by using the heel command,” Hannah explained in the clip. “So whenever she was walking by our side on a slack lead, we would reward her with our marker word, which is ‘yes,' and give her a treat.”
She continued: “Whenever she would pull, which you can see here, we would stop and wait until she got into the heel position and walk again.”
Hannah acknowledged that it was a “really long process”, noting that she had to accept that walks were now training sessions, even if it meant taking half an hour just to get around the block.
Patience is key, according to Hannah, but the effort pays off, resulting in a more relaxed dog and a more enjoyable walking experience for both.
She admitted that nearly every walk included some form of training and, despite being a “very impatient person”, she found the hard work worthwhile in the end.
Hannah spent months training her dog, dedicating each day to consistent practice sessions that typically lasted around half an hour. “Our training took months of consistent work, where we practically did a training walk every day,” she shared.
However, it wasn't until Honey reached 10 months old that the results of their hard work began to show, as she started to grasp the concept of loose lead walking.
“Now, we can finally enjoy our walks instead of dreading them,” Hannah exclaimed, clearly thrilled with the progress.
For Hannah, persistence was key. She advised that by being “consistent,” eventually, one day it will just click for your canine friend.
Seeing Honey now behave correctly has been, according to Hannah, “so rewarding”.
Why is loose lead walking so important?
According to Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, training your dog to walk on a lead or loose lead walking ensures walks with your dog are safe and enjoyable for both of you.
They add on the website: “It also encourages your dog to give you their attention. It’s best to start loose lead training indoors, away from other distractions.”
