Loose Leash Walking
Summary
Loose leash walking means your dog walks near you with a bend in the leash between your hand and their collar or harness, because they aren't pulling. Your dog doesn't have to stay glued to your leg. They're free to move around and sniff, as long as the leash stays loose.
You'll start inside with Touch, so your dog learns that the spot by your left leg pays off. Then you'll add the leash and move to the backyard and the front of your home. In Stage 2, moving forward becomes the reward: a loose leash means the walk keeps going, and a tight leash means it stops.
The goal: your dog walks near you on a loose leash, because staying close is what keeps the walk moving.
Benefits of Loose Leash Walking
Walks that are more relaxing and enjoyable for both of you
Less tension on the leash, which means less stress. A tight leash can fuel barking and lunging.
More freedom to sniff. Sniffing is one of the best ways to tire your dog out, a bit like reading a challenging book for us.
Safer walks, with no getting pulled off your feet
A dog who checks in with you more often
Ways to Use Loose Leash Walking
Everyday walks around the neighborhood
Walking from the car to the vet, groomer or training class
Busy places like parks, patios and pet stores
Walks with kids or other family members holding the leash
Anywhere you'd like your dog to explore without dragging you along
Purpose
The purpose of loose leash walking is to make walks calm, safe and fun, for your dog and for you. A tight leash sends tension and stress down the line, and for some dogs it can fuel barking and lunging. A loose leash gives your dog the freedom to sniff and explore, and sniffing is one of the key things that tires a dog out on a walk.
What about Heeling?
Heeling is a different behavior. Most people are happy with a dog who walks nearby and doesn't pull, and that's what this entry teaches. We like to teach three kinds of leash skills:
Loose leash walking: your dog moves freely nearby, with a bend in the leash.
A casual heel ("With Me"): your dog walks close by your left leg when you ask.
A formal heel: a precise, competition-style heel, if you'd like one.
Before You Start
Teach Touch first. Your dog should already know how to bump your hand with their nose when you say "Touch." Every step here builds on it. Start with our Touch entry if you haven't taught it yet.
Use the right gear.
A harness, martingale collar or flat collar
A 6-foot or 8.5-foot leash (or longer, if we've talked about how to handle it)
No retractable leashes. They work by keeping constant tension on the leash, so your dog can't tell the difference between loose and tight.
Great, small, smelly treats and a treat pouch
Pick a side. These steps use your left side. You can use your right side if you'd prefer. Just stay consistent.
The Words You'll Use
Word | What it means | What your dog gets |
|---|---|---|
Bump my hand with your nose. | A treat | |
Let's go | We're starting to move, in whatever direction I'm going. | Moving forward |
This way | I'm changing direction, come with me. | Moving forward |
With me | Move in close to my left leg (casual heel). | A touch and a treat |
Too much | The leash is tight, so we stop. | Nothing until the leash bends again |
Yes! | That's it! (the leash just got a bend in it) | Moving forward again |
Get it | I'm dropping a treat right by my left foot. | A treat |
I'm tossing a treat away from me. Go find it! | A treat, and a fun chance to move | |
Toss | I'm throwing a treat a few feet in front of you, in a straight line. | A treat and moving forward |
The Rules of the Game
5 correct in a row? Move up to the next step.
3 misses in a row? Go back one step.
Going back isn't failure. It just means the step was too big.
Set Up
When to Teach
Pick a time when your dog is calm and a little hungry, and when there aren't many distractions around. Quick sessions are best: a few minutes of Stage 1, a few times, before you move on to the next step.
Where to Teach
You'll move outward one place at a time:
Inside your home
Your backyard (skip this if you don't have one)
In front of your home, near the front door
Short walks around your neighborhood (Stage 2)
In each new place, start at a quiet time, when there aren't many people, dogs, bikes or cars around.
Supplies Needed
A harness, martingale collar or flat collar
A 6-foot or 8.5-foot leash (no retractable leashes)
Small, soft, smelly treats
A treat pouch worn on your left side
Management Notes
While you're teaching, try not to let your dog practice pulling. If you need to get somewhere fast, it's OK to drive, use a front-clip harness or skip the walk and play a sniffing game at home instead.
If your dog is reforming a long pulling habit, expect it to take time. Every pull that pays off makes the old habit stronger.
Instructions
Stage 1: Build the Behavior
Step 1: Touch and step (inside, no leash)
Before this step: your dog knows Touch. You'll need treats.
Practice Touch a few times to bring your dog toward you.
Hold your left hand by your left leg, palm facing behind you. When your dog touches, mark and treat.
Take one step forward, keeping your hand in the same spot. Touch, mark and treat.
Take two steps and repeat. Keep going until your dog gets 5 touches in a row.
Now say "Let's go," take three steps and let your dog touch your hand, then mark and treat. After 5 in a row at three steps, move on.
Every time you stop to treat, say "Let's go" before you start walking again.
This makes a great quick session. Do it a few times before you move to Step 2.
Step 2: Add the gear (inside)
Before this step: Step 1. You'll need a collar or harness, a leash and treats.
Put on your dog's collar or harness and leash, and let them drag the leash around for about 5 minutes.
Repeat all of Step 1 without holding the leash.
Repeat all of Step 1 holding the leash.
Build up to 5 steps with your touch hand up by your waist (neutral). At 5 steps, drop your hand to prompt a touch, then mark and treat. Keep going until you get 5 in a row.
Mix up the number of steps from 1 to 5 before you drop your hand for a touch.
Step 3: The backyard
Before this step: Steps 1 and 2. You'll need a collar or harness, a leash and treats.
Repeat Steps 1 and 2 in your backyard.
No backyard? Skip to Step 4.
Step 4: In front of your home
Before this step: Steps 1 to 3. You'll need a collar or harness, a leash and treats.
Repeat Step 2 near your front door, at a quiet time (few people, dogs, bikes or cars).
Build up the number of steps between treats, mixing easy, medium and hard, like 3, 10, then 7.
If your dog is already walking nicely by your side, you can skip the touch prompt and hand the treat straight to their mouth at the top of your left thigh.
Ready for Stage 2? Your dog walks reliably on a loose leash in your backyard and in front of your home.
Stage 2: Moving Forward Is the Reward
Keep treats handy. You'll still use them to prompt a touch or "With me," or as a surprise reward for walking close to you.
Step 5: "Too much" means we stop
When the leash gets tight, say "Too much" and stop walking.
As soon as your dog does anything that puts a bend in the leash, say "Yes!" and start walking again. At first, this may be a tiny movement or just a look back at you.
If your dog needs help at first, make a kissy noise to invite them closer. Say "Yes!" and move forward the moment the leash bends.
Step 6: Turns and "This way"
When you change direction while the leash is still loose, say "This way" and turn. This works for a 90-degree or 180-degree turn, or for walking around a tree, car or mailbox.
You don't need to teach "This way" on its own. Just say it every time you turn. Moving with you is the reward.
To help your dog in close, drop your hand into touch position by your left thigh and treat the touch.
Turns are also handy when your dog seems to forget the rules. They keep the walk moving while your dog stays near you.
Step 7: "Let's go"
Any time you've stopped and are about to start walking, say "Let's go."
Step 8: The reinforcement zone
The reinforcement zone is the area by your left side (or your right, if that's the side you picked). Your dog earns treats just for being there.
When your dog is in the zone, say "Get it!" and drop a treat by your left foot, then keep walking. Or prompt a touch at your left leg and treat.
Start with a big zone. Then, over a few weeks, shrink it so your dog is rewarded for walking closer and closer to you.
Good Signs
You are on the right track if your dog:
Checks in and looks back at you more often
Puts a bend in the leash quickly after "Too much"
Turns with you when you say "This way"
Spends more time in the reinforcement zone
Sniffs and explores while the leash stays loose
Take a Break If You See
Stop for now and try again later if your dog:
Is too excited to take treats
Is barking, lunging or spinning on the leash
Keeps pulling even after you go back a step
Seems worried or stressed in a new place
Schedule
Practice in short sessions of a few minutes each.
Aim for:
Stage 1: 1 or 2 quick sessions a day
Stage 2: use the rules on every walk
Short, happy sessions work better than long ones.
End every session on a win.
Troubleshooting
I feel like I'm stopping every few steps.
That's normal, especially at first. It takes lots of repetitions. Stick with it. Your dog will learn that a loose leash means moving forward.
It feels like it's not working.
This is normal too. If you're reforming a puller, you're changing a habit your dog has practiced for a long time. Keep going, and add the reinforcement zone to speed things up.
Do I really have to stop every single time?
Yes, especially in the beginning. This only works if the rules are the same every time. Every pull that gets your dog where they want to go teaches them pulling works.
My dog is great at home but pulls on walks.
Walks are much more exciting. Go back to Stage 1 in front of your home, or try a quieter time of day, and use lots of turns.
Can I use a retractable leash?
No. Retractable leashes keep constant tension on the leash, so your dog can't tell loose from tight.
How to Level Up
Once your dog walks nicely near home, it's time to take it on the road:
New places: try new streets, parks and patios. Start at quiet times.
Busier walks: add distractions slowly, like other dogs, people and bikes.
A closer walk: teach With Me, our casual heel, for times you need your dog right by your side.
Change one thing at a time. In a new place, go back a step and give lots of treats.
This will make walks so much more fun for you and your dog. Loose leash walking is teaching your dog: "When I stay close, we keep going."