@kayleyyourlocaldogtraine: 🐾 Have a dog who pulls HARD? Start with one successful step. Loose leash walking is a skill your dog needs to learn. If pulling regularly gets them to an exciting smell, person or destination, it can become a habit because it works! Here’s how to start teaching a different way: 🐾 STEP 1: Choose an easy starting place Begin inside your home, in your yard or somewhere quiet. Bring small treats your dog enjoys, a regular 6-foot leash and a well-fitted harness. Give them enough leash to stand comfortably beside you with a little slack. A loose leash should have a gentle curve rather than stay stretched tight. 🐾 STEP 2: Make your side a rewarding place Choose the side you want to practise on. When your dog stands beside you with the leash loose, say “Yes!” and immediately give a treat beside your leg. Repeat several times before moving. Feeding in this spot helps your dog learn where rewards happen. They do not need to sit or stare at you the whole time. 🐾 STEP 3: Take ONE step Take one step forward. If your dog moves with you and the leash stays loose, say “Yes!” and reward beside your leg. Start with a reward after every step if needed. Once that feels easy, try two steps, then three. If they pull when you add steps, shorten the distance again. Reward while the leash is loose—before they reach the end. 🐾 STEP 4: Respond calmly to pulling When the leash becomes tight, pause instead of continuing toward what they want. Keep your hands steady and avoid jerking the leash. Encourage your dog to turn back toward you using your voice or a familiar hand target. Once they return and the leash loosens, mark and reward beside your leg. Then restart with one easy step. If they stay fixated, create more distance from the distraction rather than waiting through a tug-of-war. 🐾 STEP 5: Avoid the pull–return–treat loop If your dog repeatedly pulls, returns for a treat and immediately pulls again, make the exercise easier. Reward more frequently while they are walking on a loose leash, choose a quieter location and take fewer steps between rewards. Give them plenty of chances to succeed before pulling starts. 🐾 STEP 6: Use sniffing as a reward After a few successful steps, say “Go sniff!” and walk with your dog toward a safe sniffing spot. Allow them to explore while you keep slack in the leash. They can walk ahead, stop and sniff without pulling. Loose leash walking does not require a strict heel throughout the walk. 🐾 STEP 7: Adjust when the environment is too hard If your dog cannot respond, keeps lunging toward something or suddenly refuses treats they normally enjoy, move farther away and try a quieter spot. Treat refusal can have several causes, so look at their body language too. A dog who is worried or overwhelmed may need space and a break before more practice. 🐾 STEP 8: Keep sessions short Start with 3–5 minutes, or less if your dog becomes frustrated. Finish after a few easy successes. Gradually add more steps between treats, while continuing to reward check-ins and loose leash walking. Introduce distractions slowly, and reward more often when practising somewhere new. 💚 Progress might look like five good steps today and ten another day. Build from what your dog can manage, and keep sniffing and enjoyment part of the walk. If your dog is difficult to hold safely, get hands-on help with equipment fit and a training plan suited to both of you. Save this for your next practice session! 🐾 #LooseLeashTraining #DogTrainingTips #LeashPulling #LooseLeashWalking

Kayley 🐶💚🌸

Open In TikTok:

Region: CA

Monday 12 October 2026 15:06:39 GMT