Training Exercises

WALKING ON LEAD

Nobody wants their dog to pull on the lead unless it is attached to a sled!

A verbal command is not necessary for this exercise. The lead is the command. If your dog is wearing it then he mustn't pull. And of course neither must you!!

First of all. For the dogs that have already learnt to pull. Practice standing still with your dog on lead. Reward & praise him when the lead is slack. Ignore him when it is tight. There is no point trying to walk anywhere until we can keep the lead loose whilst we are stationary.

Stage 1	Give at least half of your dog's food ration (1 piece every 2 or 3 paces) whilst he walks beside you around the house & garden. Do this on lead & off lead. Do not give a reward at any time that the lead is tight. Precede every food reward with a 'good boy'.
Stage 2	Your dog should now happily trot along beside you on or off the lead whilst you are feeding him. Now try withholding the reward but still giving the 'good boy'. If he's still there with you then give him a jackpot reward, break off and have a game. (If he isn't go back to stage 1). Now continue to reward randomly, keep him guessing when the next reward will be and you should keep him with you and attentive.
Stage 3	A - B Place a bag of food rewards at point B. Start at point A and move forward only when the lead is slack and praise all the time that it is. Hold only the end of the lead. When the dog pulls forward to the end of the lead stand still or even move backwards pulling the dog back with you. Do not jerk him. When you reach point B with a loose lead he gets a reward from the bag. This is more effective if, when the lead goes tight you run all the way back to point A, taking the dog with you and start again.
Stage 4	Continue the 'walk beside me' training using random rewards in places where he finds it easy to pay attention and also now do this training along the pavement when out for a training walk using constant (and higher value rewards).
Stage 5	Find time at least once a day to go for a training walk, moving forward only when the lead is slack and standing still or moving backwards when it goes tight.
Proofing	Practice at the park on lead changing pace from a crawl to a jog and also change direction constantly. This will ensure that he keeps at least one eye on you. Practice in as many different places as possible including the car park at the hall on training night.

Notes

If your dog has already learnt to pull then use a head collar for his recreational walk or drive him to the park and back or give him a command to pull, such as 'Mush'.

Don't let your dog rush through doors whether on or off lead.

When practising stages 1 & 2 avoid saying your dog's name to get him to come to your side to take the treat.

It doesn't matter which side your dog walks but you choose, not him.