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With nicer weather coming, its a great time to get out there and enjoy some walks with your favorite pooch. If your dog walks are anything but leisurely strolls, the following tips are just for you!

Change Your Direction

Abruptly changing the direction you’re heading in may be enough distraction to make your dog understand that he needs to follow you. Every time your dog begins to run or walk ahead of you, quickly turn around and begin walking the other way. When he obeys and returns to your side, be sure to follow up with praise and/or a small dog treat. Tempting as it is, don’t scold your dog for tugging on the leash. Just redirect his attention by abruptly changing direction.

To begin with, your walks may only be a few steps at a time. That’s OK! You may need to repeat this process several times. The idea is that you want your dog to be paying attention to you and your movements. Be generous with your praise and rewards and repeat this process several times. Your dog will slowly give up the tug of war game he’s been playing with your.

If you already own a dog training collar that has both positive and negative tone reinforcement, now would be a great time to use it.

Consistency is Important

Now that you’ve made up your mind to leash train your dog, always be consistent. Be consistent in your application of rules so as not to confuse your dog. Think of this like you would any other dog obedience training.

The best way to practice your new walking skills is in a familiar place like your driveway or backyard. Once you’re confident your dog understands what’s expected of him, begin taking longer walks in less familiar places.

Perfection Comes With Practice

As with all dog training, teaching your dog to walk properly on a leash is an ongoing process. Don’t be discouraged if your dog isn’t instantly getting it. Patience and consistency will pay off in the long run. Even after your dog has learned what is expected, you’ll still want to reinforce the behavior by occasionally using the distraction technique given above.

Be generous with your praise - act as though your dog just did the smartest thing ever! Your dog loves receiving praise and rewards from you. The more praise you give when you “catch him” being good, the more likely he is to pay close attention to what you’re doing.