There are many dog training techniques, and this is especially true for dogs that love to walk. Some dogs will not learn fast if they are forced to go through a technique to command your dog to walk on a leash. This is why it is important to teach your dog to walk on a leash in a relaxed and natural manner. This does not mean you have to physically guide your dog, as this is never going to be the best option. However, it will mean you have control of the situation at all times.
The first step to teach your dog to walk on a leash is to learn how to command your dog to move forward and to stay on the lead. Some dogs are naturally more outgoing than others, and some dogs have been trained from an early age to be more outgoing. This means that certain dogs are naturally better at learning to walk, while other dogs can be harder to train. There are different things that you should look out for when you are trying to command your dog to move forward and to remain on the lead. If your dog tries to jump ahead of you, or tries to push you away from the dog, then your dog is not ready to learn this technique to command your dog to walk on a leash.
As you are walking your dog, make sure that you always guide your dog through a controlled process of turning. This will help to establish who is in charge and who is taking the lead. In some cases, you may need to adjust your walk speed to match the pace of your dog, but this is something that can be done without too much difficulty.
Your dog should be able to turn left and right by itself without you having to assist them in doing this. In fact, they should be able to turn in both directions at their own pace without you needing to move closer to them. If your dog has problems moving around in circles, then you should consider introducing them to the use of a leash as this will enable you to control where they are going. You can place your dog on the leash and allow them to go in circles in one direction, whilst guiding them with your voice to keep on walking in the same direction. This is a very effective training technique for dogs that are nervous about moving around in circles.
Once you have taught your dog to turn at their own pace, then you will need to be able to get into the habit of commanding this turn. The best way to do this is to start off slowly and then build up to longer and more enforced turns. Start off using only your voice. Say this phrase as loud as you can, while backing away slightly and then giving your dog a treat as a sign that they have moved forward. Try to hold the treats between your fingers and as close to your dog’s mouth as possible.
To teach your dog to turn at their own pace, you need to make sure that they know what they are supposed to do. This means that they need to walk in the direction that you want them to go. You may need to make repeated turns until they get the idea. Keep moving forward and when your dog starts to turn to go in the correct direction, immediately step in front of them. Your dog will see this as a signal that they have gone too far in one direction and will need to go back to the correct path.
As soon as your dog has started to turn in the correct direction, stand still and then say “stay” in a firm voice. Give your dog a treat as a reward for obeying your command. Repeat this exercise up to five times and then move back in the opposite direction. When your dog starts to ignore you, step in front of them, give them the treat and say “step back” in a firm voice once more.
There is another technique to command your dog to walk on a leash with the same effect as above. However, this technique requires a bit more patience and dedication on your part. You will need to keep moving back and forth until your dog understands that they are supposed to follow your lead. This may take up to five or six sessions depending on your dog and how well they are learning. Once they have learned this, you should only need to do it once or twice a week.