We all have that friend, relative… or rival who walks their dog with expert lead-wielding skills. They aren’t being pulled down the block, tied around trees or tangled up with the friendly neighbour dog who’s also out for an afternoon stroll. I don’t know about you, but I silently envy the person and pet that can walk side-by-side without breaking a sweat.

And, I have to admit, good lead walking skills are important for more than just showing off your pet-parent talents. “From a relationship perspective,” explains Sarah Fraser, a certified professional dog trainer and co-founder of Instinct Behaviour & Training in New York City, “if your dog is walking nicely on a leash, it likely means that your dog is paying more attention to you, making it easier for you to provide direction and guidance as needed along your walk.”

A lead-puller can also run the risk of accidentally breaking away from your grip, which can pose multiple dangers to your pet if he or she continues to run, not to mention yourself if you end up face-first on the pavement. “Teaching your dog to walk nicely on a lead allows you to take her to more places and for longer walks, because it’s more comfortable and enjoyable for the both of you,” Fraser says.

Being tethered to someone by a piece of rope is just plain weird,” notes Fraser. Having proper lead manners minimises the risk that you will be pulled over in a moment of overzealous lead yanking and will make the time more about walking and less about tug-of-war.

Tips for Better Behaviour 

Whether your dog is big or small, here are six ways to improve your dog’s behaviour on a lead.

1. Adjust your attitude. First, ask yourself: “What would I like him or her to do instead?” Instead of teaching a dog to stop pulling, think of it as teaching your dog how to walk nicely beside you.

2. Remember it’s all about the rewards. One of the easiest and most effective ways to start teaching a dog to walk properly on a lead is to reward the dog for paying attention to you, and for being in the desired position (next to you or close to you) when out for a walk. “As the dog learns that walking next to you is a pleasant, rewarding experience, she’ll spend less time pulling and more time walking nicely beside you,” says Fraser. Try using special treats in the beginning, she advises.

3. Play the “follow me” game. Hold on to your lead and take several backward steps away from your dog. The backward movement is inviting, so your dog is likely to turn and follow you. Say “yes!” as your dog approaches you, then immediately reward him or her with a treat. “The game helps your dog focus and move with you,” says Fraser. Then back away several steps in another direction. Once again, say “yes!” as your dog approaches and reward him or her with a treat. Repeat this pattern eight to 12 times, until your dog is actively pursuing you when you move away.

4. Practice on your regular walks.  Once you’ve started your stride, each time your dog looks up at you or walks next to you, says “yes!” and immediately reward him or her with a lot of attention or a treat.

5. Reward often. Frequent rewards help the dog figure out more quickly what behaviour you’re looking for and make the learning process easier for her,” Fraser explains. “The trick to making this work,” she says, “is using very special treats at first, and keeping your rate of reinforcement high, which just means that you are marking and rewarding often—maybe every 4-5 steps at first—for any and all ‘good’ lead behavior.” Over time, you can thin out your rate of reinforcement, rewarding your dog less frequently throughout the course of the walk, Fraser adds.

6. Consider additional assistance. “If your dog is already a practiced puller, consider purchasing a quality front clip harness to provide extra control on walks,” Fraser recommends. But if your dog already pulls hard on a front clip harness, consider working with a certified, positive reinforcement-based trainer.

Finally, remember that walking on a lead is a skill that takes time and practice for both the pet parent and dog, so celebrate incremental improvements and successes!