How to Train a Labrador Retriever to Walk on a Leash

If the Lab is resentful of the leash then he's more likely to misbehave, therefore it's important that he associates the collar and leash with good things. Start by having him wear the collar and leash (supervised, so he doesn't get tangled up) in the house. Play a game with him and praise him while wearing the collar so that he builds a link between leash time and fun.

Teach the dog to link a certain noise or word with getting a reward. To do this simply make the noise (such as clicking your tongue) then toss the dog a treat. Repeat this during the day and soon the dog will watch expectantly and come to you in anticipation of a treat.

Now try combining both activities. With the dog on the leash, back away from him while making excited noises to entice him to follow you. As he steps towards you make your "reward" cue noise and as he approaches your heel give the reward. Continue moving forward with a combination of excitement and reward cue noises. The dog will quickly learn to keep pace with your heel in order to keep the rewards coming.

Train with fun and enthusiasm in such a way that the dog looks on this walking to heel play as a game. This will make him eager to take part. Once he is regularly tagging alongside your heel, add a cue word such as "Heel" and then reward him. Pretty soon you'll be able to summon him to heel in anticipation of the treat and have him keep pace beside you.

Now try practicing in other places, such as different rooms in the house, in the yard, and outside on walks. Adding in distractions such as the smells on a walk can add new challenges, but if the dog already has the idea this makes it easier to overcome them.

This method starts by teaching the dog that when you walk and then stop, he is expected to sit. That sit then earns him a reward. This achieves the aim of the dog walking nicely on the leash in two ways. Firstly, the dog is attentive to you, watching to see when you stop in order to get a reward. And secondly, when the dog learns to sit automatically when you stop, this prevents the dog from surging ahead as you simply halt, thus making him sit and stopping the forward pull.

Start in a quiet room, with just you, the dog, and some treats. Show the dog a treat and then walk a few paces. He should tag along beside you, eager for the titbit. Now stop and wait.

The dog will most likely dance around you, trying to attract attention and get that tasty morsel. Ignore him. After a while, the dog will inevitably sit as he ponders what tactic to try next. Seize this moment to praise and reward him. Now set off again.

Repeat this pattern of walking a few steps and then stopping. The dog will quickly realize all he has to do is sit and the reward is his. Easy!

With the dog on a leash, try this stop and sit method on a short walk. Start walking and the moment the dog starts to surge ahead, then you must stop. The dog will quickly realize he needs to stop and sit, and a reward is his. Repeat this a few times and the dog soon trots beside you, looking up, watching for tell-tale signs you are about to stop. Without the dog realizing, he has learned to walk nicely on the lead.

As the dog becomes skilled at trotting alongside waiting for signs he's to sit, add in a cue word such as "Heel". Also, praise him as he trots nicely on the leash, so he realizes this is also desirable behavior. With practice, the dog will learn to walk nicely to heel in anticipation of a reward.

Never use harsh training aids such as prong collars or choke chains. These inflict pain as a means of teaching the dog not to surge ahead. Shock collars make up for the owner's inadequacy as a trainer, rather than bad behavior on the dog's part, whereas it's far more humane for the trainer to improve their methods.

Pulling on the leash is self-rewarding to many dogs, as they mistakenly believe it gets them where they want to go faster. When you stop as soon as the dog pulls, this prevents him getting where he wants, and eventually he'll learn that slow and steady on a slack leash is best.

Smacking or shouting at the dog will only make him fearful of you, rather than teach him how to walk on a leash. Yes, he may appear to behave, but this is out of fear of your reaction rather than the conscious thought that walking nicely is desirable. This means the dog will fail to generalize his training (i.e., He should walk nicely for everyone) and damage his relationship of trust with you.

Avoid training that is a chore and instead keep the mood light and happy. If the dog starts to tire either mentally or physically, then bring the session to an end and start again later. End each session on a positive note, with a command the dog knows well, such as 'sit', so that you can reward him and finish on an up-beat note.

If your Labrador is over-exuberant (it happens!) and you are struggling, then do seek the help of a good dog trainer who uses reward-based methods. Sometimes it just takes an outside observer to spot where things can be improved and get them moving in the right direction.