How to Train Your Dog to Walk Behind You
Jump to section
Introduction
Your dog's natural pack instincts play a large part in every aspect of his behavior, and this includes his instinct to follow his pack leader. Of course, this means you need to establish yourself as the pack leader from the very beginning. Your dog will always look to you for direction as long as you maintain your status as pack leader no matter what you are doing. Training your dog to walk behind simulates the movement of the pack and can come in handy when you are going for a walk without his leash.
Imagine how much fun it will be going for a walk or jog down the beach, never having to worry about where your dog is. Why? Because he has been trained to walk behind you and maintain his position in the pack. Bear in mind that while this may an instinctive behavior, it will take time for your pup to master it.
Top
Defining Tasks
There are several positions you can train your pup to walk with you in. He can walk out front, he can walk beside you in the traditional "heel" position, or you can teach him to walk behind you. Most professional dog trainers prefer not to train dogs to walk out front, as doing so allows them to take the position of pack leader. You should never allow your dog to take this position as it can significantly change his behavior.
Ideally, you want your dog to be able to follow behind you without a leash, stay close, and not allow distractions to make him leave his spot. You will need plenty of patience, especially in the early phases of training. Make sure you have plenty of time to practice this every day, this will speed up the training process and allow you and your puppy to get plenty of exercise at the same time.
Top
Getting Started
Before you begin training your dog to walk behind you, he should have already mastered the basic commands, 'come', 'stay', 'down', 'sit', and so forth. He should also be used to going for walks with you on his leash and to be well behaved while doing so. You won't need much in the way of supplies, but you will need:
- Treats: Have a
generous supply of your dog's favorite treats on hand to use as rewards.
- Leash: To use in
the early stages of training.
- Clicker: If you
have been using one for the rest of his training.
- Places to walk: You need several different places to walk with and without distractions.
- Patience: You
need a generous supply of this!
- Time: Plan for
one or two 15-minute training walks per day every day of the week on top of his
normal walks.
It can't be stressed enough that you need to maintain your role as pack leader at all times with your pup; this will help ensure he obeys your commands without hesitation. Also, you should never take your dog for a walk off his leash in an area that requires your pup to be on his leash. Not only could you face a fine, but you make things worse for other dog owners.
Top
The Pack Leader Method
Effective
0 Votes
Effective
0 Votes
Establish yourself as pack leader
There are several things you can do to establish your position as pack leader. Always eat your meal before you feed him. Anytime you go out the door with your pup, make sure you always go first. When people come to visit, be the first one to greet them, do not allow your pup to preempt you. Be the one to start and end playtime.
Reinforce the basics
Go through a few days of working your pup through all of the basic commands. Doing so also helps to establish your position as pack leader and lets your pup know who's boss.
On the leash
Put your pup on his leash and be the first one out the door, allowing your dog to walk just behind you. Maintain a brisk pace so your pup doesn't have the opportunity to get in front of you. Start out in a quiet area at first to minimize the risk of distractions.
Add a command
Now that your pup has started to get used to being behind you, you may want to introduce a command word. You might simply say "behind", just keep it simple. When you go out the door with your pup on his leash, use the command word as he comes out behind you. If he assumes his position, give him a treat and lots of praise, then take off on your training walk.
Add distractions
It's time to add in people, traffic, other dogs, any type of distraction you can find. If your pup starts to break position, say "behind" and give a gentle tug on his leash. If he obeys, give him a treat. If not, make him sit, wait for a few seconds, and then take off walking using the command word. You may have to repeat this several times.
Off the leash at last
Time to start working with your pup and no leash. Start out as normal with your pup on his leash in a quiet area. Go for a short walk with him in his usual spot behind you, stop and have him sit. Give him a treat and then take off his leash. Take off walking, giving him the 'behind' command. Take several steps before you look back. If he has followed you, stop, have him sit, and give him tons of praise and his favorite treats. If he doesn't follow, call him to you and put his leash back on. Now go back through the whole process again. In time, he will follow you anywhere with no more than a simple command.
The Walk and Turn Method
Effective
0 Votes
Effective
0 Votes
Collar and leash time
If your dog isn't already wearing his collar, put it on him and get ready to go out for a walk. Be the first one out the door.
Take off
Take off at a rapid pace, leaving your dog to catch up with you.
Stop and turn
At the moment he tries to pass you, stop turn in a different direction and say the word "behind" all at the same time. The idea is for him to the get connection between the word "behind" and needing to walk behind you, not trying to pass you.
Repeat, repeat, repeat
You may need to repeat the above step for several days or even weeks before your pup masters this. Less if he already sees you as his pack leader, as this will let his natural instincts to find his place in the pack kick in.
Quiet time
Finally, you can take your pup to a nice, quiet place to practice walking behind you without his leash. Take him out to your chosen training spot on the leash, make him sit, and remove his leash. Give a treat and a quick "good boy." Again, take off walking at a quick pace with the command "behind". If he follows you, be sure to offer plenty of praise and a few treats. Keep practicing over longer and longer distances, adding in distractions until the two of you can go anywhere.
The Heel Position Method
Effective
0 Votes
Effective
0 Votes
A quiet place
Start by finding a quiet room to work in or if you have a fenced-in backyard, a quiet time of day.
Introducing the position
Have your dog sit in front of you. Hold a treat in both hands and hold the treat in the right hand out to him but don't give it to him yet. Once you have his interest, move the treat around the right side of your body with your dog following it. Show him the treat in your left hand and hold it behind you, marking his "heel" spot. Give him the treat in your left hand. Repeat two or three times and then try it without the treat. If he still follows, give him the treat in your left hand.
Introduce the 'heel' command
Now as your pup moves to the proper position introduce the 'heel' command with each repetition. Use a treat to reward him for getting it right. Repeat until he will go to your heel position on command without having to be lured there.
Poetry in motion
This time give your pup the 'heel' command and take one step forward. As your dog moves forward with you, give him a treat. Repeat this until your pup will follow you in the heel position behind you without the need for treats. Each time you come to a halt, tell your pup to sit and give him a treat.
Add in distractions
Now that your pup knows his place behind your, its time to start going for walks in places with distractions. Each time your pup gets distracted, stop--make him sit and wait for a few seconds before taking off again. It takes practice and patience, but in time you will be able to take off knowing your dog is right behind you.
Written by PB Getz
Veterinary reviewed by:
Published: 11/22/2017, edited: 01/08/2021
Training Questions and Answers
Wilma
Pit bull
11 Months
Question
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
She barks whenever someone comes near the house. And when guests come inside she’ll back up but still bark. Will eventually stop but will randomly start up again.
Aug. 13, 2020
Wilma's Owner
Alisha Smith - Alisha S., Dog Trainer
257 Dog owners recommended
Hello there. It sounds like she is displaying some protective behaviors. I am going to provide you with information on how to correct this behavior. You won’t be able to solve your dog’s overprotective behavior in one day. In the meantime, you don’t want to put your life on hold. You can still invite guests into your home as long as you prioritize managing your dog’s behavior. You’ll need a short-term strategy to start showing your overprotective dog what behavior is unacceptable while also keeping your guests safe. There are a few ways to do this. Leash: Keeping your dog on a leash while friends are visiting gives you control over your dog’s actions. Leash her up before the doorbell rings and keep her close as you greet your guests. During the visit, you can let the leash drag and only use it if you have to. Muzzle: If you feel her behavior warrants the use of a muzzle for the time being while you work on solving this problem, then it may be a wise choice. Separate Room: Your dog won’t get better without practice, but sometimes you have to weigh the risks versus rewards. If your overprotective dog is in the beginning stages of training, keeping her separated from guests might be best. You don’t want to put a friend’s safety at risk or needlessly stress out your dog. As long as you keep working toward stopping the behavior, separating an overprotective dog from company is a temporary management solution. Start Obedience Training Obedience training is a must for every dog, and it’s especially important for overprotective dogs. Working with your dog on things like “sit-stay,” “down-stay,” and “heel,” will help build her impulse control. She will start seeing you as a capable leader and will turn to you for guidance. A mistake many pup parents make is stopping obedience training once their dog masters the basics skills. Being well-trained is about more than knowing how to sit when a person holds a treat in front of their face. It’s a lifetime lesson, and even senior dogs need regular training. Commit to training your dog several times a day for short periods of time. Make Your Dog Work for Affection You can’t help but smother your dog with love every time she’s within petting distance, but that isn’t always what’s best for her. She will start to feel entitled to your attention, and that’s part of the problem. To remedy this, initiate a “work for it” program that allows you to show your dog affection as long as he earns your attention in appropriate ways. Make him sit, stay calm, and do whatever else you ask before doling out whatever it is she wants. If she’s excited for dinner, make her sit and leave it before digging in. If she wants in your lap, ask her to do a trick first. Never give your dog attention if she rudely nudges your hand or barks in your face. She needs to know polite behavior, and polite behavior only, is how she gets what she wants. You ignore everything else. Involve Other People in the Dog’s Life Most overprotective dogs choose to guard only the person they feel closest to. It’s usually the same person who fills their food bowls, takes them on walks, and handles training. They become obsessively attached, and a strong bond gradually mutates into overprotective behavior. Putting some space between you and your dog will help her learn to trust other people. Enlist the entire family’s help and take a step back in your role as primary caregiver. Have someone else feed the dog a few times a week, and encourage other people to engage her in playtime. This will help her be more comfortable with different people. Socialize Socialization is best done during the puppy stages, but even adult and senior dogs benefit from new experiences. Exposing your overprotective dog to new places, experiences, and people, will help her learn that not everyone is out to hurt you. Make sure each new experience is positive, and encourage your dog without forcing her to interact. If your dog is afraid, you don’t want to make things worse. Take socialization at the pace she’s comfortable with. If she seems overwhelmed, back up and try something a little smaller. These are some general ideas and they can be modified to fit your dynamic. These behaviors do take time, I am talking months, to correct. And sometimes the behaviors get worse before they get better. So just push through that time if that starts to happen. Please let me know if you have any additional questions. Thank you for writing in!
Aug. 14, 2020
Zeppelin
Labrador Retriever
8 Months
Question
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
Is it possible to train two dogs At the same time? I have two that I need to finally put into check.
June 5, 2018
Zeppelin's Owner
Caitlin Crittenden - Dog Trainer
1133 Dog owners recommended
Hello Scott, I would highly recommend having two separation training session with each dog per day, where you work one on one with each dog without the other dog present. Even if that means that both sessions are shorter. Another dog is a large distraction for both dogs, so when you are first starting this with each dog they may not be ready for that type of distraction. Once both dogs are doing well and can stay behind you when it is just you and him, then the next step would be to take both dogs together, and work on a pack walk with everyone. Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden
June 5, 2018