How to Train Your Dog to Walk Beside You
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Introduction
Nothing is more frustrating than trying to take your dog for a walk and all he does is pull on the leash, circle around you, and do everything besides walk beside you where he belongs. This can lead to your pup not getting the exercise he needs, which at the same time means you aren't getting yours either. Training your dog to walk beside you is one of the easier skills to teach your dog and more importantly, it could save his life.
The only thing that makes this skill challenging for your pup, is that all he wants to do is sniff absolutely everything along the way. He is not likely to be very happy with you keeping him on a leash that prevents him from doing so. However, once he gets used to being by your side, you can both enjoy long, calm, relaxing walks.
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Defining Tasks
In many ways, this is a lot like the "heel" command, but the behavior you want from your pup is not quite as restrictive. Instead of sticking to within a couple of inches of your leg, your pup will have a little more latitude in how much he can move around. While you can give him a little space, you should never let your pup pull on his leash.
Keep in mind that during the time you are training your pup to walk beside you, every walk you take should be considered a training session. At the same time, be sure to make the first few training sessions relatively short until he becomes comfortable walking at your side. Be patient and have plenty of his favorite treats on hand to reward him every time he gets it right.
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Getting Started
In order to train your dog to walk at your side, there are few supplies you need to lay in. Thankfully, other than a few nice days, you don't need much. Here is a short list of things that might come in handy:
- Collar: A comfortable collar that fits your pup properly.
- Leash: Use a standard-length leash for these training sessions for maximum control.
- Treats: Keep a healthy supply handy to reward your pup for doing a good job.
- A quiet place: Try to pick a quiet place to go for walks as the fewer distractions there are, the faster he will learn.
- Patience: You need an endless supply of this, you should never yell at your pup for getting things wrong.
- Time: You need to practice this as often as you can, the more you reinforce the concept the faster he will learn.
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The At My Side Method
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Pick a side
If you want your dog to walk by your side, you have to decide which side it will be before you start and stick to it. The left side is traditional, but if you prefer, you can always use the right side.
Use a standard leash
For the first stages of training your pup to walk beside you, use a standard-length leash. This will give you more control. Just don't let your pup drag you along and give him a little room to maneuver.
Lure him in
Using one of his favorite treats, call your pup to your side using the treat as a lure. When he moves into position, be sure to praise him and give him a treat.
Work it on out
Using a healthy supply of treats, keep practicing this, adding in your choice of command. You could use "side" or simply "walkies". In time, it will become second nature for him to step to your side each time you get the leash.
Stepping on out
It's now time to go out for the first walk. Grab the leash, give your command, and your pup should step right up. Hook him up and head out for a walk. If he behaves on the walk, give him lots of praise and a treat or two. Keep extending the walks until you can go anywhere with him without the need for any kind of treats.
The Take Off Method
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Taking off
Hook your pup to his leash, call his name, and start walking away briskly without looking back. Your pup should follow you and try to catch up with you on the side you have the leash held. If he does, give him a treat.
When he doesn't
If he doesn't come to your side, slow down, call his name, and use a treat to lure him to your side.
Move along again
Now that he is in position, start walking again, using your choice of command to bring him to your side.
Change directions
Once he seems to be comfortable walking by your side in straight lines, start changing directions, zig-zagging, and making him prove his new skills. This also helps to reinforce the concept that he needs to be by your side at all times.
Practice makes perfect
It takes lots of practice to curb your pup's natural desire to wander and sniff at absolutely everything, from the smallest blade of grass to the spot where the last dog to pass by marked his territory.
The Meet Your Collar Method
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Introductions all round
By now, your pup should be used to wearing a collar. If not, spend a few days letting him get used to wearing one before you try to take him for a walk on his leash. Then introduce him to his leash. Clip it on his collar and let him drag it around the house for a little while each day for a few days in a row. Be sure to give him a few treats along the way.
Create your cue word
Now it's time for you to choose your command words, try "walkies" or " time for a walk". Give your pup the command each time you attach the leash and give him a treat to reinforce the association between the command and the action.
Life on the inside
Now it's time to start walking with him on a leash indoors. This will help him to learn to walk on a leash. Once he is comfortable with this, you can use a treat to lure him to your side. Tap your leg to indicate where you want him, and when he arrives at your side, give him a treat and plenty of praise.
Movin' on out
Practice this indoors for a few days and then it's time for you and your pup to take on the outside world. Start out with short walks, and be prepared for him to play up a little at first. It will take him a bit of time to get used to being outside. But, by calling his name and tapping your leg, he should fall back into the routine quickly. Be patient, use lots of praise, and give him lots of treats.
Keep working it
Keep practicing with your pup, extending the length of the walks until you can go anywhere for a walk with your pup, knowing he will stay by your side and behave himself. Now go have fun!
Written by PB Getz
Veterinary reviewed by:
Published: 11/03/2017, edited: 01/08/2021
Training Questions and Answers
Zeus
Great Pyrenees
3 to 4
Question
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
Zeus leads when we walk as we have a 2.5 acre yard. I am retired and can let him wander. However, he pulls for the first half of the walk. We have a choke collar on him (without prongs). My vet says to loosen it after a pulling, which I do. On the second half of the walk he walks next to me with slack in the leash and it is so much better. He is excited to go out to where the deer were the night before. And, he has a mind of his own having been a rescue dog and being a Great Pryenees. Is it bad for me to let him lead?
Jan. 10, 2023
Zeus's Owner
Caitlin Crittenden - Dog Trainer
1128 Dog owners recommended
Hello, Letting your dog lead the walk can cause issues, but sometimes the person doesn't mind it and there aren't major ramifications. A few things to consider. If your dog doesn't listen well in general, struggles with rude, aggressive, or reactive behaviors, then letting your dog lead can further encourage that type of attitude toward you, or the reactivity toward something they may see on the walk. Depending on whether pup is just in front of you, or actually pulling you forward, leading the walk can sometimes be dangerous with a large dog if that dog might pull you over or cause injury to a shoulder or other area from pulling, especially if they tend to suddenly take off, pulling really hard if they see something interesting. Letting pup lead the walk makes the likelihood of pup trying to chase something or being able to pull really hard a lot more likely. Sometimes a person is able to physically control the dog through their own strength to keep the dog from injuring them, but as they age, are sick, or if they get injured, suddenly that habit becomes dangerous for them when they can't hold the dog back safely any more, or if there is another person who isn't as strong who might walk the dog in the future, that behavior could cause injury for that person. On leash, I actually recommend a prong collar over a choke collar, even though choke collars look a lot gentler. The reason being, a choke collar puts pressure on the front of the neck in the trachea area. This is actually bad for the neck, especially with metal chain type collars. A prong collar, although it looks fierce, is designed to by fitted more snuggly high on the neck, with each prong gently touching the neck but not digging in at all when the leash is loose. The prongs on a good collar are at an angle and should be rounded on the ends. When you pull back on the leash to correct, the collar should give a squeeze all the way around the neck, but the prongs shouldn't dig in too far because of the angles of them and because the collar can only tighten about an inch when fitted correctly. This squeeze is uncomfortable for the dog but actually requires very little force to correct with, making it safer than a choke collar if used rightly. Once the dog is trained it sometimes only takes two fingers to correct with the leash rather than a large tug. The best training tool for each dog depends a lot on the specific dog and person though. Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden
Jan. 16, 2023
Lobo
German Shepherd
6 Months
Question
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0 found this helpful
We have a back harness, when we go on walks he pulls ahead and quite fast as he gets distracted quite easily. What method would you suggest for training recall and side walking?
Nov. 15, 2021
Lobo's Owner
Caitlin Crittenden - Dog Trainer
1128 Dog owners recommended
Hello Gabriela, First, for the heeling on the sidewalk, I would switch to a harness that's front clip, or a no-pull type collar. A back clip harness will actually encourage pulling. Dogs have a natural instinct to pull against something restraining them in that way - like a sleddog pulling a sled. A back clip harness is good for recall and training where pup is working up to off-leash but not helpful with early obedience on leash, like heeling on leash. A front clip harness turns pup's body toward you when they get too far ahead, helping refocus them back on you and not be able to put their weight into pulling you as much. With a front clip harness or no-pull type collar, check out the Turns method for heeling I have linked below. https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-poodle-to-heel For the recall, check out the article I have linked below. The article starts with methods to motivate pup to want to come to you, then progresses to proofing the come around distractions, using that padded back clip harness and long training leash. The article also includes a section on the Premack Principle which can be practiced when pup is at the point where they are ready for practicing around more distractions and a more advanced Recall. https://www.petful.com/behaviors/train-dog-to-come-when-called/ If you plan to work up to fully off-leash, advanced work, then check out James Penrith from taketheleaddogtraining on youtube as well. He specializes in high distraction off-leash training, starting with the basics of what I have included above, and working up to distractions. Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden
Nov. 15, 2021