How to Train Your Cocker Spaniel Dog to Walk Off-Lead

Start with your dog off-leash in a comfortable, secure environment. Let them know you have your treat bag and you are ready to start a training session. Give them a few click/treats just for being excited and engaged in the training session. Turn so that they are on the correct side of you. Click/treat and repeat 10-15 times.

You are ready to take a few steps. Point your finger down to the floor on the correct side. If your dog volunteers to join you, click/treat the instant they are in the right position. If not, hold a treat in your hand and try to lure them into position, moving your body if necessary to get them on the correct side. Try to stop using this “lure” quickly by transitioning it to a point at your side while you are standing erect.

Without adding any verbal commands, slowly raise the bar over the course of the next few training sessions. Keep clear about what behavior you are going to reward, and slowly start raising your expectations as your dog masters each level. In other words, while you rewarded simply being on the correct side at first, you will soon only be rewarding when your dog successfully takes a few steps in the correct position.

When you are training your dog any continuous behavior that you expect them to give you after a cue, then you need to also add a release word that will let them know they can stop doing the behavior. Otherwise, you will be training them to guess when it is time to stop, encouraging them to break behavior on their own. In this case, just start saying “Okay!” every so often, praising and playing with your dog to let them know they are released. Resume your off-lead walk with your finger pointing cue.

Keep extending the time you wait before click/treating, although it is best to do so somewhat randomly. If you wait too long, your dog will lose interest. Keep your tone fun and excited, praising alongside food rewards. You want your dog to be wondering when they might earn that next reward!

Once your dog “gets” that when you point to their position on your side they should walk next to you (notice: no verbal command needed), you can start to try the behavior in less familiar environments. Be sure your dog is in a secure location, or practice with a long-line leash to be safe in outdoor areas.

Continue to practice off-lead walking in various places and for longer durations until your Cocker Spaniel has mastered this behavior.

Using a long stick that has been baited with some peanut butter is another way to click/reward without having to bend down. Another advantage of this method is it gets you started with a lure system that will help your Cocker Spaniel get to the first level of off-lead walking sooner. Start by putting a small amount of peanut butter on the end of the stick on the side you want your dog to walk. This will bring them naturally into position by your side. Let them lick the peanut butter, and click/treat, dropping an additional small treat by their side.

You want to stop having to bait the stick as soon as possible. Usually within 5 repetitions of the first step, your pup will nose the stick when offered at your side even without the bait. Click/treat and repeat while walking very slowly, click treating every time your dog noses the stick (which will automatically put them in the correct position).

Continuing to use the stick without the bait to guide your dog into position. Slowly add some distance before rewarding and a increase the speed of your walk. You can start to selectively click/treat nosing the stick as long as you keep the reward frequency high enough to keep your dog interested.

Once you have your dog reliably walking next to you at a comfortable pace, then it is time to start fading the use of the stick. To do this, simply start moving your grip down the stick so that it is lifted away from the floor. Switch the click/reward criteria to your Cocker Spaniel’s position alone, rather than expecting them to nose the stick. Continue to slide the stick up your arm until a simple point to your side with your fingers is enough of a cue to get your dog walking next to you.

Once your dog clearly understands that when you point to your side they should get in position, walking or not, then you are ready to practice this technique in a higher distraction environment. Keep rewarding great off-lead behavior but feel free to switch more to praise and pets rather than food rewards once the behavior is well trained.

Starting your training with the leash on gives you the luxury of working outdoors in non-fenced areas, since the leash will still prevent your Cocker Spaniel from getting into trouble. It also has the benefit of working on leash manners more generally speaking, something most dogs can stand to improve on.

Start with your dog on the side that you want them to walk off-lead, but with their leash and collar attached. Help them into position with slight tension on the leash. Release the tension and click/treat as soon as they are in position. Take a step and repeat this process until your dog is coming into position with zero tension on the leash.

Start to add more movement by walking slowly. A little tension on the leash to guide your dog into position is fine. Be sure to release tension when they get into position before you click/treat. Never drag your dog on a leash. Ignore any positions that are not correct, and continue to click/treat when your dog is in the right position. Repeat until it is clear that your dog “gets it” and is enthusiastically taking position and expecting a treat.

Most people use the cue “heel!” for this behavior. Start to give the cue, followed by 1 or 2 click/treats for good positioning as you walk. Then, give the release word “okay!” and play with your dog for a few seconds to let them know it is alright to break position after the release word.

Once your Cocker Spaniel is reliably giving you a 'heel' you are satisfied with, and also understands both the cue and the release word, you can either drop the leash on the ground or start working with a long line. Both of these methods give you some control should your buddy try to make a break for it. The long-line (or even just a 20 foot rope) will give you some time to regain control if your dog tries to bolt away in a non-secure area. In addition, you can now practice this off-leash all together as long as you are in a secure space. The sooner you get to off-leash work, the faster this behavior will become ingrained.

Make things more challenging for your dog by practicing this behavior for longer periods of time in new environments until you always get the behavior you want. Over time you can decrease food rewards and operate more on praise and pets to remind your dog you are proud of their good behavior!