How to Train Your Dog to Walk Slowly
Introduction
You’re out on a walk trying to make it a peaceful stroll instead of a half jog as your dog pulls you along. You try pulling on the leash and shouting to him, but he’s insistent that this will be the quickest of walks. It’s a problem and one that needs addressing. It would also be helpful for when you start the walk and open the door. Currently, he leaps out onto the sidewalk and then straight onto the road. You need him to slowly leave the house so you can avoid him getting run over before you’ve even stepped out of the house.
Training him to walk slowly will also be vital for helping you assert your control and position as the pack leader. If you can control his walking, you’ll find it easier to control other behaviors you aren’t so keen on too.
Defining Tasks
Training your dog to walk slowly won’t be easy, unfortunately. This is particularly the case on walks. This is often the highlight of his day and he's understandably excited and eager to tear around and sniff everything he can. Training, therefore, will consist of motivating him to walk slowly and using a mixture of positive and negative reinforcement to achieve the end result. If he’s older he should have mellowed out somewhat over the years and reigning him in may take just a couple of weeks. Puppies are often more excitable and energetic and getting a handle on that energy may take a couple of months.
Get it right though, and you’ll be able to enjoy peaceful walks and have him trotting slowly in a range of situations. You’ll also find training him to ‘stay’, ‘sit’ and any other number of commands will take less time too.
Getting Started
Before you declare war on speed, you’ll need a few things. A short or an extendable leash will be needed. You may also want to use a body harness to reduce the strain on his neck. Make sure you top up on his favorite food or treats, they’ll be used to incentivize the slow walk.
You can train while you’re on your walks each day so you don’t need to set aside any time. You do need to walk him somewhere where he won’t get easily distracted by pets, people, and traffic, though.
Once you’ve got all of that you just need a patient attitude and you’re ready to start!
The Short and Slow Method
The Fast & Slow Method
The Slow Down Method
Written by James Barra
Published: 11/01/2017, edited: 01/08/2021
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Success Stories and Training Questions
Training Questions and Answers
Maxx
Why my dog is pulling so much??
104 Dog owners recommended
Hello, it sounds as though Maxx is happy to be on a walk and anxious to get going. It's not uncommon for a dog to pull. That is where teaching them to heel is important. Take a look here ar the Turns Method. You've got step by step instructions for how to train Maxx. The Treat Lure Method is also excellent. Use these methods every time you go for a walk and soon, Maxx will walk without pulling. https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-poodle-to-heel Good luck!
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My dog can do heel perfectly at my parking lot but when we go outside he start walking faster so i have to walk much faster how can i stop this and which method is the most effective?
817 Dog owners recommended
Hello Christella, I suggest following the Turns method from the article linked below. https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-poodle-to-heel Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden
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She pulls on the lead!!! She knows the heel position and when I stop she goes straight back to heel but as we set off she gets ahead of me straight away even if she starts off behind me. We have been stopping every time she pulls but as you can imagine we don’t get far! She is really good off lead (obedient) but the walking on lead is our nemesis.
817 Dog owners recommended
Hello Deborah, Check out the Turns method from the article linked below. Pay special attention to the steps on turning directly in front of pup as soon as their nose starts to move past your leg - don't wait until her head is all the way past your leg to turn in front of her or this will be hard to do. It should look like pup sitting beside you, slightly behind you so that head is behind your leg, step forward and as soon as she starts to move ahead of you, quickly turn directly in front of her. You will probably have to be fast at first and may bump into her until she starts to learn this. Practice in an open area, like your own yard, so that you can make lots of turns easily. You want pup to learn that she should stay slightly behind and pay attention to where you are going and where you may turn, instead of assuming she knows the way and can forge ahead. The turns keep her guessing and more focused. Turns method: https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-poodle-to-heel Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden
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Any time we go for a walk Layla is constantly running. She does not walk, she is constantly trying to run even though she is getting no where which results in her choking herself a lot. We have tried stopping and getting her to sit, however, once she sits and we go to walk again she starts running again straight away. We have also tried turning the opposite direction to get her to stop running and pulling on the lead, however, this also fails to work. Is there anything else we can do to get her to walk instead of constantly running and pulling on the lead?
219 Dog owners recommended
Hello! Despite their size, cocker spaniels are very powerful dogs. Mixed with lab, you have quite a machine on your hands! She is super adorable though! My only real suggestion for immediate relief of this is to get a no pull harness or halter. Traditional collars and harnesses often give dogs more power to pull. They are able to utilize all of their shoulder and neck strength to pull against us. There are two types. A Gentle Leader which fits over the nose, and an easy walk harness that fits over the body. Both work equally well, it is just a preference on your end. Continue with the no pull exercises you are doing. But those take time. Months if not longer. So in the mean time, you can utilize a tool to make walks a bit more enjoyable.
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