WALKING ON THE LEAD

1. Begin by putting your dog on a lead inside; walk him to the door as if you were going out. If he pulls, quickly tighten the lead and take him back to where you started from and begin again. Try to keep the lead slack or your dog will form the habit of leaning on it against the pressure that you exerting. It is important that you do not go out of the door until he is walking to heel without pulling. the offer of a tasty treat will help him to take up the correct position on your left side.
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2. When you get to the door use the "SIT" command to control your dog whilst you open the door. if he moves then quickly put him back in the "SIT" position and repeat until he is steady.
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3. Walk through the door ahead of him and then allow him to join you. Make him sit when he is on the other side of the door whist you close it.
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4. With the dog positioned on your left, walk forward keeping the lead slack and giving the command "HEEL" in a pleasant tone of voice. If he pulls ahead, STAND STILL and quickly tighten the lead bringing him back  to your left side. Without moving forward slacken the lead. If your dog surges forward, quickly tighten bringing him back once more. When he remains steady when you slacken the lead, praise gently and offer a titbit. Repeat the command "HEEL" and walk forward once again.
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5. All the time that your dog is walking correctly you should offer gentle praise and encouragement. Don't overdo this because it may make him more excited and more likely to pull. the reward of occasional treats will make walking to heel a pleasant experience.
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6. If you dog pulls forward at any point on the walk then you must instantly repeat the "stand still and tighten the lead" routine, until he understands that pulling on the lead does not get him anywhere. You should not shout at your dog or appear angry as this will only increase his desire to keep away from you.
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7. The majority of pulling on the lead problems occur on the outbound part of the walk because the dog associates this with getting to an exercise area. This sort of excitement can be reduced either by playing with your dog with a toy before going out for exercise or by occasionally walking round the park without allowing him off the lead to play.
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8. Although you should allow your dog to exercise his senses in relation to everything that is happening around him when out on the lead, this should not be allowed to develop into sniffing at every lamp post, garden fence or blade of grass you encounter.
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FOR A DOG THAT LAGS BEHIND AND LACKS CONFIDENCE.
Keep the lead slack at all times and avoid using it to pull the dog to you. Initially use food in the form of his dinner followed by titbits and toys to coax and encourage him to walk with you .

John