How to Train Your Dog to Walk on a Lead

There is nothing worse than grappling to control your dog as it pulls you along, it’s tongue to one side of it’s mouth as it pants and pulls on the neck muscles close to strangulation. No matter what command you shout, nothing seems to work, until now!
Straight from the off, you need to show your dog who is the boss. You are the master and it takes directions and guidance from you. Make dog pulling a thing of the past with these proven methods. It’s going to take a little patience and a strong mind from you. You are going to have to give some simple commands and do some positive actions which your dog may not appreciate at first, but it’s necessary for long term success.
Place the lead on the collar before you go outside. Never allow the dog to bite the lead. If yours does this then say a firm ‘no’ command. Hold the lead in your left hand and let the lead cross your body down to the dog which will be at your right side. Your right hand should also be holding the lead in a gentle grip. Your dogs position should be slightly behind the lead just enough so it can see it in the corner of it’s eye. The dogs position should always be slightly behind the lead.
Proceed to walk, if the dog pulls and it probably will because it’s excited. It does not know where it’s going, it just wants to get there as fast as it can. When it starts to get ahead of the lead which you are holding across your body then stop quickly. Tell your dog to ‘heel’ and to position itself next to you. Some prefer to give the ‘sit’ command next before you start to walk again.
There is no need to yank the dog back sharply. The collar will hurt the neck and it may yelp, there is no need for this. Now it’s time for the patience to set in. You can give the command to ‘walk’ as you set off again. If the dog starts to pull again you do the same thing. Stop walking immediately.
Your dog will get frustrated of course. It wants to get wherever it’s going and you are not helping. But dogs are not stupid animals, they will soon work out that If they walk in a particular manner then they are going to make some progress on the journey. If it pulls you stop walking and go back to the sit command.
When you come to road junctions then you should always give the command to ‘sit’ and wait until the road is clear. All this is good practice which will educate your dog to be a very responsive animal. Success is not going to happen overnight, but trust me, this is a proven method of success that I am sure will work with you. Failure only comes when the owner feels sorry for the dog and gives it some leeway.
Never forget that you are the master and they look for you for guidance. Just be firm with your verbal commands and actions, be patient and you will get the reward of a dog that you are in complete control of when you walk together.