Loose Leash Walking & Heelwork: Clicker Dog Training

[@maylacie]

Nicely done.....love loose leash walking!!!

[@Rozzy287]

My Giant Schnauzer is 11 months old and since I have been watching your videos about not pulling on a loose lead. He can now walk nicely, but only in the garden, he seems to forget when we walk up or down the pavement, he is very easily distracted. i have been training him with the clicker and treats. I have also taught him to look at me and use a kissing sound which works quite well. Thanks for all your tips, I will keep trying with Charlie.

[@Pamsdogacademy]

Eventually you will be able to decrease the amount of clicks and treats, but in the beginning make sure you use a high rate of reinforcement, which means c/t, c/t, c/t, c/t. I hope that helps!

[@Pamsdogacademy]

He is a very active dog!! Both my BCs are extremely active. However, they have learned that the ONLY way to get what they want is to do what I want. In the beginning I will just hold the leash so that they can't go anywhere and when they look back at me as if to say, "hey what is going on?" then I click them for releasing the pressure of the leash and I turn and reward next to me. If a dog is allowed to pull, he will learn that pulling works to get him what he wants & he will pull more.

[@Pamsdogacademy]

@lexisdogs You are so sweet! Thanks!

[@Pamsdogacademy]

Since he is too distracted outside on walks, I would start with really short walks. Maybe just back and forth in front of your house. Go back a few steps in training and treat the walking as if he has never learned it before. I would let him pull, then once he has tension on the leash, wait, just stand there and wait (don't let him pull you over, hold your ground) and as soon as he turns back to you click/treat him for releasing the tension in the leash, turn & move in the other direction.

[@watchmoivies123]

Ok, thanks! Twix is such a good boy! Kim

[@Pamsdogacademy]

Hi, I personally do not think that teaching a dog to walk on a loose leash will cause separation anxiety. However, to ensure it does not, you could work on teaching your pup to also be fine being alone. Leave him in the house, crate or play pen, go around the corner into another room for a few seconds then go back and reinforce if your pup is quiet, keep increasing the duration you are away. Also try to go out the front door a few minutes then come back & again increase duration. :)

[@watchmoivies123]

Can I ask why you are looking for eye contact? Is this for comp obedience? Thanks Pam Kim

[@peanutsandbamboo]

Hi, I actually have a question. When doing this training, you are showing your dog that being next to you is rewarding,correct? Won't this develop some kind of separation anxiety if in the case you need to leave the room or something and the dog wants to follow you? Pls. Reply

[@Pamsdogacademy]

When you turn and go in the other direction, click/treat for him being at your heel. You can place the food on the ground and as he eats it move again. Then when he catches you click place the food on the ground and move as he eats it. Next, click treat for him being at your heel, feed to his mouth, keep clicking and treating using a high rate of reinforcement for him being at your heel. Once he gets that start to space out your clicks a bit, but not too much. Then release him to go sniff.

[@Pamsdogacademy]

@maylacie Thank you!!

[@judibooty]

Hello, my puppy pulls the minute she is on leash, but you don't seem to have highly active dogs (or do you?), do you film them after a few training sessions or is this the first session, i'm so surprised, it must be you have their attention first so they don't pull. Right?

[@Pamsdogacademy]

@watchmoivies123 I compete in canine freestyle and want him to have great eye contact when doing heel work in that. I might do obedience one day, but who knows? I also just love focus and eye contact from my dogs. :)

[@Pamsdogacademy]

I would continue to practice in the back yard with him on leash. Keep teaching him the acceptable way to walk. Then take SHORT SHORT training walks, Click & Treat him for just standing at your side, rapid fire. CLICK TREAT CLICK TREAT, ect... High rate of reinforcement for being at your side. Then take one step, click and place food on the ground. As he is eating it, move one step and when he catches up, click treat with the food on the ground again. Repeat this a bunch!

[@Pamsdogacademy]

Once he gets good at that first step, then click and feed him to his mouth and try to keep walking. This will mean that you will have to KEEP clicking and treating him for being next to you. After you have taken about 5 steps, RELEASE him to go sniff and take a break. Then say, "Let's Go" and move, if he does not want to move, keep steady gentle pressure on the leash and keep moving until he finally gives in and comes with you, then click and treat that choice! REPEAT REPEAT REPEAT! :)