How to Teach a Dog to Walk on a Leash

May 19, 2013 | Dog Lead Walking | By British Bully

Teaching your Bulldog to walk on a leash is one of the most important aspects in dog obedience training. Eventually, English Bulldogs are born without knowing that they shouldn't pull or be dragged behind. Sometimes, it is very difficult to train a dog to walk on a leash just because Bulldog is usually excited with one thought of the forthcoming walk and thinks that it can do everything it wants.

Some English Bulldogs run decidedly on their duties as fast as they can; others stop, sniff and mark everything that comes across on their way. If you are going to teach your dog to walk on a free lead, never allow dog pulling on leash. If you aren't consistent in your deeds, your English Bulldog will keep pulling, therefore, even if you are in hurry when walking a dog on a leash, don`t lose the established rules and don't allow your Bulldog to pull a dog lead!

English Bulldog with a Leather Dog Collar and Leash

You probably saw at the dog shows or on the TV how the obedient Bulldogs march near the owner and look at him with admiration. These Bulldogs are trained to follow about their owner. In spite of the fact, that such a show has a great look at from the outside, the dog not always can follow a similar instructions for a long time. It demands of a constant concentration of attention, both from a dog and from the owner, and it doesn`t go for daily dog walking around the house or in a park. Even these Bulldogs were trained to walk with a hands free dog leash.

There are many ways of training a dog to walk on a lead, avoiding dog pulling. Any of methods isn't universal for all Bulldogs.

Nevertheless, there are certain rules which you have to follow regardless of the methods you will choose:

• While your dog won't stop pulling a lead during the walks, each walking consider as a dog obedience training. Give such dog obedience classes regularly and make them short and fascinating.

• You need a set of awards if you want to train dog to walk on a lead.  Use healthy dog treats your English Bulldog likes most of all, but in other time doesn't get them very often. Homemade dog treats, such as dog biscuits are the best because Bulldog can quickly eat them. English Bulldogs also like sausage slices, boiled chicken, beef, a liver of a dry freezing or small cheese cubes.

• Your lessons will have a bigger success if you manage to tire your Bulldog before them. Most often dog pulling a lead just because it is full of energy and while this energy won't run low, the dog hardly will be able to master itself. Play in such Bulldog games as "bring a catch" or "rope pulling" on a backyard or in a hall, take your dog to the park where it can have a lark with other dogs before you will start teaching a dog to walk on a lead.

• Go a normal, fast walk. If Bulldog hurries or runs, it is less probability for your pet to scent any seductive smell and to stop and mark the territory every few steps. It is much more interesting for English Bulldog to walk with you when you go quickly.

• All Bulldogs need to sniff and mark the territory during walks. Some of them can choose a suitable place for this procedure endlessly. Allow your dog to think a little, then tell: "Well, hasten" and slightly pull for a collar. In 30 seconds tell a little more resolutely: "Well, let`s go". Pull Bulldog away from this place and continue your walk. Thus, you warn your dog, and next time when your pet will decide to mark a territory, it will know that it has only 30 seconds to make it!

• If you want to reach a dog obedience, walking on a lead, you have to make your Bulldog to be obedient before walk. If your dog becomes exited as soon as you start preparing for a walk, then you need to begin the dog training from this moment. Come to the door and take Dog Training Walking Leash. If English Bulldog runs here and there, barks, howls, turns or jumps, stop and ask it to sit down. If the dog continues to behave wildly, put a lead back, sit down and take a newspaper. Try once again in a few minutes. Continue until the dog won't obey and won't sit down. Commend your favourite and fasten Leather Lead to a Bulldog Collar. If the dog starts jumping again, throw a dog lead, get up and tell "Sit". Wait. When the dog will sit down, try again. This boring training will help you to go for a walk without sparing your nerves. Once your dog will learn to sit and wait while you don't fasten a dog lead to a dog collar and you won't open a door. The following step will be to teach a dog to stop pulling a lead during a walk.

See also Teaching a Dog to Walk on a Leash (Part 2). And if your pet likes to pull the lead, read My Bulldog is Pulling - How Can I Stop It?