How to train a dog to walk on a leash

Updated 5 Aug 2025

Welcoming a canine companion soon, and want to learn how to leash train a dog? Naturally - having your dog leash-trained is an essential part of their training journey, and is especially helpful to get sorted before you welcome a pet sitter.

To get started, explore our top tips on leash training a puppy below, including advice on canine leash training from certified master dog trainer, Rob Kuty.

How to leash train a dog: 11 top tips

1. Create positivity around equipment
2. Create a positive signal
3. Make a walk a non-event
4. Practice recall
5. Practice walking indoors first
6. Walk backwards
7. Keep the first outdoor walks short
8. Use positive reinforcement
9. Gradually increase distance
10. If your dog pulls, stop walking
11. If your dog lunges, distract them

Create positivity around equipment

Before learning how to train a dog to walk on a leash, the first thing you’ll need to do is to train your dog to enjoy being around their walking equipment. Equipment like collars, harnesses and leashes can be scary for dogs who aren’t used to them, which can create resistance around walkies. The solution? We’d advise rewarding your dog when getting out your walking equipment, and at each stage of putting it on - attach the leash and share a treat, and so on. Do this in a quiet, distraction-free zone for the best results and soon, they’ll be used to getting their collar, harness and leash on with no fuss.

Not sure whether to leash train your pup using a harness or a collar? We've got just the thing for you! Read our blog post to find out everything you need to know about the harness vs collar debate and which one is right for your dog.

Create a positive signal

When learning how to leash train a dog, one of the first things you’ll need to do is to create positivity around each action you’d like them to perform.

Alongside getting their equipment on with no fuss, small treats can be a great way to help your pup know when they’re doing the right thing. This could include when they look up at you, walk by your side, or stop when you do.

Teaching your dog good behavior when walking on a leash needs to be centered around a positive signal, but if you’re not into rewarding with treats at every moment, opt for a clicker, a click of the tongue, a specific word, or a positive hand signal.

This will help your dog to know when they’re performing well which will lead to gratification and repeated good behavior. Simply pick one method for your positive signal, stick to it, and reward as soon as your dog has performed it.

Make a walk a non-event

When training your dog to walk on a leash, it’s important to resist creating too much excitement around going for a walk. It’s an easy mistake to make, but hyping your dog up too much can result in a heap of pent-up energy that results in less than ideal behavior once you’re on the walk. 

Over on our community forum, our member Becca was after ways to get a dog to heel rather than pulling - and Rob Kuty - certified master dog trainer, President of San Diego Pet Training and Director of Animal Training at Helen Woodward Animal Center - was on hand to help.

@becca asks “Any tips for getting a dog to walk to heel rather than pulling? I’ve done a number of sits where dogs either haven’t been taught to walk nicely alongside, or are just more used to being off-lead and seem to have forgotten anything they might have learnt!”

Rob: "Be sure to keep a walk a walk. Don’t stop and interact with other people and dogs as your dog will entice your dog to pull. Also be aware of your leash tension before trying to accomplish a heel. 

Don’t worry if the dog is a little ahead of you, behind you, left or right of you as long as the leash is loose. Once you can start to accomplish this on a day-to-day basis, then you can start to tap your leg and associate a closer walk next to your ‘heel’."

Practice recall

Learning how to train a dog to walk on a leash also involves practicing recall. As you can imagine, coming back to you when you need them to is vital for a successful walk - on or off the leash. As pulling your pooch back often doesn’t teach them much, helping your dog learn to come back when you call their name (or sound cue noises) will help them to make the right decision for themselves.

Have your dog with their collar or harness on and leash in toe, and simply sound a cue noise, providing a reward when they come to you and walk a few paces (a retractable leash can be handy for this). Repeat this gradually, and stop when your dog is eager to learn, not when they’re burnt out by all the training.

Practice walking indoors first

When learning how to train a puppy to walk on a leash, begin your leash training indoors. This will provide a distraction-free zone, allowing your dog to focus on the task at hand without any cats to contend with or traffic to ignore. Learning the new skill, adapting to the conditioning and getting used to the feeling of the leash, harness or collar will be more than enough stimulation for your new puppy.

Walk backwards

Taking a few steps back rather than forwards in the early stages of leash training a puppy can be a great way to start. If you’re in the midst of training a dog to walk on a leash, you’ll know that they’re often keen to dart ahead.

To discourage your dog from lurching forwards and to instead follow your direction of movement, take a few steps backwards, praising the behavior as soon as your dog has followed you. As they get better at following you, increase the steps you take and change direction for a challenge, rewarding them at every stage of success.

Keep the first outdoor walks short

Just like us humans, learning a new skill is draining for dogs. To avoid overwhelming your new pooch (and to maximize your training efforts), keep the first few walks short. When learning how to teach a dog to walk on a leash, you’ll want to make sure they don't get too distracted by noises and movements, and instead gets used to them being there while responding to your commands.

One of the best ways to get your pup used to the outdoors is to keep your first few outdoor walks short, slowly building them up as they get used to responding to your cues. Plus, puppies have a short attention span, so it’s going to be more efficient for your training program to keep walks and training sessions short.

Positive reinforcement

If you’ve ever had another dog or even if you’re only just learning how to train your dog to walk on a leash, you’ll know how motivated they are by food, treats and anything that smells good. So, throughout their leash training journey, play into their affinity for food, and use it as part of your positive reinforcement training.

Before you head out for a dog walk, make sure you’ve got a pouch filled with small treats that’ll last for the whole walk. Reward when your pup looks up at you, and when they follow your movements. Reward the behavior as soon as it happens so that your dog associates it with treats, and is therefore likely to perform it again.

Gradually increase distance

Start with shorter walks and gradually increase the distance once your dog seems to be mastering the skills you’re teaching them. Dogs can easily become mentally exhausted, so it’s important to teach new skills in short bursts - this is sure to have the most impact on your dog’s conditioning over hours of constant training.

If your dog pulls, stop walking

When your pup pulls, stop walking, call your dog back to you (or use your chosen cue or get their attention with a treat) to lure them back to your side. Once they’re back where they need to be, take a few steps with loose-leash walking and reward them afterwards. Avoid rewarding as soon as they arrive back to you, as this can reinforce the idea that they’re given a treat after pulling.

If your dog lunges, distract them

Just like with pulling, you’re bound to experience your pooch lunging every now and then, especially as you’re learning how to leash train a puppy. Usually, dogs will lunge when they’re seriously distracted by something, like another dog, traffic or small animal.

As a pet parent, become aware of your pup’s triggers and instead redirect their attention before they even have the chance to lunge, widening the space between your dog and the target. Once they come back to you and walk alongside you again, reward them with a treat.

Useful resources

• 10 dog training hand signals & vet-approved tips for mastery
• Best dog training apps of 2025: pricing & key benefits
• 10 good dog training books on behavior and training
• Puppy training for beginners: how to train a puppy