The Complete Guide to Training Your Dog to Walk Properly on a Leash

Many of those who own dogs view taking their dog on a walk as being more than just something that's done every day out of habit. A walk gives your dog an opportunity to get some exercise and go, and it also lets them see what's out there and, most importantly, it creates a special relationship between dogs and their owners.
However, lots of pet owners often encounter similar problems while walking – Having a dog pulling on its leash while going ahead quickly, sniffing around in the ground, not listening to commands, getting scared of people and traffic etc. is certainly a stressful walk for anyone& at the same time it could also loose the safety.
Leash Training is more then your dog just walking behind you. Leash-training involves developing trust between you and your dog by creating clear boundaries and expectations of how your dog should act/behave calmly in human situations. With consistent training, along with positive reinforcement, you can successfully teach you dog to walk nicely and without all the crazy puppy habits.
The manual will explain the processes of preparation, rules of training, stepwise approaches, typical issues encountered during training, as well as daily routines that would contribute towards developing a secure, well-mannered walking partner. 

The first thing is Preparing to train your dog on a leash, that is, to understand how your dog behaves naturally and select the appropriate leash training gear. 

Natural Behaviors in Dogs.

Dogs naturally have a sense of curiosity to explore. When they're out in the wild, they go around looking at things with their nose and feet to find new places to check out. A lot of times, the reason why a dog is pulling on a leash or running ahead during a walk is just because they are either excited or curious about what they see and experience in the world outside of their own homes. 

Puppies will have extremely short attention spans and be very curious. However, once dogs grow up, if they haven't been trained correctly, they can develop some pretty bad behaviours. Knowing this difference is going to influence the way you are going to train your puppy.

Selecting Proper Equipment

The Proper Use of Walking Equipment Can Make Training Easier and Safer For You and Your Pet. 

Leash 

A Standard Leash Should Measure Between 1.5-2 Meters (5-6 Feet). The Use of A Retractable Leash During Training Is Not Recommended, Because it Allows The Puppy To Wander Too Far Away and Limits Your Ability To Control Your Puppy. 

Harness or Collar. 

If you own or train puppies or small-breed dogs, a Harness Is Typically Best and Distributes Pressure Evenly & Prevents Damage To Their Neck Area. Larger or More Energetic Dogs May Benefit From A Training Collar That Provides A Greater Degree Of Control Over The Dog. 

Training Rewards

Have some treats ready or a favourite toy to reward your dog for good behaviour. Positive reinforcement is the way to a well-trained dog. 

2. The Golden Rule: Positive Reinforcement

Dog training today relies on positive reinforcement (rewarding good behaviour) while bad behaviour will be either ignored or redirected. 
After your dog walks calmly next to you, immediately praise your dog with a happy voice and provide your dog a small treat. By doing so, you are teaching your dog plain walking as a good thing.
Do not yell at your dog or pull the leash with a lot of force or punish your dog either. Punishment can make your dog afraid and can ruin the trust that exists between you and your dog. Training should be more about communication than about controlling your dog.

Section 3 - Step By Step Training Approach

Training should slowly not all at once and initially in a low distraction environment and build up slowly.

Step 1 Training Inside 

Select a place inside where it is quiet without any distractions to start to do your training.
Give your pet a few minutes to get used to the harness or collar by leaving it on them for a little while. When they are comfortable with the harness or collar, attach the leash to it. Allow your pet to move around freely in the area that you are in. 

The next phase is to choose a specific side of you, and this will typically be on either side (left or right), and train your pooch to walk beside your foot/leg. You can help encourage your dog to remain at your side by using treats as 'lure'. You can also use a command word, for example, "heel", or «walk"
Practice making short moves in and across the room. If your dog follows you along calmly, provide an immediate reward. 
Keep the training session time short (about 5-10 minutes, roughly). 

Step 2: Train in Outdoor Areas with a Low Distraction 

As soon as your dog begins to walk indoors with you, begin to train in low distraction outdoor areas. The places include hallways, empty sidewalks, or quiet parks. 
Allow your dog to sniff around for about a minute at the start of your walk before giving a command to start walking.
Stop moving if your dog is out front and pulling. when leach gives you slack again and your dog comes back, continue walking. You are teaching that to move along does not require pulling on a leash! 

You can also practice stop - start. Say "stop", then wait, before telling them it is ok to walk ("let's go!). 

Practice in more realistic situations. 
Now comes the last stage - finding yourself somewhere busier than your backyard to continue practicing. The distractions in this case include individuals walking dogs or just walking on a street.
Start with quiet times of the day so that the dog is not overwhelmed by too much noise. If your dog gets distracted by other animals or people, simply redirect their attention. 

You will be gradually increasing the distance that you will be walking and exposing your dog to new environments. 

Through Consistent Practice, Your dog will Learn that calm walking beside you is the desired behavior. 

Solving Common Walking Problems 

Many Dog owners experience similar challenges when they are trying to train their dog on a leash. 

Dog Pulling on The Leash.

Leash pulling is among the most frequent issues with dogs. 
If your dog pulls on the leash while walking, immediately stop walking. 
Do not continue walking until your dog has loosened the tension on the leash. You can also change directions abruptly on walks. 
This helps your dog understand that pulling will no longer get him to where he wants to go. 

Constant Sniffing and Stopping 

Sniffing is normal for dogs, but over-sniffing can slow your walk down.
The time you let your dog sniff around on a walk should be brief. Let him explore the world during this "sniff break", and when it ends, guide him along the path using a gentle command like "let's go". 

Fear of People or Traffic 

There are many situations (loud noise, vehicles, crowds) where dogs may become highly anxious. 
When introducing your dog to a new environment, do it gradually. Begin with quieter places and increase their exposure over time. Always reward good behavior and verbal praise when your dog does well in these situations. 
Do not force your dog to go into a situation where they will experience extreme fear. 

Picking Up Food from the Ground

Sometimes dogs will attempt to consume items they find outdoors and it may pose a threat to them. 

When you experience your dog trying to reach down with their mouth towards something on the ground, you may want to gently redirect their attention using the leash with a firm command such as "leave it". When they transition back to walking, reward them for their good behavior.

5. Developing Great Habits For Life

Training should not halt at the time when your dog has learnt all the fundamental commands. Training needs to be continued so that you remain very consistent in your approach to training.

Ensure that your dog follows the same walking standard every day; thus, you should not permit your dog to pull on the leash at all times while walking.
Reward your dog at different times when he is being calm. This supports good behaviour. 

The amount of exercise and walking a small dog will need is approximately thirty (30) minutes per day. Larger dogs will generally need one (1) or more hours of walking per day. 

A responsible owner will pick up after their dog and abide by the local city, town and/or county leash laws to keep everyone safe.

Conclusion

one of the greatest things you can teach your dog is an appropriate way to walk by your side while being attached to a leash. By doing this, you are helping your dog to be safe, you are helping out the behavior of your dog and you are building a strong bond between you and your dog. 
Even though it may not happen quickly, your patience, your consistency, and your allowing your dog to be successful (i.e. through positive reinforcement), will help your dog learn how to become a calm, confident, and enjoyable walker.
Every peaceful walk offers more than just a routine. It's a chance for you and your faithful friend to bond.