How to Train a Puppy to Walk on a Leash?

Walking on a leash doesn’t go perfectly right away with a young puppy. The scents of the world and all sorts of other incredibly interesting things capture the curious little one’s attention—and the leash inconveniently limits the puppy's frantic jumping from one side of the road to the other.

Training a small puppy to walk on a leash requires patience and consistency from the owner, as the puppy cannot immediately understand why it is not allowed to dart off in different directions when outside. The feeling of pressure from the leash might confuse the little dog, making it pull even harder—or sit down puzzled, pondering the situation. However, leash walking is something a dog must learn. It is important to be able to walk with the dog in busy areas without the dog constantly dashing off after everything that catches its attention, which at worst can cause dangerous situations or at least annoyed glances from passersby.

Walking on a Leash

A puppy’s energy to pull on the leash can be endless. There goes a squirrel, there goes another dog! It would be an absolute must to investigate everything right now. However, the dog must learn that it should not pull on the leash, but instead slow down when it feels the leash tighten. How can this be achieved?

The basis of good leash behavior is teaching the dog that it is rewarding to stay close to the owner. Training should ideally start indoors—and without a leash. The puppy is allowed to roam freely in the house, but whenever it comes to the owner and makes eye contact, i.e., establishes contact, it is praised—with words and small treats to reinforce the behavior. Training can be intensified by taking a few steps away from the dog, and when the dog follows, it is praised again. You can repeat this exercise several times: sometimes taking more steps away, sometimes fewer, and praising the dog every time it follows in the same direction as the owner. The training should not be too intense, and it’s important to take breaks.

While walking outside with a puppy, situations will undoubtedly arise where the puppy walks so far from the handler that the leash tightens. Scolding the dog doesn’t help, and you should never pull the dog by the leash. The dog does not learn anything from the owner pulling on the leash, but in the worst case, pulling can cause serious damage to the dog's neck and spine.

Instead, stop and wait. When the dog turns to look at the handler in the eyes, i.e., when it makes contact, the dog should be rewarded with praise and treats. Then, continue walking until the same situation arises again. And again.

You can also introduce a command for this situation, for example, saying "wait" every time you stop and wait for the dog to stop and make contact. Over time, the dog will learn to stop and look at the handler whenever it feels the leash tightening or hears the command "wait."

The keywords in dog training are consistency and patience. Every walk is a good opportunity to teach the dog a bit more of what has been practiced. With consistent training, and always respecting the animal's natural behavior, you can create a well-behaved dog companion with whom walks are fun and safe for everyone.

What Kind of Leash for a Puppy?

For a puppy leash, a light option, such as a nylon leash with a lightweight clip, works well. The length of a puppy leash should be such that the dog can move a bit further away from its owner to do its business in peace, but still be easily controlled and brought closer when needed. Typically, puppy leashes range from 120 to 180 cm (47"-70") in length.

A retractable leash is not suitable for a small puppy. It is better for the puppy to first learn how to walk properly with a basic leash, as the "freedom" provided by retractable leash only teaches the dog that it’s okay to run in different directions, even five or eight meters away from the owner. The time for using retractable leashes will come later, once the basic principles of leash walking have been learned.

FINNERO Products for Puppies

The BAMBINO leash is made from woven tape, which is very soft and lightweight. It is a great choice for walking with a small puppy. CHECK IT OUT >

The BAMBINO collar is made from woven tape, which is very soft, lightweight, flexible, and comfortable on a puppy's neck. It can be used as a first collar for puppies and for small adult dogs. CHECK IT OUT >

The LIGHT harness is made from breathable and slightly stretchy 100% polyester MESH fabric. The harness is very easy to put on and take off, with a buckle closure on the back. The LIGHT harness is a safe option for puppies learning to wear a harness, as the pressure is evenly distributed around the dog's body. CHECK IT OUT >