The most effective tool to strengthen the bond between a dog and its owner are walks, in addition to this important effect, the benefits of walks go much further: they help the dog manage stress, keep him he althy and discipline him nicely.
Sometimes our pets demand more freedom and space and some owners also need their dog to exercise in another way and in another context, but it is necessary to know how to do it to preserve the safety of our furry friend.
If you want your dog to enjoy his outings in a different way, in this AnimalWised article we show you how to teach a dog to walk without a leash.
Knowledge of basic commands
So that your dog can walk by your side without a leash and remain obedient He must first know the basic commands, he must not be in period of dog training but must have already integrated this knowledge.
Among the commands your dog should know are the following:
- Feel
- Stand up
- Stop
- Go to your call
Among these commands the most important for walking your dog without a leash is that it go to you when you call him by his name, otherwise, you run the risk that your pet will escape and it will be very difficult to find him.
Does your dog usually walk on a leash?
To teach your dog to walk without a leash it is important that he is used to walking on a leash. The reason is very simple, the exterior is initially very excitable for the dog, which can be nervous and even show insecurity through its behavior.
When this reaction occurs on a leash, we have a means of control, but if we suddenly confront a dog to the outside environment without the help of a leash, we run the risk of losing control, and this can be serious.
Go to a safe and quiet park
The first few times you let your dog loose, you should not do it in just any environment, but go to a safe park, away from traffic and with as few distractions as possibleso that the dog stays in a calm state and is aware of both your presence and your commands.
Take him on the leash and let him go, but with the leash on. If your pet has become accustomed to walking on a leash, the fact of continuing to feel the weight and texture of it will facilitate obedience and adaptationto this new way of walking
Leave control over the leash for short periods, for example, 10 minutes, then for the same period of time let it loose but without the leash attached to the collar.
The call and reward, basic tool
A dog needs the supervision of its owner, in this sense, and even more so at the beginning of learning, it is essential that you do not let to pay attention to your pet.
When in the right environment you completely remove your dog from the leash, let him distance himself from you without losing sight of him, then call him back to you, when he does, you must use positive reinforcement to solidify The learning.
Every time your dog comes to you when you call him, offer him a suitable treat. This reward system should be maintained for a long time, at least for a period of 1 month and later and progressively this habit should become sporadic.
Play hide and seek
When your dog comes to you when you call him on a daily basis, it's time to hide and call him so that he is able to look for you and come back to youeven if there is no eye contact.
This will be very useful as the space of the walk becomes larger and the path more dynamic, as it will allow your dog to walk beside you and follow you without constantly calling attention to yourself of the.
As we mentioned before, it is important that you keep your dog supervised, without losing sight of him, hide behind a tree and call him, when come back to you, offer him a dog treat.
Wide space
Progressively and as your dog integrates this new way of going for a walk, you can take him to larger parks, with more people and with more dogs, as long as their socialization is adequate.
Obviously we recommend that you remove the leash in safe environments, those streets with traffic or close to dangerous areas due to vehicle traffic should be avoided if you want your dog to walk without any restraint.
