Loose Leash training is a key part of any dog training programme and helps you to build a stress-free and cooperative relationship with your dog. Many dogs learn early on that pulling will get them to their destination faster, which leads to pulling becoming a self-rewarding behaviour. Your dog associates pulling on the lead with success because the resulting pressure and counter-pressure often means he gets what he wants.
The "opposition reflex" is a natural reaction: if your dog feels a pull on the Leash, it automatically pulls harder against it. The result? A constant struggle on every walk. This unwanted behaviour has often become ingrained over the years and requires a targeted retraining phase. This is where loose Leash training comes in: The aim is to teach your dog that the loose Leash is the better way to get to your destination.
Your dog must first learn to understand correct behaviour or relearn it through past successes. The basic idea of the "loose leash" exercise is to use positive reinforcement with food to reward correct behaviour and thus make the loose Leash rewarding and interesting. After successful training, the food is only used occasionally over time.
A loose Leash not only ensures better communication between you and your dog, but also has a positive effect on the relationship. Your dog learns to pay more attention to you and follows you without pulling on the Leash. At the same time, it strengthens your dog's self-control as he learns not to chase after every stimulus.
