Module 6.11 Lead Walking Foundations
Lead walking foundations
Video 1:
Lead walking Mechanics
When working on lead walking mechanics, it’s important to deliver the reward from the same side as your puppy. For example, if your puppy is walking on your right-hand side, feed with your right hand. This helps keep your puppy in a straight position and prevents them from drifting across your body or tracking in front of you. Consistent reward placement like this supports better positioning and helps your puppy understand exactly where you would like them to be while walking on lead.
Video 2:
Lead walking tip – Always keep your lead relaxed
Another important part of lead walking is ensuring your puppy does not learn that pulling gets them where they want to go. If a puppy is allowed to move forward on a tight lead, they don’t learn the boundary of the lead or what the pressure means. Instead, a tight lead should consistently result in a pause or a change in direction, helping your puppy understand that they need to stay connected to you. This clarity helps them learn that a loose lead is what allows them to move forward, while pressure on the lead means to slow down or move with their owner.
Video 3:
When introducing lead walking foundations, start by walking backwards to encourage your puppy to naturally follow you. Make a ‘hand bowl’ with your treats, this is your starting point, later you will fade the food out of your hand, but the ‘hand bowl’is so you can deliver the treats quick enough that your puppy gets a high rate of reinforcement and they understand following you is a great place to be, because loads of good stuff happens.
The goal at this stage is a loose, relaxed lead and a puppy who is choosing to stay with you as you move in different directions. Keep your pace slow so your puppy remains in a walking gait, rather than trotting or rushing. As your puppy follows you on a loose lead, mark with “yes” (or a click) and reward to reinforce the behaviour. This helps build engagement and teaches your puppy that staying close and connected to you is valuable.
Video 4:
Part 1 – The next step is to teach your puppy to walk by your side. Start with a high rate of reinforcement, frequently marking with “yes” (or a click) and delivering treats to help your puppy understand the correct position. Always feed from the same side as your puppy, keeping the food in line with your leg so they stay straight and avoid drifting in front of you. Keep your pace slow to encourage a relaxed walking gait, helping your puppy stay connected and successful as they learn to walk by your side.
Video 5:
Part 2 – This is the game exercise of teaching your puppy to walk by your side but includes introducing a “go sniff” cue, giving them a chance to take a break and explore their environment. This helps balance focus and freedom, making the training more enjoyable and realistic for your puppy. You’ll also begin practising on a different surface, which adds a new layer of challenge and helps your puppy generalise the behaviour in different environments while still staying connected to you.
Video 6:
To teach a ‘U’ turn using your “this way” cue, start by placing a piece of food on your puppy’s nose and gently luring them around in a U-shape on the outside of your body. As they begin to follow the movement, pair it with your verbal cue “this way” so they start to associate the words with the action. Keep the motion slow and clear, allowing your puppy to stay with you, and practise until the movement becomes smooth and natural. Over time, you can begin to fade the lure so your puppy responds to the cue and your change of direction rather than the food.
Video 7:
As your puppy becomes more comfortable with loose lead walking, you can begin to introduce your “this way” U-turn cue into the exercise. Start with short sections of calm walking, then gently change direction using your cue and turn away, encouraging your puppy to follow. This helps your puppy learn to stay connected to you and respond to changes in movement, rather than simply walking in a straight line. By combining these exercises, you build better focus, responsiveness, and a more natural, fluid walking partnership.
Video 8:
As your puppy becomes more confident walking by your side, you can begin to slightly delay the food reward by removing the food from your hand. Continue to mark with “yes” (or a click) when your puppy is in the correct position, but now deliver the reward from your treat bag rather than directly from your hand. This helps your puppy learn to maintain the position without relying on the constant presence of food, while still reinforcing the behaviour and keeping the walk calm and connected.
Video 9:
Part 2 of fading the food out focuses on reducing your puppy’s reliance on visible rewards while keeping their engagement high. Begin by keeping the food out of sight and only rewarding after your puppy has made the correct choice, helping them learn to stay with you without needing to see the treat. As you practise, add in gentle ‘U’ turns during your walking, encouraging your puppy to follow your change of direction and stay connected to you. This helps improve their focus, awareness, and ability to move with you in a natural and responsive way.
Video 10:
The A to B lead walking game is designed to encourage your puppy to stay calmly behind you as you move in one direction. As you walk, focus on keeping your puppy positioned behind the line of your legs, and deliver the reward by placing the treat on the ground about a metre behind you. This helps your puppy learn that the reinforcement happens behind you, not in front, so there’s no need to rush ahead or pull. Over time, your puppy will begin to predict where the reward appears and choose to stay in that position, making loose lead walking more natural and relaxed.
