Walking on a lead...step by step

Walking on a leash is the process of getting a dog to walk alongside its owner, without pulling or passing him.

You need to be able to walk your Labrador, not be walked by him, as is unfortunately still very often the case with owners of large dogs. Walking your Labrador should not become an ordeal for you, and therefore a rare event for your dog.
The goal
The leash should seem virtual to you, knowing that it will never be virtual to your dog. He knows very well when he's tied up or not! Through the leash, you unwittingly communicate information to your dog at all times. So it's a vital means of communication.
Outdoors, your dog is constantly connected to you by this leash. But he's often more attentive to what he sees outside than to his owner. He will, however, be able to sense (via the leash) your changes of direction (without looking at you), your possible tension when meeting another dog...

When to start training?
You can start training your puppy as soon as he's old enough to go out.
To do this, you'll need to get your puppy used to wearing a collar, then a leash and collar, at home, by associating him with pleasant situations at first: playing, petting... Avoid putting him on a leash and collar only when you're away, for example, as the puppy may then assimilate these new constraints when you leave.
Once you're on the street for your first outings, adapt your walk to the puppy's movements, so that contact with the leash doesn't feel like a constraint. Then start gradually imposing your own route, which you'll vary each time: the puppy must learn to walk by your side in a regular manner, regardless of the stimuli he encounters along the way. Take a route that combines straight lines and curved trajectories, turn back... And finally, vary your pace as you go. Throughout the exercise, be sure to reward the puppy with petting, cheerful conversation and encouragement.
Then

• If he pulls too hard, give him a gentle tug on the leash, possibly accompanied by a firm “no”.
• Encourage him if he drags, with gestures that stimulate him: little slaps on your leg at his height...

You can also teach him to stop at the kerb. This sequence will enable the puppy to calm down when external stimuli are too strong.
What not to do

• Choose a retractable leash (anti-educational) that won't allow good communication between you and your dog.
• Have a leash that's too big or too small: the ideal leash is short, adapted to your dog's size, and between 40 cm and 1 m long.
• Choosing an environment too rich in stimuli for his first outings: you shouldn't have to fight against an environment that is more interesting for him than the training you're offering him.
• Carry out sessions that are too long: as with all learning, it's best to limit yourself to just a few minutes a day to avoid tiring your puppy, and yourself too.

In short, be patient, put yourself in the right conditions each time, and insist on having fun.
This training, which is compulsory to comply with the law, can be carried out even on an adult or even aging dog who has never learned to use a leash before.

Text: Veterinary Doctor Muriel Alnot