Many people have trouble controlling their dogs on the leash.
Teaching your dog to walk next to you is not that difficult, but should be done while your dog is still a puppy.
Here are some tips to train your dog to walk next to you.
First of all, you will want to stop your dog from pulling on the leash.
This should be done very early, as dogs get this bad habit when they are puppies.
Since they are curious and want to look and smell everything, they will pull the leash and won't follow you.
You need to start training your dog to walk only when you start to walk.
Doing this means your dog will understand that you are the leader and can only start to walk when you decide to walk.
So when you go outside with your dog, stand still and keep your dog next to you.
Give him treats and praises when he stands still next to you.
A good way is to keep the leash tight so he can't move, then releasing it gradually and making sure he still stays next to you.
Second phase is to walk with your dog.
Start with the leash being very tight, so your dog doesn't have a choice but to walk next to you.
Give him treats when he stays by your side, correct him when he tries to pull.
Stopping frequently by putting your leg in front of your dog is another very good way for teaching your dog to walk next to you.
You force your dog to stop with you that way, so he will understand that when you stop he needs to stop.
Third phase is to release the leash more and more.
Take as much time as you feel comfortable with a tight leash first, but after that start to release it.
Give praise to your dog for staying next to you with a loose leash and stop frequently and make sure your dog does too.
What will be the most important is to make sure your dog stays next to you when there is another dog or something that might bother him.
That's when you need to praise him the most.
He needs to know that he must stay by your side at all time unless you let him go.
Teaching a dog to walk next to you is not that hard, it requires some time and patience.
Some dogs will learn very fast, while others will take more time.
Make sure that you show you are the leader and your dog will follow you.