🐶 If your puppy’s already pulling on the lead…
If you’re just starting out with puppy lead training, it can feel like a tug of war from the get-go. Many new puppy owners arrive at classes already struggling with pulling, before training has even begun. But don’t worry—this blog introduces a fun game that can help you stop pulling before it ever starts.
Enter: Drunk Walking. No, not your Friday night routine. This is a fun, focus-building game that teaches your puppy to follow your every move—even the unpredictable ones. It’s one of the most effective early techniques for puppy lead training, especially when taught before walks become overwhelming.
🏡 Start Puppy Lead Training in the House or Garden
Don’t rush to the park. That’s like handing the car keys to a teenager and saying “off you go.” Instead, start indoors or in your garden, where your puppy feels safe and the environment is low-distraction.
With my own puppies, I begin by:
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Popping a harness on and clipping the lead
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Letting the lead trail on the floor
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Practising calm, static exercises like sitting in front of me or by my side
From there, we take a few gentle steps with the pup following my leg—rewarding every time they stay close. The goal? Let them get used to the lead without any pressure or tension.
🍷 Drunk Walking: A Fun Puppy Lead Training Game
This game teaches your puppy that sticking close to you brings all the best things—treats, praise, and fun.
How to play:
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Fill your treat pouch with top-tier rewards (think roast chicken, cheese, or sausage).
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Clip your puppy to a harness and lead in your house or garden.
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Take 4 slow steps backwards.
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When your puppy follows, mark with “YES!” and reward.
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Now take 4 steps in the opposite direction.
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Reward again!
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Switch it up: 2 steps this way, 3 steps that way, reward intermittently.
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As they improve, wait for eye contact before marking and rewarding.
🐾 You might feel silly zigzagging like this—but your dog will be laser-focused on you. That’s the magic of the game.
🐕 Problems You Might Run Into (And Fixes)
Too distracted?
Start in a quiet spot—inside the house or in a calm part of the garden. If your puppy is more interested in the scent of a wood pigeon than you, it’s too soon for outside distractions.
Chewing, pulling, or lunging?
That’s your puppy saying “this is too hard.” Go back to short, still moments with regular rewards.
Not following you?
Upgrade your treats. If they wouldn’t work for you, they won’t work for your dog either.
🧠 Why This Game Works for Puppy Lead Training
Most puppies accidentally learn to pull before they learn to follow. Clipped on and out the door, they quickly figure out that pulling gets them places.
But this game changes the story. By making puppy lead training a calm, rewarding experience from the start, you build a foundation for confident, focused, loose lead walking—long before the lead ever goes tight.
Early puppy lead training helps your dog enjoy calm, connected walks for life.
✅ Final Thoughts
Loose lead walking starts long before you hit the pavement. By starting with focus, engagement, and fun in the house or garden, you’re shaping your puppy into a dog who naturally wants to walk beside you.
So if someone spots you zigzagging across the grass and asks, “Are you okay?”—just smile and say,
“Yep. Just teaching my puppy not to pull.”
🔗 More Resources from Develop Your Dog
🔗 Outbound Link:
Want to read more about positive reinforcement? Visit the Association of Pet Dog Trainers UK.
Gundog Training Courses
Have you got a gundog breed at home? Would you like to train him/her for the shooting field, or would you just like to train your dog to a high level? I can help with these scenarios.
Puppy Training Courses
When you first bring a puppy home it can be very exciting but daunting all at the same time, so I am on hand to come and guide you through those key canine development stages to ensure that your puppy grows up to be well-mannered.
So difficult to find any advice on where to start with loose lead training with a puppy. Thank you so much.