It’s difficult to discuss dog training without mentioning leashes.
Leashes are tools that are often misunderstood. When dog owners are asked about their purpose, common responses include walking, control, safety, and training. While leashes do serve all these functions, I’d like to focus specifically on two key aspects: safety and training.
In today’s world, the environment has changed significantly, and the reality is that most dogs are not safe without a leash. Increased risks in everyday surroundings make the leash an essential tool for protecting dogs from potential dangers. However, an important question arises: what happens when the leash is no longer attached? This is where training becomes essential.
Leashes can be highly effective tools in teaching dog’s critical skills. However, I believe many owners and even trainers fail to use leashes in a way that builds toward off-leash reliability—when dogs are often at their most vulnerable. The ultimate goal should be to use the leash not just for control, but as a bridge to true safety through proper training.
In observing professional trainers, I often see the leash—particularly a slip lead—used to apply pressure, guiding the dog into a specific behavior. While this may appear effective in the moment, it raises two significant concerns.
First, using physical pressure as a teaching tool is not considered a positive or humane method. It often falls into the category of aversive techniques, which can damage the dog-handler relationship and lead to confusion or stress in the dog.
More critically, when pressure is combined with a verbal cue, it becomes part of the overall signal. This has serious implications for off-leash reliability. Let’s take the command “sit” as an example.
When teaching a dog to sit, many handlers use more than just the verbal cue. They might point with a finger, lean over the dog, or apply upward leash pressure. While the dog may respond, what they’re actually learning is not the word “sit” in isolation, but a composite cue made up of voice, body movement, and physical pressure. If even one of those elements is missing—particularly the leash—the dog may not understand what is being asked.
Think back to the childhood game of Simon Says. You only respond when the command includes “Simon says.” If that phrase isn’t part of the request, you don’t move. Similarly, dogs conditioned to respond only when a leash cue is present may hesitate or fail to comply when that physical prompt is absent. It’s not disobedience, it’s a gap in communication.
The irony is, we don’t need to teach dogs how to sit. It’s a natural behavior they offer frequently on their own. Rather than forcing the behavior with leash pressure, we can take advantage of this by capturing it—marking and rewarding the sit when it happens organically, and gradually associating a verbal cue like “sit” with the action.
This approach builds clarity and confidence. The dog learns to respond to the cue alone, regardless of your posture, presence of a leash, or proximity. This is especially crucial for off-leash situations, where reliability and clear communication are key.
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This is not to say that a leash cannot be used in teaching behaviors—it absolutely can. However, it must be used with intention and as little physical pressure as possible. One of the most important behaviors we teach using a leash is recall, commonly known as the “come” command.
The leash serves two primary purposes in recall training. First, it ensures safety in high-distraction or potentially hazardous environments. Second, it aids in clearly communicating the desired behavior, while allowing for gentle follow-through if the dog is unsure or hesitant.
Ideally, recall training begins in low-distraction environments such as your home or yard, where your dog can learn that approaching you results in positive outcomes—praise, treats, play, or affection. If your dog has not yet made that association, you’ll need to spend time building it before expecting consistent responses in more stimulating environments.
When introducing the leash into recall training, we use a long line—typically 30 feet in length—made of cotton or nylon, never retractable. These leashes provide the dog with more freedom to explore while still maintaining a connection to the handler. This added distance is crucial for teaching recall in a way that mirrors real-world conditions, and it allows for a richer, more engaging experience for the dog.
When your dog is on the long line and you cue “come,” the goal is not to reel them in like a fish. Instead, use the lightest guidance possible, sometimes simply holding the line steady to prompt that first step toward you. The moment your dog takes that initial step, begin praising them enthusiastically. This often encourages the dog to close the gap quickly, eager for the reward you’ve promised with your marker and energy.
It’s important to note that this technique depends on one key factor: your relationship with your dog. Without mutual trust and a history of positive interactions, recall becomes a compliance issue rather than a cooperative behavior. Unfortunately, many rely on the threat of correction rather than the strength of the relationship. But true, reliable recall stems from a dog wanting to return to their person—not from fear of what happens if they don’t.
When used thoughtfully, the leash becomes a supportive tool—not a crutch or a threat—and a powerful aid in building responsive, confident dogs.
Rethinking the role of the leash invites us to become more mindful, more compassionate, and ultimately more effective in how we communicate with our dogs. When used correctly, the leash is not just a means of safety, but a bridge to trust, understanding, and off-leash reliability. By focusing on clarity, reducing or eliminating pressure, and strengthening the relationship at the heart of every interaction, we empower our dogs to respond not out of fear or force, but from confidence and connection. In the end, the leash should guide—not restrain—the journey toward mutual respect and freedom.
Stay tuned for our next blog post, where we’ll explore the connection between leash use and walking manners, and how to make every walk a cooperative experience.