How to teach your dog to walk on a loose leash

Dogs pull because pulling works: every time they pull, they reach the lamp post, the other dog or the interesting smell faster. Training teaches the opposite: a loose leash is what gets them there. And in Egypt the law already requires dogs to be on a leash outside the home, so calm walks aren't a luxury.

The right equipment

• A comfortable harness, ideally with a ring at the front of the chest, which reduces pulling.
• A plain leash, 1.5 to 2 metres long. Retractable leads teach dogs to pull.
• Avoid choke chains, prong collars and shock collars. They rely on pain and fear.
• Muzzle: the law requires one outside the home. Choose a roomy basket muzzle that lets your dog open its mouth and pant. See walking your dog in Egypt.

Get your rewards ready

• Small, soft treats your dog loves, so it can eat them fast and keep going.
• Keep them in a pouch or pocket you can reach easily.

The steps

1. Start somewhere quiet: indoors, a garden or the building entrance, before the street.
2. Reward at your side: every time your dog walks beside you on a loose leash, give a treat by your leg. At first, every few steps.
3. When it pulls, stop: stand still. As soon as the leash goes slack or your dog looks at you, praise it and walk on.
4. Change direction: if it pulls towards something, calmly turn the other way, and reward it for catching up.
5. Short sessions: 5 to 10 minutes of training, then a normal walk where it can sniff freely.
6. Make it harder gradually: a quiet street, then a busier one, then somewhere with other dogs.

Tips for Egyptian streets

• Pick your time: early morning or night is quieter and cooler. See night walks in Ramadan.
• Street dogs: keep your distance, change route calmly, and don't let your dog run towards them.
• Sniffing matters: let your dog sniff for parts of the walk. Sniffing relaxes a dog and works its brain.