How to Train Your Dog to Step Over the Leash

One thing that can be very annoying about taking your dog for a walk on the leash is when he/she steps over the leash and it gets caught under the dog's belly. Dog owners are constantly bending down to re-thread the leash through their dog's legs to continue walking. Why not let the dog fix it?

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• A Leash
• Lots of Treats

1. Have the dog stand and thread the leash directly behind one front paw so that it is under the hock.

2. Point to that paw and issue a command such as "paw" while gently pulling up on the leash. to raise the dog's paw. The dog should lift his/her paw in response to the pressure from the leash. Reward with treats/praise.

3. Continue to repeat step 2, but delay applying the pressure each time you get a successful raise of the leg. Slip the leash under the leg and praise the dog.

4. Eventually the command "paw" with a point will cause the dog to raise the appointed paw and place it on the other side of the leash while the leash remains motionless.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't forget to teach each paw separately. The dog won't automatically transfer the command to a different paw, although subsequent paws will probably go faster.
• This trick is especially useful when drying off a dog's feet when they come in from the rain. Pointing to each paw and saying "paw" will ask the dog to lift each paw to be toweled off.
• Some people have used different commands for the front vs. back paws.