How to Teach a Toller Puppy to Walk Nicely on a Lead

Walking your Toller should eventually become one of the best parts of your day.

But nobody tells you how entertaining those first puppy walks can be.

One minute your puppy is walking beside you.

The next they're trying to investigate a leaf, greet a stranger, chase a bird and somehow wrap the lead around your legs.

Don't worry.

Lead walking is a skill.

And like every other skill, your Toller needs to learn it gradually.

Why Toller Puppies Pull

Your puppy isn't pulling because they're trying to annoy you.

They're pulling because the world is fascinating.

Tollers are curious, energetic and highly motivated by movement, smells and new experiences.

Outside, there are hundreds of things competing for your puppy's attention.

Your job is to teach them that staying connected to you is rewarding.

Start Inside

Before expecting perfect lead walking outside, let your puppy get used to their collar or harness and lead indoors.

Keep sessions short.

Let your puppy move around.

Reward them for staying near you.

Take a few steps.

If they follow, reward them.

You are teaching:

"Being near my human is a good place to be."

Reward Position, Not Distance

Don't worry about walking around the entire neighbourhood.

Instead, reward your puppy for being in the position you want.

If they walk beside you for three steps, reward.

Five steps?

Reward.

Ten?

Reward.

Gradually increase the amount of walking between rewards.

Your puppy will learn what behaviour makes good things happen.

Don't Constantly Pull the Lead

If your puppy pulls and you pull back, you can end up in a constant battle.

Instead, try stopping when the lead becomes tight.

Wait for your puppy to turn back toward you or create some slack.

Then continue.

You're teaching:

"Tight lead = walking stops."

"Loose lead = we get to continue."

Use Your Voice

Your voice can be incredibly useful.

Talk to your puppy.

Praise them when they're walking nicely.

Use their name when you want their attention.

Make yourself interesting.

You're not trying to control every step.

You're building communication.

Reward Check-Ins

One of the best habits you can teach is checking in with you.

You're walking along.

Your puppy looks at you.

Reward.

They don't even need to come all the way over.

You're simply reinforcing the idea that paying attention to their person is worthwhile.

Over time, you'll notice your Toller looking back at you naturally.

That's exactly what you want.

Start in Quiet Places

Don't begin lead training beside a busy road filled with bicycles, cars and other dogs.

Make success easy.

Start:

• Inside

• In your garden

• On a quiet street

• In a calm park

• Then gradually increase distractions

Your puppy doesn't automatically know how to behave in a new environment simply because they learned the behaviour at home.

Generalisation takes practice.

What If Your Toller Pulls Toward Another Dog?

Don't allow your puppy to drag you toward every dog they see.

Instead, create distance.

Ask for attention.

Reward calm behaviour.

Continue once your puppy is able to focus.

Your goal isn't necessarily for your Toller to ignore every dog.

You're teaching them that another dog doesn't automatically mean:

"I must go over there immediately."

What If Your Puppy Pulls Toward People?

The same principle applies.

If your puppy gets rewarded with attention every time they pull toward someone, pulling becomes useful.

Instead, reward calm behaviour.

If the person is going to say hello, wait until your puppy is reasonably calm before allowing the interaction.

Your puppy learns:

"Calm behaviour makes greetings happen."

Keep Walks Short

Puppy walks aren't endurance competitions.

Your Toller puppy is still growing.

Use age-appropriate activity and follow your veterinarian's guidance regarding exercise and vaccinations.

Walking isn't the only way your puppy learns.

Training, exploration, sniffing and mental enrichment are valuable too.

Our guide to How Much Exercise Does a Toller Need? explains more about balancing exercise and mental stimulation.

Sniffing Is Not Bad Behaviour

It's easy to think a walk should mean walking in a straight line.

For a dog, sniffing is part of experiencing the world.

Allowing appropriate opportunities to sniff can make walks more mentally enriching.

You can have structured sections where your puppy walks with you and relaxed sections where they explore.

Balance is the goal.

Don't Expect Your Puppy to Walk Like an Adult Dog

A ten-week-old puppy isn't going to behave like a two-year-old trained Toller.

That's normal.

Your puppy is learning.

Some days will be brilliant.

Other days you'll wonder whether they've forgotten everything.

They haven't.

Training isn't linear.

Keep going.

Make Walking Part of Your Relationship

The best walks aren't necessarily the longest ones.

They're the walks where your Toller learns:

• My person is interesting.

• Staying close is rewarding.

• New things are safe.

• I can explore.

• I can check in.

• I don't need to pull everywhere.

That creates a dog who enjoys walking with you rather than simply being physically restrained beside you.

From Puppy Walks to Toller Adventures

Eventually, those tiny puppy walks become proper adventures.

Woodland trails.

Beaches.

Hiking.

Dog sports.

Swimming.

Camping.

Our Best Activities for Tollers guide has plenty of inspiration as your dog grows.

And if you're proud to be a Toller owner, explore The Toller Club collection.

For everyday walks, training sessions and sunny adventures, the NSDTR Cap is designed for people who love this remarkable breed.

Be Patient

Lead walking can take time.

Don't measure progress by whether your puppy can walk perfectly for an hour.

Measure it by the small improvements.

A few more steps without pulling.

A better check-in.

A calmer greeting.

A quicker response to their name.

Those small wins eventually add up to the dog you imagined when you first brought your Toller home.