Seven Foundation Games to Play at Home

Loose leash training games are the easiest way to start, because you play them in your living room, where nothing is more interesting than you. Each game takes 2 to 3 minutes and about 10 soft treats. A dog who knows them at home has something to fall back on when the street gets exciting.

The rules for every game

• Use soft, pea-sized treats.
• Play in a quiet room with the leash clipped on.
• No pulling, no scolding, no corrections.
• Pick a side, left or right, and stick to it.

Do 2 to 3 short sessions a day and stop while your dog is still keen.

The seven games

Game	What you do
1. Marker and treat	Say “yes!” in a happy voice, then treat at your leg. Repeat 10 times so “yes” means a treat is coming.
2. Name check-in	Say your dog’s name once. The moment your dog looks at you, say “yes!” and treat.
3. The sweet spot	With a treat at your leg, reward your dog for standing or sitting beside you, right at your side.
4. The two-step walk	Take 2 steps, show a treat, reward if your dog follows. Repeat 5 to 6 times, then add one step at a time.
5. The turn	Before the leash tightens, say the name and turn the other way. Reward when your dog catches up.
6. Leash-end lookback	Wait for your dog to reach the end of the leash. As it would go tight, say the name and reward the return.
7. Sniff release	After a short stretch without pulling, say “go sniff!” and walk to the smell on a loose leash.

How do I know when to move on?

Move to the next game when you get 8 good reps out of 10. That is our rule of thumb, not a studied number. If your dog stops taking treats, whines or can’t focus, go back one game or make the room quieter.

Each game also has a step-back fix. If your dog ignores the treat in game 1, try tastier treats. If your dog keeps circling in front in game 3, lure back to your side and then mark. If your dog starts pulling ahead in game 4, return to two steps and reward more often.

What does the first week look like?

These days are a guide. If your dog needs two days on one game, take two days. There is no deadline.

Day	Games
1	Marker (1) and name check-in (2)
2	Games 1 and 2 as warm-ups, then the sweet spot (3)
3	Game 3, then the two-step walk (4)
4	Game 4, then the turn (5)
5	Games 5 and 6
6	Sniff release (7) and mix any game
7	Mix games 3 to 7 in the quietest outdoor place for 5 minutes

What about the treats?

Phase them out slowly, because abrupt changes may reduce motivation. PDSA also suggests a play session before a walk to burn off some energy. Real-life rewards, like the sniff in game 7 and the walk moving on, take over as you fade the food.

Don’t skip ahead to the street because it seems faster. It won’t be. Once your dog is steady, move into a 4-week walking plan, track your progress on the games ladder, or read the full Stop Leash Pulling guide.