Leash Manners & Doorway Behavior: Teaching Your Foster Dog Calm, Safe Walking Habits

Walking on a leash is a skill, and like all skills, it has to be taught. Many dogs arriving at the shelter have never been walked on a leash before or may have developed bad habits like pulling or bolting through doors. These behaviors aren’t the dog’s fault, they simply haven’t been shown a better way yet.

As a foster, you play a vital role in helping dogs learn calm, controlled leash manners that make them more adoptable and keep everyone safer.

Poor leash skills can lead to:

• Pulling that’s frustrating or dangerous for handlers

• Missed adoption opportunities due to negative first impressions

• Increased stress or injury risk for the dog

• Escapes or bolting through open doors
  
  

By taking just a few minutes each day to reinforce good leash habits, you’ll help your foster dog become more manageable, confident, and adoptable.

Always use a secure leash and properly fitted equipment.

• No-pull harnesses (like front-clip designs) can help reduce pulling without causing discomfort.

• Slip leads may be used temporarily for safety during shelter pick-up or for dogs who haven’t been leash trained, but they should always be used responsibly and never left on unsupervised.
  
  

Make sure your foster dog’s ID tags are attached, and double-check all equipment before going outside.

A “loose-leash walk” means the dog is walking calmly near you without pulling. This takes patience and consistency.

Train fosters to:

• Start walking, and reward the dog (with praise or treats) every time they’re walking near you without pulling.

• If they begin to pull, stop walking or gently change direction.

• Avoid yanking or jerking the leash. Instead, calmly redirect and reward the dog when they return to you.

• Keep walks short and structured in the beginning to prevent overstimulation.
  
  

This method teaches the dog that pulling gets them nowhere, but walking calmly gets rewards and progress.

Bolting through doors is a safety risk. Teaching a simple “wait” behavior at thresholds (front door, crate, car, gate) helps prevent accidents.

To teach "wait" at the door:

1. Approach the door calmly with your dog on leash.

2. Say “wait” and slowly begin to open the door just a crack.

3. If the dog tries to rush through, gently close the door again.

4. Repeat until they pause, even for a moment, then reward.

5. Open the door fully and calmly walk through together.
   
   

This routine teaches your foster to look to you for permission, which builds trust and safety.

❌ Don’t yank, drag, or scold your dog on leash. This creates fear or resistance.

❌ Don’t allow free-pulling or lunging during walks, even if the dog is excited.

❌ Don’t rush door exits. Slow, mindful movement reduces reactivity.

Leash manners take practice, not perfection. Shelter dogs are often overstimulated at first. Some may never have been on a leash. Others may be so excited for freedom that they can’t contain themselves.

Short walks, consistent cues, and positive reinforcement are the best ways to teach new behaviors. And every small success — like a calm walk around the block or waiting at the door — is a win worth celebrating.

By teaching your foster dog how to walk politely on leash and wait at doors, you’re giving them a skill that not only helps during their time with you — it helps them find and succeed in a forever home. And that’s what fostering is all about.

Thank you for being a steady hand and a calm guide for our shelter dogs in transition.