How do you teach your dog to walk on a loose leash? It takes practice and patience. Consistency is key! Don’t expect an overnight miracle because you will need to build it step by step. The biggest mistake dog owners make is going too far of a distance with a young dog and expecting brilliance. The sooner you start the better but go slow. This is an age-appropriate behavior and expecting a youngster to be great on a loose leash just sets yourself and your dog up for failure.