Brandon McMillan Shares 6 Ways to Hold a Dog Leash

Brandon McMillan is a renowned animal trainer who has spent most of his life working with domesticated and wild animals. The Emmy Award-winning host of the critically acclaimed CBS show Lucky Dogs comes from a family of wild animal trainers—Brandon began helping raise tigers by the age of four. The animals he’s trained have appeared in countless television commercials and motion pictures, including the comedy blockbuster, The Hangover (2009). After spending a year training a service dog for an injured combat veteran, Brandon realized his calling was in training dogs to change people’s lives. To further his goals, Brandon co-founded the Argus Service Dog Foundation, an organization that trains service dogs to assist veterans with disabilities.

For effective leash training, you’ll want to make sure you have both a shorter leash (about six feet long) and a longer leash (about 25 to 30 feet). Leashing gives you 90 percent more control while dog walking, so developing a proper leash technique is essential. To learn how to properly hold a leash, check out some of Brandon’s training tips:

1. 1. The pointed finger lock. Place the leash between your pointer and middle fingers on either your left hand or right hand, then make a fist. When the dog pulls on the leash, this hold can prevent it from tightening around your hand and crushing it. This technique also helps you control the length of the leash.
2. 2. The thumb lock. This grip is similar to the pointed finger lock, except you use your thumb. Take the dog’s leash around your thumb, run it over your pointer finger, then make a fist. The end of the leash should exit through your pinky side.
3. 3. The double loop. Loop the leash over your pointer finger twice, secure with your thumb, then make a fist. This is another hold that is safer than wrapping the leash around your entire hand.
4. 4. The body anchor. Find your center of gravity (the area between your hips and mid core). Grab the leash with both hands, placing the hand that’s farthest from your dog against the small of your back. Next, twist your hips and lean back. This places the leash’s tension on your body, saving your arms.
5. 5. The J leash. When training, aim to leave enough slack in the leash so that it forms a small curve at the end attached to your dog’s collar, similar to the letter J.
6. 6. The double leash lock off. This crucial technique will require two leashes, a dog collar, and a dog harness. Take the back leash and anchor it using a stake or something heavy, then attach it to your dog’s harness. The front leash—the control leash—will be attached to their collar and used for correction. This system prevents them from moving forward, backward, left, or right.

Your dream of having a dog who understands words like “sit,” “stay,” “down,” and—crucially—”no” is just a MasterClass Annual Membership away. The only things you’ll need to train up a well-behaved pup are your laptop, a big bag of treats, and our exclusive instructional videos from superstar animal trainer Brandon McMillan.