One of the great joys of having a dog is being able to go for a walk. A dog that is well leash trained makes a walk relaxing and pleasurable but if your dog is not leash trained that same walk becomes an exercise in frustration and it can even be dangerous.
Puppies need to be trained for the leash when they are very little. If you start early they will learn it quickly and it will be much easier. To begin training your puppy, make sure you begin by getting him used to the collar. He won't like it at first and he might whine and complain but make sure that you have him wear it until he gets used to it. The only time you really need to take it off is when you crate him so there will not be any accidents.
After your puppy has gotten used to the collar you can start preparing him for the leash. Attach it to the collar and just allow him to drag it around the house. Make sure that you are there to watch over him as he could cause some chaos if the leash gets tangled with anything. Pretty soon you can take the leash and practice walking around in the house with him. It may seem strange to walk your puppy around in the house but you will have success earlier if you start out in a place where he is comfortable and as far as that goes there is no place like home.
When he gets comfortable with the leash in the house you can take him out in your yard. He should still be comfortable but there will be a few more distractions. When you are walking him make sure that you discourage any negative behavior and encourage the good behaviors.
If you puppy is pulling on the leash, just stop walking. Stand still. He may still pull for awhile but if you stop every time he pulls he will soon learn not to do that. Make sure that you are talking to him and giving him commands, this is a great time for communication.
If he continues to pull you can also turn around and walk quickly the other way. This will confuse him but he will soon learn that if he wants to walk anywhere that he cannot be pulling on the leash. Repeat these behaviors until he learns that pulling on the leash is undesirable.
Sometimes a puppy will stop himself and not walk with you. In this case you can entice him with treats as an enticement. Don't call him to you and give him the treat but rather put it by your feet and make him come to it. Soon he will learn not to stop.
As soon as your dog is walking next to you with the leash slack make sure that he knows that this is the behavior you want. Words of praise and an occasional treat will go a long way towards reinforcing this behavior. Practice with him regularly and never let him get away with bad behavior and your puppy will be properly leash trained before you know it. - 31845
Puppies need to be trained for the leash when they are very little. If you start early they will learn it quickly and it will be much easier. To begin training your puppy, make sure you begin by getting him used to the collar. He won't like it at first and he might whine and complain but make sure that you have him wear it until he gets used to it. The only time you really need to take it off is when you crate him so there will not be any accidents.
After your puppy has gotten used to the collar you can start preparing him for the leash. Attach it to the collar and just allow him to drag it around the house. Make sure that you are there to watch over him as he could cause some chaos if the leash gets tangled with anything. Pretty soon you can take the leash and practice walking around in the house with him. It may seem strange to walk your puppy around in the house but you will have success earlier if you start out in a place where he is comfortable and as far as that goes there is no place like home.
When he gets comfortable with the leash in the house you can take him out in your yard. He should still be comfortable but there will be a few more distractions. When you are walking him make sure that you discourage any negative behavior and encourage the good behaviors.
If you puppy is pulling on the leash, just stop walking. Stand still. He may still pull for awhile but if you stop every time he pulls he will soon learn not to do that. Make sure that you are talking to him and giving him commands, this is a great time for communication.
If he continues to pull you can also turn around and walk quickly the other way. This will confuse him but he will soon learn that if he wants to walk anywhere that he cannot be pulling on the leash. Repeat these behaviors until he learns that pulling on the leash is undesirable.
Sometimes a puppy will stop himself and not walk with you. In this case you can entice him with treats as an enticement. Don't call him to you and give him the treat but rather put it by your feet and make him come to it. Soon he will learn not to stop.
As soon as your dog is walking next to you with the leash slack make sure that he knows that this is the behavior you want. Words of praise and an occasional treat will go a long way towards reinforcing this behavior. Practice with him regularly and never let him get away with bad behavior and your puppy will be properly leash trained before you know it. - 31845
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