Leash Training Your Puppy

Do’s and Don’ts of Leash Training Your Puppy – 10 Tips

Leash training is one of the most important things you can teach your puppy, as it will help them stay safe and happy during walks.

However, if you aren’t careful, you may end up frustrated with your pup and not enjoying your walk as much as you’d like!

So, what can you do to prevent this from happening?

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Leash Training Do’s

Leash training can be a challenge if you don’t follow the right strategies, but it can also be rewarding if you do! With a little practice, your puppy will learn that walking on a leash is pleasant and fun. In addition, it can help your pup to pass their Canine Good Citizen exam.

Start your leash training inside first, in areas with fewer distractions. This will make the process much quicker and give you more time to establish your dog’s leash manners.

During these training sessions, try to keep your dog on the short end of its leash as much as possible so that it can see and hear you better. This will help them focus on you and give you a chance to maintain control while you teach your dog how to heel.

Then, take your training outside to familiar, distraction-free areas where no new sights or sounds could catch their attention. Avoid new places, especially if they are very populated or your dog is already prone to pulling.

When you are out in these more distracting locations, use a high-value treat to keep your pup’s attention on you. If your dog pulls on its leash, use a high-value treat to get its attention back on you as soon as it does, and continue working in these distraction-free areas until it consistently pulls on the leash without being distracted.

You’ll need a collar and leash for your puppy to get started. 

Don’t use retractable leashes, as they can teach your dog to pull and put stress on its neck. Instead, choose a simple, soft-handled 6-foot leather, biomethane, or nylon leash that is comfortable to hold.

You should also invest in a treat bag to quickly reward your puppy with treats for walking on their leash properly.

Once you have mastered the Heel routine and your dog is walking on a leash politely, you can teach them to sit, stay, and down.

Your next step is to practice these commands with your dog on a short leash in your backyard or on the sidewalk in front of your home.

When they’re successful, slowly increase the length of their walks.

You can also reward your dog when it walks by your side, which will help it understand that walking by your side equals treats.

You can even start using a clicker to help you establish these commands.

If you’re not sure how to train your dog to walk on a leash, don’t hesitate to contact a trainer for help! There are many qualified trainers in your area, and they can show you the best ways to train your puppy.

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Leash Training Don’ts

Whether you’re a new puppy parent or have had a dog for years, leash training is one of the most important skills your pup can learn. It is a safe way to walk your dog and teaches them how to behave around other people and dogs in public.

It’s common for a puppy to pull on the leash when they feel overwhelmed or unprepared, but this behavior should not become a habit. Rather than punishing your dog when they pull, use positive reinforcement to reward them for walking nicely on the leash.

Start by putting on your pup’s collar and leash and taking them for short walks in the home, away from busy streets and other distractions. This will help them associate the collar and leash with being fun and rewarding.

Keep the training sessions short and sweet—don’t overdo it. Give your pup lots of praise and treats for a job well done. This helps them get the hang of it and understand what they need to do to be successful in the future.

Another way is to walk your pup with a harness or head halter until they’ve mastered walking on the leash. Harnesses can be uncomfortable and annoying for a puppy, especially when they’re figuring out how to behave around other dogs.

Once they’re ready to try the harness, ensure you have a treat handy to reward them for staying on their leash when it comes time to take a break. This will prevent them from figuring out that they’re supposed to ignore the leash or bite it when they need to be on their way home.

When you finally decide to go on a longer outing, make it fun by giving them treats, playing with them, or doing something else they enjoy. This will also make them more likely to want to work hard when you start leash training them again.

It’s always better to teach your pup in a safe place, so don’t take them on a long walk in the park or on a busy street until they’re a little older. This will help them develop confidence and be more comfortable in the environment, avoiding a situation where they might accidentally lunge at someone or something.

This is especially crucial if your pup has a prey drive or is prone to jumping up, as it’s more difficult to curb these behaviors in a busy environment.

You can do this by distracting your pup from the stimuli they’re focusing on with verbal commands or a treat or by increasing the distance between you and the object, causing them to lunge.

More Leash Training Tips

Here are 10 tips for leash training your puppy, with detailed explanations for each:

1. Choose the Right Gear

Explanation: Start with a lightweight leash and a comfortable collar or harness. Puppies are more sensitive to weight and pressure, so choosing gear that doesn’t overwhelm or discomfort them is important. A harness can be particularly beneficial for puppies, as it distributes pressure more evenly around their body, reducing the risk of injury.

2. Introduce the Leash and Collar Early

Explanation: Introduce your puppy to their collar, harness, and leash as early as possible. Let them wear the collar/harness around the house without the leash attached to get used to it. Attach the leash briefly while you’re with them, allowing them to drag it around under supervision. This helps puppies get used to the feeling of being connected to something.

3. Start in a Familiar Environment

Explanation: Begin training in a quiet, familiar environment with minimal distractions. Your backyard or a quiet room in the house are good starting points. This allows your puppy to focus on you and the training without being overwhelmed by new sights, sounds, and smells.

4. Use Positive Reinforcement

Explanation: Reward your puppy with treats, praise, or playtime when they behave correctly on the leash. Positive reinforcement makes learning enjoyable for your puppy and encourages them to repeat desirable behaviors.

5. Keep Initial Sessions Short

Explanation: Young puppies have short attention spans. Keep training sessions short—5 to 10 minutes—to maintain their interest and prevent them from becoming frustrated or tired.

6. Practice Walking Without Pulling

Explanation: Encourage your puppy to walk beside you without touching the leash. If they start to pull, stop walking immediately. Wait until there is slack in the leash before you start moving again. This teaches your puppy that pulling won’t get them where they want to go faster.

7. Introduce Distractions Gradually

Explanation: Gradually introduce new distractions once your puppy is comfortable walking on a leash in a quiet environment. Start with minimal distractions and slowly increase the difficulty level as your puppy becomes more proficient at focusing on you and the task.

8. Be Consistent

Explanation: Consistency is key in any form of training. Use the same commands and rewards during leash training sessions. Consistency helps your puppy understand what is expected of them and learn more quickly.

9. Be Patient

Explanation: Patience is crucial when training a puppy. There will be good days and bad days. It’s important to remain calm and patient, even when progress seems slow. Remember that every puppy learns at their own pace.

10. Gradually Increase Walking Challenges

Explanation: As your puppy becomes more comfortable and skilled at walking on a leash, the challenges they face gradually increase. This could include walking in busier areas, practicing longer walks, or navigating obstacles like stairs. Increasing challenges progressively helps build confidence and improves their leash-walking skills.

Following these tips and maintaining a positive, patient approach will help your puppy become a confident and well-behaved companion on all your adventures.

Learning to leash your puppy can take a while, but it’s well worth the effort. Once they’re walking well on a leash, you’ll be surprised at how easy it will be for you and your dog to navigate public spaces together.

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