It's never too early to train your pup to walk on a leash. As a matter of fact it's often a bad idea to wait until the pup has grown a bit to get them used to being on a leash. Young dogs take time to adjust to wearing collars and leashes so make sure that you start this practice as soon as possible. The sooner they get used to the idea of wearing a collar the easier it will be on both them and you.
Buy a good pup collar with an id tag on it before you start training. Personally I always have my cellphone number etched onto the pups id tag - just in case they manage to sneak out. This has worked on at least once occassion. Don't use a choke collar during leash training - it gives the dog the wrong idea about what's going on. When you're putting the pups collar on do so gently and with care but do make sure it's firmly closed - this can be difficult to judge at times with the amount of puppy fat on their necks. The puppy might paw, whine and scratch at the collar at first but will then adjust to it - once you don't fuss over it then neither will the pup.
You can now attach the leash to the pups collar. Again do this very gently - you don't want the puppy to associate the collar and leash with fear or pain. With the leash attached let the pup stroll around the house so they can get used to the idea of the leash being there. A great idea is to attach the leash to the pups collar as they receive a meal from you - this develops a pleasant association for them in their formative years.
Once the pup is comfortable with the fact that there is a leash attached you can now pick up the leash. Don't lead the puppy around - instead let him lead you to wherever he's going. This allows the dog to still associate freedom of movement with the collar and leash being present. Praise your puppy as often as possible during leash training - every aspect of this training needs to be as pleasant and rewarding for the dog as possible for there to be true long term benefits.
Leash training a new pup is a challenge in itself it's not something you can ignore - it's absolutely essential for the pups safety. The sooner the training starts the more rewarding your relationship with your little doggy buddy can be.
Walking on a collar and lead is an important skill that every dog must learn. Even the best trained dog should never be taken outside the home or yard without a sturdy collar and leash. Even if your dog is trained perfectly to go off lead, accidents and distractions do happen, and a collar, with proper identification attached, is the best way to be sure you will get your beloved companion back.
Of course before you can teach your new puppy to accept a leash, he or she must first learn to accept wearing a collar. The first step is to choose a collar that fits the dog properly. It is important to measure the puppy’s neck, and to choose a collar size accordingly.
After the collar has been put on the puppy, simply let him or her get used to it. It is not unusual for a puppy to try to pull on the collar, whine, roll or squirm when first introduced to a collar.
The best strategy is to simply ignore the puppy and let him or her get used to the collar. It is a mistake to either punish the dog for playing with the collar or to encourage the behavior. Distracting the puppy often helps, and playing with a favorite toy, or eating some favorite treats, can help the puppy quickly forget that he or she is wearing this strange piece of equipment.
After the dog has learned to accept the collar, try adding the leash. Hook the leash to the collar and simply sit and watch the puppy. Obviously, this should only be done either in the house or in a confined outdoor area. The puppy should be allowed to drag the leash around on its own, but of course the owner should keep a close eye on the puppy to ensure that the leash does not become snagged or hung up on anything.
At first, the leash should only be left on for a few minutes at a time. It is a good idea to attach the leash at mealtimes, playtime and other positive times in the life of the puppy.
That way the puppy will begin to associate the leash with good things and look forward to it. If the puppy shows a high degree of fear of the leash, it is a good idea to place it next to the food bowl for awhile to let him get used to it slowly. Eventually, he will come to understand that the leash is nothing to be afraid of.
After the puppy is comfortable with walking around the house wearing the leash, it is time for you to pick up the end of the leash for a few minutes. You should not try to walk the puppy on the leash; simply hold the end of the leash and follow the puppy around as he or she walks around. You should try to avoid situations where the leash becomes taut, and any pulling or straining on the leash should be avoided. It is fine for the puppy to sit down. Try a few games with the collar and lead.
For instance, back up and encourage the puppy to walk toward you. Don’t drag the puppy forward, simply encourage him to come to you. If he does, praise him profusely and reward him with a food treat or toy. You should always strive to make all the time spent on the leash as pleasant as possible.
It is important to give the puppy plenty of practice in getting used to walking on the leash in the home. It is best to do plenty of work in the home, since it is a safe environment with few distractions. After the puppy is comfortable walking indoors on a leash, it is time to start going outside, beginning of course in a small, enclosed area like a fenced yard.
After the puppy has mastered walking calmly outdoors on a leash, it is time to visit some places where there are more distractions. You may want to start with a place like a neighbor’s yard. Walking your new puppy around the neighborhood is a good way to introduce your neighbors to the new puppy, while giving the puppy valuable experience in avoiding distractions and focusing on his leash training.
Puppies sometimes develop bad habits with their leashes, such as biting or chewing on the leash. To discourage this type of behavior, try applying a little bit of bitter apple, Tabasco sauce or similar substance (just make sure the substance you use is not toxic to dogs). This strategy usually convinces puppies that chewing the leash is a bad idea.
Both Aaron Walker & Jonathan Cheong are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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