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The Ultimate Guide To Leash Training Your Dog

The best time to begin training your dog to walk on a leash is as soon as you get your puppy or adult dog, assuming the puppy is fully weaned and at least 8 weeks old. Walking on a leash will be an important part of your dog’s life, and an even more important part of the time you and your dog bond together.

CHOOSING A LEASH

Choose a leash appropriate to the size of your dog. Small dogs should have a small leash, and the nylon mesh leashes are a good idea. Also purchase a collar and make sure you can fit two fingers underneath the collar. You don’t want a chain-link leash, in case the dog finds a way to spin around and get caught in his own leash. The nylon leashes are lightweight, but strong, and come in a variety of colors and can be chosen to match the color of the collar.

Do not use a harness for a puppy. Only consider a harness with a very large dog that is skittish or always trying to run away. The harness will allow you to keep a large dog in place without harming him at all.

PUPPY TRAINING

Be sure to train your puppy in a fenced yard. Spend 10 to 15 minutes twice a day letting the dog roam around the yard with the leash dragging behind him. Make sure the leash isn’t more than 5 or 6 feet long. After it’s clear the puppy doesn’t seem to pay much attention to the leash dragging along anymore, it’s time to move to the next step.

Practice again in the yard, but this time have your puppy against your side – encourage him to sit until you begin to walk. Take only a few short steps at a time and then stop. If the dog follows and stops, praise her profusely. Repeat this a few times and repeat for several days. A good tactic: Take two steps ahead, then stop and immediately take two steps to the right. Stop again and go quickly in another direction and then another. Always encourage your puppy and remember that repetition will overtake a puppy who is distracted. Keep the lessons short, and over time, your dog will know what you expect of him. .

TRAINING ADULT DOGS

Again, purchase a new, nylon leash that is size appropriate for your dog. If your dog is unsure about the leash, begin by putting the leash on the dog collar for several minutes every day while the dog is eating. Do not attempt to walk the dog for at least 3 or 4 days. Then take the dog into the yard and begin training similar to the instructions for a puppy.

A good trick with an older dog who may get distracted or want to run is to immediately freeze when the dog isn’t handling the leash appropriately. Do not allow the dog more than a few inches of slack in the leash. This will force the dog, without hurting or choking him, to remain at your side. Once the dog is paying attention to you or is no longer pulling, begin to walk a few steps and stop. Remember to have patience, particularly with an older dog unaccustomed to leashes. The goal is to reward the dog with praise when he follows you and stops and when you stop. And don’t allow the dog to get too rambunctious or try to run away by standing still and holding onto the leash tightly so the dog has virtually no room to move.

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This entry was posted on Wednesday, June 17th, 2009 at 8:16 am and is filed under Tips and Tricks. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

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