Leash Training: Learning How To Walk Your Dog
Puppies are just so adorable, that many owners find it difficult not to ‘baby’ them when they are first introduced to the household. Unfortunately, this will quickly turn your cute little fur ball into a spoiled and hard to handle dog when it grows up, complete with behavior issues that are harder to get rid of than they would have been to nip in the bud from day one. One of the biggest problems that dog owners face is leash training. When your dog is a puppy and still developing his size and strength, leash training requires significantly less effort on your part. An older dog can be more difficult to train - even if it is a small breed - because they are strong enough to pull on the leash or just sit and refuse to walk when leashed.
Step One:
The very first thing you need to do is to get your puppy comfortable with wearing a collar. Once you have the puppy familiarized with his collar, he will probably try to get rid of it by scratching, biting, rolling about or trying something similar to that. It’s not easy to watch your new puppy in distress. However, it is important to give the dog some time to adjust to the feeling of the collar; in short time, his attention will be diverted to something new and interesting. He needs to learn that the collar cannot be removed, so make sure that it fits comfortably, yet is still snug enough that he can’t pull it off himself or by pulling when on the leash.
Step Two: You need to get your dog familiarized and used to being on the leash, just as you did with the collar. Have the leash connected to your dog’s collar so that he is able to carry it around with him as he romps about and plays. Sooner or later, he will forget that he is wearing a leash (just as he had with his collar) and his owner will be able to proceed to the next course of action. It is critical to note, however, that the puppy should not be left unattended when the leash is attached to his collar. He can easily become entangled, causing harm or distress at the very least.
Starting in the home, where the puppy is accustomed to the surroundings, pick up the leash and take a walk around the rooms. It is important to leave enough slack between you and your dog, as this allows the puppy to walk alongside his master. You should start training immediately, so if puppy pulls on the leash you should stop in place immediately and call him back to your side so he learns that this behavior is not acceptable. When he returns to your side you can start walking again as long as he stays at your side, keeping the leash loose between the two of you. Whenever the puppy is walking next to you and not pulling, provide an abundance of praise to positively reinforce his good behavior. It will encourage him to keep it up, as dogs strive to please their owner.
If you would like to find good advices, take a look at: Training Dog on Leash
If you found this article useful, then you need to check out a review I think you’ll enjoy:dog leash training
July 24, 2010 1:23 am 
Subscribe
