PUPPY DOG LEASH TRAINING

Learning to walk on leash is going to be an important part of any exercise program plus the leash will come to play a very important role in your relationship.

Since puppies do not arrive on this planet knowing what a leash is or how to walk with one, we must teach them. When teaching a puppy how to walk on leash, we want it to be a positive experience and not frightening in any way. The following program is for the very young puppy who seems frightened the first time we try putting on a collar or leash.

1. Put a buckle collar on your puppy until he becomes used to it. This could take two or three days.

2. Attach three feet of light-weight cord or leash to his collar and let the puppy drag it around. This exercise is to be done only when you are supervising the puppy. Make sure the leash does not get wrapped around anything such as a chair leg or tree.

3. Once the puppy is ignoring the cord or leash, pick up the end and hold it. DO NOT apply any pressure. Follow the puppy keeping the line slack. Work to a total of 10 minutes on this.

4. After the puppy is used to being on the end of the leash while you are holding it, coax him in the direction you wish to go. Do not allow the leash to tighten without immediately loosening it up again, and praise the puppy when he comes to you and also when he walks with you.

Once the puppy is walking on leash without fear, you are ready to teach him to walk beside you. It is relatively easy to teach a young puppy to stay with us and this is the best time to start. Do not wait till he is pulling so much that no one wants to take him for a walk anymore.

A) Start with the puppy on your left side. Speak nicely to him and get him to look at you, and show him a treat. Say his name and say,“Let’s go.”

B) Use your voice to encourage the puppy along as you start walking.

C) Get the puppy’s attention with a treat held in your left hand and by calling his name, anytime you lose his attention. Every once in awhile when he is doing really well, give him the treat.

D) Never let the leash get tight. If the puppy starts to pull ahead, give a warning, “Easy” or “Steady,” then STOP. DO NOT LET THE PUPPY PULL YOU ANOTHER STEP. Get him refocused on you by either turning around and going the other way, backing up or simply waiting him out. PRAISE and reward when he stops pulling and looks at you.