Leash Training Your Puppy
29 Jul 2009
Do you want to know the easiest way to leash train your new puppy? You can get a head start on that by beginning the leash training of your puppy very early on. By six weeks of age my young puppy could already walk on a loose leash. By 8 weeks of age, he was already walking in the “heel” position like a champ.
You can leash train your puppy by using this very simple method and get great results without any resistance from the puppy. Some puppies and dogs hate the very sight of the leash. That is probably because their first exposures to leash training must have been stressful and negative experiences for them.
Use this easy method to begin leash training your puppy with positive reinforcement. Here’s how I start leash training my puppies now- and never have any problems with the puppy being scared to be put on their leash. In fact, they get excited when they see the leash, because they know they are about to go for a walk with Dad.
- Start by putting on your puppy’s flat collar-don’t use the choke collar for this. Putting on a collar should not be anything that the puppy resists. Go ahead and put the leash on the collar, but just let it lay on the ground. There is no need to hold the leash just now. For the first sessions with the leash, let the puppy walk around the house or yard while he does his thing. Try to walk close by and make sure his leash doesn’t get caught up on anything. By keeping the leash from entangling, your puppy will cruise around stress free, hardly noticing he is trailing a leash.
- After your puppy is used to walking with the leash behind him you can move to the next step. You can now pick up your end of the leash, keeping it slack at all times. Without trying to control the pup, walk along with him as he checks out the yard. Being the next step in leash training after your puppy is very used to walking along with you on his loose leash.
- It is time to teach your pup to walk along with you and not to be pulling you with his leash. It is a good idea to give your puppy rewards of a treat for walking close to you. If you hold the treat in your left hand it will get the puppy used to the idea of staying by your left side. this is because your pup will walk at your left side when it’s time to heel. Call your puppy over to your side and when he comes over give him lots of praise, affection and a tasty treat as a reward for paying attention. Be sure to reward the puppy each time to positively reinforce the right behavior.
- If the puppy is distracted, gently tug his leash when you call him to get his attention and display his treat to him. For more tips and advise about leash training your puppy or dog please visit.Stop Your Dog From Pulling On The Leash
- Give him his reward and lots of praise for coming over for his treat and listening to you . You will see him quickly learning that he’ll get something good for listening. Even at 6 weeks of age, puppies are already in the learning zone. Stay calm and don’t get frustrated as you begin leash training your puppy. Try not to make it an unhappy time for the puppy when training him. Use only positive training techniques to leash train your puppy, (or for any further obedience training). Dogs will learn a lot faster if you make it fun and rewarding for them while they are in training. I know that always works for me, too.
- Continue repeating this training frequently on a daily basis until your puppy walks comfortably at your side with a loose leash. By the time your pup is comfortable walking on a loose leash, he is halfway there to learning how to “heel”. That’s all there is to it. You won’t have any problems taking your puppy for a nice walk it you just follow this simple method.
Please click here to read more ariticles with advice on solving dog behavior problems and general dog obedience training- www.BehaveDoggy.com
To get a copy of the very best and most conprehensive dog training program to be found on line, please check out Secrets to Dog Training.