Leash Training Puppies – What You Need To Know
Leash training puppies is not as simple as many dog owners think but it is definitely something worth all the pain to enable you take the little dog out on a walk. Puppies like the company of their owners and you will definitely enjoy the company of your pup! The simple tips on how to leash train a puppy is very easy to follow and both you the owner and the puppy being trained will benefit from your effort.
Before you start the training, ensure you get the right size collar and leash. Ask the breeder vet or at your local pet store. Both the leash and the collar should fit your puppy’s size. If it is too big it will easily remove it and you may harm it if too small. It is important to ask to be sure.
The first and probably the most important step to leash training a puppy is to put the collar on the pup. The pup will initially do everything it can do to get rid of the collar. Make sure you don’t remove the collar anytime it is trying to get it off. This will make the pup understand that the it is something it has to get used to. This will take some time to happen. Make him wear it many hours a day, but keep a close look on it so he doesn’t hook it on something and harm himself while trying to get it off.
When he get accustomed to the collar, the next important thing to do is to attach a leash to the collar. Let the pup know you are not trying to harm it. Be gentle on it, talk to it while doing it.
The pup will most likely pull on the leash. You will have to resist pulling the puppy. You can do this in your home or back yard and leave the leash loose for a start. Let the pup get accustomed to the leash, pulling it around and playing with it.
When you get to the stage of walking out with the puppy with you holding one end of the leash, you need to maintain a balance. Never pull the pup around with the leash and don’t allow it to pull you either. Talk to the pup while you walk it out, let it understand what you are trying to do. He will get used to it with time. Just be patient.
This will be a continuous process. Every single walk will be a lesson in the process of your pup’s leash training. Never tug on the leash, and don’t let the puppy run off. Make use of body language and the of your voice.
The ideal walking situation is where the dog walks happily with it owner, and the leash hanging slightly loose between them. When the pup stops to check on something of interest to it, the owner stops too. When the owner wants to continue walking again, he calls the dog with his voice and not pulling the leash. When the dog wants to walk a little faster, he works faster too, but he doesn’t pull the leash either. Well …. I said that was the ideal situation! But you should have that some of the time, if not 100%.
It is important to consistently continue the training, never forget to reward the pup with necessary attention when he gets it right. When you have mastered how to leash train your puppy, it will always walk with you instead of trying to walk you.
