The process of training may seem overwhelming at first, but teaching your pup to walk on a leash is not as complicated as you might think! This valuable time spent together will help you bond with your puppy and ensure they are well socialized. Training your puppy properly will ensure that you can safely and comfortably take them out in public around other dogs and children, and get the most enjoyment out of your walks together!
Patience
Your puppy won’t learn everything in one day. Make sure to be
persistent and consistent with their training every day. Dogs are motivated to
please their owners and will seek out opportunities for praise and rewards once
they understand your expectations. Bad habits can generally be prevented by
making sure you address them as soon as you see them forming. Every time you make
allowances for poor behavior, it will be more and more difficult for your puppy
to understand your expectations!
Developing A Reward System
It is a good idea to stock up on small treats your puppy can
chew easily and eat quickly, so as not to distract from the training. Treats
will create a positive association with desired behaviors if used as a reward.
Just make sure that treats don’t make up more than 10% of your pup's caloric intake to
maintain proper health and nutrition. As your puppy continues to master skills,
you can ween them off treats, so they don't expect good behavior to be rewarded in
all situations.
Choosing the Right Equipment and Getting Started
Neck collars are a good choice for dogs who don’t pull, but for
those that do, harnesses will prevent injury to the neck and windpipe. The leash is also less likely to get tangled under your puppy’s feet when they're wearing a
harness. Starting with a lighter leash will help get your puppy accustomed to
the feeling of wearing one. Once you begin taking your dog out and about, it is important to
make sure the leash isn’t so light that they break it at the sight of a squirrel!
It is best to avoid retractable leashes during the training phase to maintain
control over where your puppy walks and explores.
When putting a leash on your puppy the first time, you can
drop your end of the leash and allow them to roam around the house, making sure
they don't get tangled up. Keeping the leash short (4-6 feet)
while walking outside will prevent your
puppy from being able to roam far in front of you. Making sure your puppy walks
slightly behind or beside you will also encourage obedient behavior.
If your puppy becomes anxious and excitable at the sight of
the leash, stand still with the leash in hand until they calm down, and model proper behavior for your pup by remaining calm and patient throughout the walk. If your puppy
tugs on the leash, stop walking and stand still
instead of yanking them back.
Your puppy will start to understand that tugging at the leash will not get them anywhere. If your puppy sits and refuses to walk, take a few steps away and call them to
you, offering a treat. Repeat this process if your pup resists again. It is important
to establish a pace that is comfortable for both of you for an enjoyable walk
and injury prevention.
If your puppy needs to relieve themselves, you can give them more leash to allow them to find the right spot. It is a good idea to reward your pup the first time, but not if they make a stop shortly after. Otherwise, your puppy
will continue to frequently stop and mark territory instead of doing their business all at once, making for more difficult walks.
Training Frequency
Walking your dog frequently, ideally a few times a day, will
make sure that they learn quickly and don’t forget what they learned from the
previous training session. Puppies have short attention spans, so keep trainings
short at first. Practicing a command for about 5 minutes at a time is a good
place to start.
Location
While it is a good idea to begin leash training in a calm
and quiet environment such as the home or backyard, make sure not to limit
training to these spaces as your puppy continues to grow and learn. Your puppy
will likely need to learn to behave properly in all sorts of environments, such as on
the street, in the park, and around other dogs and children. Be prepared for
the different potential distractions in different places. Remain calm and model
proper conduct to your puppy, continuing to reward them for good behavior. It is
also important to make sure everyone in the family takes part in training. Just
one family member making allowances for poor behavior can slow and derail
training progress, as this will confuse your puppy’s expectations.
