Leash Training Of A Dog

Animals have been domesticated as pets by man from a long time. One of the most popular pet is a dog. It is really fun to have dog as a family member. But like a family member, it is very important to have a dog disciplined and trained to obey your orders. Leash training is one of the first such exercises carried out. Let me tell you my experience about training a puppy for the leash. 

A female puppy is the latest member of my family. We have an adult dog too. But one thing I forgot was how difficult is it to train a puppy. This new puppy is a Labrador and 9 weeks of age, yet very smart. She has started responding to her name and sits when commanded so. It is about time for her to get leash trained.

This issue is one which people find very difficult. They think that the puppy will follow them the first time they leash it. But there is very little chance for this to happen. The first step is to get the puppy used to the leash. For this just attach the leash to the puppy’s collar and let it drag for some time. If you had the puppy tied up earlier, let it go free so that it spends up it bottled up energy and then try giving the first lessons to it.

After the puppy has pulled the leash for sometime, pick the other end and tug the leash. If you are using a choke collar, make sure it is out of the choke mode otherwise it might hurt the puppy. Once you have the leash in hand, let the puppy feel that you are connected. Run with the puppy and call it often. Take off the leash later and free the puppy for the rest of the day.

The following day repeat the same procedure, only this time for a longer duration. Check if the puppy follows you. Acknowledge it by praising if they follow. If the puppy does not follow softly tug the leash. Be sure to be gentle while tugging, otherwise the puppy might develop a fear for the leash. You goal is to make puppy feel that the leash is time to spend time together on a walk.

Remember that each puppy is unique. You should be able to train any puppy within a few days. While you are leash training the puppy, you could teach it to obey verbal commands like sit, heel and come. After the basics are learnt, you can make the puppy walk on heel. This step is neglected by many masters. And this is the reason why your dog pulls you when on a walk. This is stressful to both of you because the dog is getting hurt at the neck and your hand is also being pulled. So make it a point to train your dog to walk on heel during the leash training.

Leash training is essential for you to enjoy the walks with your dog. Your dog too will enjoy such walks since you might take it out regularly. The best age is during the early months of the dog. Later on, it will become very difficult to have the dog listen and obey to your commands. So be the master from the beginning itself!