Puppy leash training is done to teach your dog to walk with you, normally on your left. As you turn to whichever direction or stop, your puppy is supposed to follow you, and stay by your side no matter what. If you take this training a step further to off leash dog training, the leash is taken of and your dog still stays with you. The majority of people however day puppy or dog leash training and don’t progress it any further. Training a dog to walk on a leash is essential if you want walking your dog to be pleasurable and not a constant battle of the dog pulling one way and the owner another with the leash getting all tangled up in the process. To leash train a puppy is not only easy, but will make your life a lot more fun when you have to take your dog anywhere.
The first step in puppy leash training is to fit your puppy with a collar. Special dog training collars are available but not a necessity. The collar should be fitted around the puppy’s neck not too tightly or else they will choke. Once fitted, you should still be able to fit one or two fingers between the collar and the puppy’s neck. If the collar is fitted too loosely it will slip over the puppy’s head when he resists the leash. Once the collar is fitted, put the leash on. Give the puppy time to get used to the leash – most will at first pull frantically and get rid of it. Be patient, simply hold the leash firmly (no need to pull the puppy around) and talk to them soothingly. They will soon learn that there is no danger to the leash, but that there is also no escaping it.
Puppy leash training starts with getting your puppy to sit on your left while you stand still. As you intend starting to walk, say the puppy’s name to alert them to the fact that a command is coming, followed by the command, normally ‘heel’ and start walking. At first they won’t understand and you actually use the leash to show them what is expected. Don’t yank the leash, start walking slowly in the beginning and gently drag them along until they get the message. At first practice only walking in a straight line and stopping, coupled with dog’s name and sit as you are about to stop. Then start again and walk straight. If you want to turn around in the beginning, first stop and then start again simply turning to your right letting you dog follow you in a circle and stopping again. Repetition, repetition, repetition - that is the secret to leash train a puppy until they automatically keep step with you, even without the leash.
Once the straight line starting and stopping as well as the turning from a stopped position has been mastered, you can start turning left or right while you walk, all the time guiding your puppy with the leash. After changing direction while you walk is understood, you can turn around completely while walking and the dog will follow. The ultimate aim is to get your dog to follow you as you walk, on your left but his shoulder slightly behind your leg. Even with a leash on, the leash should be slack as the dog follows you movements and does not really need the leash anymore.
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Thanks for the info. Leash training sounds simple enough.
Good article. Always wondered why people don’t leash train their dogs.
My dogs always take me for a walk instead of the other way around! I should have done puppy leash training long ago.
Sorry for my bad english. Thank you so much for your good post. Your post helped me in my college assignment on leash training puppy.
Great article. Makes me see leash training puppy in different light.