So you just got a puppy recently, and you want to begin their obedience training right away to avoid losing time and increasing your chances of having a loyal companion as they grow up. Part of the basic training that you should teach your puppy is leash training.
Leash training can be quite challenging for your dog to master, especially if they’re still a couple of months old and are still bound to make mistakes and stray away from your reach. But it isn’t impossible to teach so long as you set your mind to it!
In fact, it’s integral for your dog to learn leash training from the onset so that you can lead more fun walks and go on outdoor adventures without coming across problems with your puppy. Keep reading below to find out how to initiate leash training for your trusted companion.
Introduce the Collar and Leash Early
As soon as you bring your dog home, care for them, and complete their shots, you might be excited to get them to go on their first walk. Part of learning how to leash train a puppy is introducing the collar and leash even before they go on a walk for the first time.
After putting on the collar on your dog and attaching the leash to it, you should give your puppy a few moments to get to know what’s around their neck and the strap that comes with it. Your goal is for your dog to become comfortable with their collar and leash to prepare them for walking with it.
Train Your Dog in Places They Know
Since you’re dealing with a puppy, you can expect them to still have a mindset of a baby, which means they carry a short attention span that you will have to deal with during puppy training. That’s why when you’re teaching your dog new tricks, learn to keep it short for now.
You can begin walking them within a familiar place, such as your living room, backyard, or any area in your home that your dog has already seen and became accustomed to. Since your dog knows the smell of these places, they won’t be tempted to stray away and be distracted too much by new scents in the environment!
Always Praise Them for Doing Good
Your puppy shouldn’t be rewarded only after they’ve mastered a new trick. Instead, you should continuously praise them whenever your dog remains on their best behavior or does something good, like walking beside you on a loose leash—an act that is known as heeling. Understanding how to train a dog involves rewarding them each time they respond when called, encouraging your puppy to continue walking beside you without resisting.
Maintain a Short Leash During Training
In the beginning, it’s crucial to keep your puppy’s leash short while walking them as part of a successful leash training. It limits your dog from being in charge of the walk, keeping them on your side and giving you an easier time to teach your puppy that they should walk beside you at all times.
When you notice your dog has become more obedient after a few walks and remains beside you without much trouble, you can consider loosening the lead for a bit. For best results, you should utilize a retractable leash for an easier hold on the situation in case your dog starts to wander, and you have to return to a short leash.
Conclusion
Training a puppy takes some time and plenty of patience and dedication. If you want to guarantee they learn leash training properly, you should keep the tips above in mind. You should also use a collar, harness, or leash that’s perfect for the size of your dog to provide them comfort and security while it’s on. If you don’t have the time to oversee your puppy’s training, you can attend a dog obedience school and leave it to the professionals to handle the work for you while ensuring they take care of your puppy accordingly.
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