Puppy Leash Training – The Kind Gentle Way To Train Your Puppy
Tue ,16/03/2010Training a puppy to accept a collar and leash is probably the single most important thing that you can work on when you start his training. Puppy leash training can begin almost as soon as you get him settled in his new home.
Training your dog to become accepting of a collar and leash is important because it will set you up to be in control. Once your dog accepts that you are in charge, training has a much better chance of success.
Once your pet learns to accept his collar and lead you can move onto many other areas of training with a greater chance of success. Here’s what to do.
It’s important that the collar fits properly. Too loose and he’ll back his way out of it. Too tight and he won’t be comfortable. Try adjusting it so you can slip two fingers easily between his neck and the collar.
When you initially begin to use the collar, it will feel strange to your puppy. Give him lots of reassurance and attention to take his mind off it. It will take time before he gets used to the feel of the collar. Once he becomes used to simply having the collar on, you can move forward in training your puppy. Leash training, without a doubt, is easier if you have given your new puppy lots of time just getting used to wearing the collar.
After he has become accustomed to wearing his collar, the next step would be to attach a lightweight, short leash to his collar. The length of the leash should be about three feet or so. Then you are going to allow your puppy to simply drag the leash around for a few minutes at a time. You are trying to have him get used to the feeling of having something fastened to the collar.
It’s important to watch him carefully when he is dragging his lead around. You don’t want him to get stuck and become upset or afraid, which might happen if he gets stuck for any length of time. You want this to be a positive experience so it will be enough that he feels a slight restriction very briefly, but no more than that. So be sure to quickly free him.
Within a few days he will have become accustomed to the feel of the leash. Once this happens, attach the other end of the leash to yourself rather than letting it drag loosely. As your puppy explores, he will get stuck as before. The difference is that this time, you will not go to him to free-up the leash.
Instead try to help him get rid of his distress by crouching down and calling his name. Entice him to get himself unstuck and to come to you by offering some toy or treat. Give him his treat and lots of praise when he does come to you. Be sure to continue with this every day for short periods. After a few successes each day, remove the leash from his collar, but leave his collar on at all times.
When he routinely returns to you when called, your puppy leash training has been a success. You can now move onto the rest of the training program knowing that it will be much easier.
After a training session reward your dog with a cozy heated dog bed to keep him warm in the cooler weather or a coolaroo dog bed to keep him cool in warmer weather.
