Leash Training A Puppy Or Dog: How To Walk A Dog That Pulls

Do you want your dog to walk joyously at your side as you pass other dogs and people, stopping when you stop, turning when you turn and walking on a leash? When you tell them it’s okay, he uses the restroom and takes a sniff without tugging on the leash. Even though teaching a puppy to walk on a leash is perhaps the most challenging behavior you’ll ever have to teach him, the training is rewarding and well worth the effort. Make reading to begin realizing this ambition.

LEASH TRAINING A PUPPY EARLIER

A head collar or front-attachment harness can help prevent your dog from pulling. Still, leash training is required before your dog can learn to walk alongside you without pulling. A front-attachment harness is an effective no-pull device that is safe and uncomplicated for all dogs. Choose a head collar for aggressive dogs or those that demand the most management, such as a little owner and a giant breed dog.

The front-attachment harness and head collar should only be used with leashes no longer than 6 feet. If the leash is too long, there’s a possibility that he could abruptly reach its end and accelerate swiftly enough to hurt himself.

Reward and stop Back

Leash training a puppy without letting him pull on the leash is as simple as stopping your progress when he pulls and rewarding him with treats when he walks by your side. When training, wearing a treat pouch around your waist can be quite helpful. If your dog is not very interested in food treats, you can give him a tug toy or chew toy or throw a ball for him in its place.

DOG LEASH TRAINING STEP BY STEP

Below are detailed steps to train a dog to walk correctly while walking on a leash.

Step 1: I Enjoy walking for Walks with My Human!

• You can begin training a puppy to walk on a leash while wearing a regular harness by fastening him to a long rope or leash 10–20 feet long (but not retractable). Give several pea-sized pieces of fresh meat or cheese to reward your dog in a familiar outside area, like your backyard.
• Find out whether you prefer to walk your dog on your left or right side (left is traditional). On either side you choose, right by your thigh on that side, you will feed him his treat reward. He’ll soon begin to favor that side because that’s where the delectable treats are located!
• Run through your yard rapidly and haphazardly. If your dog chooses to walk you while you’re walking on your preferred side, directly next to your thigh, praise him and reward him with a treat. Give him praise for each step you take if he continues to follow you. As he improves, you won’t need to reward him frequently. If your dog is utterly uninterested in you, take him inside and try again when he is a bit more hungry.
• Practice leash training with your puppy until he reliably obeys you.

Step 2: I Should Follow My Human Along with Her for My Good!

• While you begin the leash-training process with your puppy, stroll around your yard. Wait a moment before letting your dog sniff or relieve himself if he starts to walk off by himself or is falling behind. Make sure your dog recognizes you by slapping your thigh a few times, then turn and walk from your dog while cheerfully shouting, “Let’s go!”
• When he catches up to you, thank him and give him a treat from your preferred side. If he walks with you, reward him every few steps by giving him a treat. If he quickly catches up to you, give him an additional reward.
• Stop walking and gently tighten the leash if the dog isn’t approaching you and the leash is too tight. Instead of forcing him to look at you, use the leash pressure to gently remind him of your presence and make it difficult for him to ignore it. Praise and let go of the stress once he begins to give toward you. When he catches up to you, praise and reward him by giving him a treat close to your preferred side. If he walks with you, reward him every few steps by giving him a treat.
• Continue working on this step of leash training a puppy in your yard until he is consistently at your side and, if he does veer off, returns to your side after you order “let’s go.”

The Third Step: I Know When to Take a Rosemary time (Or Pee On Them)

• A puppy learning to walk on a leash needs time to explore and relieve itself, but it will pick up better manners if you select when that happens. Instead of rewarding your dog with food when you teach him to walk on a leash every five minutes or so, say something like, “Go sniff,” and let him explore the area or go potty while on the leash. If he pulls on the leash during this time because it is a privilege or reward, say “let’s go” and turn around to walk in the opposite direction to end the free time.
• When you’re ready to end the free time, say, “let’s go,” and begin walking.

Step 4: From time to time, I must pay attention to Where My Human Is Going!

• To practice dog leash training in your yard, repeat steps 1 through 3 while utilizing a shorter leash. Eventually, the leash length should be 6 feet.
• Practice walking more swiftly or slower, pausing, and changing directions when teaching a puppy to walk on a leash. Reward him if he can stay by your side during these challenges.
• Begin paying him less frequently for following you in public. Continue praising him for staying by your side even when you walk differently than usual (extra swiftly, slowly, stopping, or in a new route) or you encounter a distraction like another animal or person.

Taking outside and onto the street

• You’ll employ the same techniques you did at home while leash-training a puppy in your neighborhood, but there will be more distractions and challenges, including friendly neighbors, squirrels, and other dogs. In addition to using a front-attachment leash or head collar for further control, consider packing fresh meat or cheese for treats.
• Start walking after saying, “Let’s go.” If he forgets about you or pulls away, say, “let’s go,” and turn and walk in the opposite direction. Reward him with treats when he walks you while you are walking. Be sure to reward him with extra treats when he struggles, mainly concentrating on you. When training a puppy to walk on a leash, don’t forget to give sniff breaks.

Test your dog throughout leash training.

• When teaching a puppy to walk on a leash, dress your dog in a standard harness and a 6-foot leash.
• Toss a treat or ball 20 feet away from your leashed dog while holding the leash.
• If he pulls toward the object, say, “Let’s go,” turn around, and walk away from him. If he walks you as you walk in the direction of the object, continue to do so until he arrives at it and can take it as his reward.
• You might want to use a longer leash or a less alluring object to initially make things simpler for him.

TROUBLESHOOTING

• Shuffling or stomping your feet when training a puppy on a leash will make you more noticeable if the dog crosses in front of you.
• He may be fearful or ill if he lags behind a lot. Instead of pulling him along, provide lots of encouragement. If he takes a while to sniff or do potty, keep walking and make sure you lightly yank on the leash. Forget to use lots of awards when he walks next to you.
• Stop rewarding your dog for returning to you when he pulls if, after completing these leash-training steps with your puppy, your dog appears to be alternatively walking beside you and pulling. Instead, concentrate on thanking him for continuing to walk alongside you in a straight line.

How to train a Dog to Walk on a Leash and Heel

• Leash training your puppy to heel is helpful when you need him to be attentive and close to you for a short period. It can be beneficial when walking him by distractions like other animals.
• Start training your dog to heel and walk on a leash in your home. Place a treat in your fist for him to sniff. Say, “let’s go,” and take a few steps as you lead him while holding the treat in your fist close to your thigh. Praise him and reward him with a treat if his nose matches your fist.
• Try training your dog to follow your empty fist during this practice. Continue to praise and reward him every couple of times he moves a few steps toward your fist.
• Keep refining your heel technique and set higher goals with each practice. You’ll still use your closed fist to continue “heel.” Try it outside and in a more exciting setting.

You should have found this essay on how to train a dog to walk on a leash enjoyable, and I hope it will make the quality of your walks with your dog.