Dog Training Made Simple - Leash Train Your Puppy
Young puppies, like young children, learn better if you start working with them early and are consistent. Their brains evolve at an amazing rate, making new connections and memory pathways. his is when they learn the fastest. If you want a puppy that grows up to calmly walk beside you, this is the time to start leash training your puppy!
I have found that I get the best results when I start training a puppy at about six to eight weeks. This is usually simple training, nothing to complex. Just as with any training, you want to start out with the simple basics and work your way up to more complex tasks.
Your first task is to get him used to wearing a collar. I recommend you go with a durable, easy release collar. You may go through a few of them before your dog is full grown, but getting the right size -- and checking the fit frequently -- is important. You need to be able to easily fit your fingers between the collar and your dog's neck. It will be too tight to slip over his head, but loose enough to be comfortable and safe. After he's used to wearing his collar, the leash training can begin.
You'll probably notice right away that your puppy will not be thrilled about being on leash. He will probably pull away from you and try desperately to get away from the leash. When this happens, call him back to your side. I usually pat my thigh twice, say his name, followed by the word "come". (Slap, slap, "Spot, come.") Reward his obedience with a treat. Do this consistently. The goal is to have him sit at your feet and only walk when you walk.
When your puppy has learned to sit calmly at your feet, you can begin walking a few steps. Be prepared: sights and scents will likely distract him and make him forget his newly learned lesson! He will want to run off and explore every sight, scent and sound. Make your first walks short, and preferably in a place that has few distractions.
When your puppy strains at the leash, call him back and reward him with a treat. While giving the leash a very gentle tug is acceptable, it is never alright to jerk the leash. This can injure your dog. If you have already taught your pup to "come" (the first lesson I would teach him!), you shouldn't have too much trouble getting him to return to you when he begins to wander.
The two most important tips are consistency and positive reinforcement. It may take as long as 3 weeks to leash train your puppy. But, don't give up. Work at it every day until he walks calmly beside you on a loose leash. Before you know it, you will be walking your puppy, instead of him walking you!
