Leash Training Your Dog

Article Title: Leash Training Your Dog
Author: David Beart

The sight of a human and dog walking harmoniously down the
sidewalk, leash loose as if entirely unnecessary, sparks envy in
many dog owners who dare to dream of such behavior from their
own pets. What this perfect picture does not show, however, is
the amount of time, effort, and training that went into teaching
the animal how to comfortably walk on leash. Although it is not
a natural occurrence for a dog to walk on leash, it is required
in many cities, as well as veterinarian offices, and the sooner
you begin leash training your dog, the sooner you and your dog
will be that perfect picture!

Ideally, the time to begin leash training is around eight weeks
of age. At this point, your puppy is mature enough to learn
basic commands, like come or let's go. If your dog is past this
age, do not worry. Even an older dog can be taught to walk on
leash, but it may take a bit more effort on your part as his bad
`on leash' behavior may be quite engrained. To prepare your
animal for the leash, first get him used to wearing a collar.
Put the collar on for short periods of time at first, and try to
distract your dog from biting or trying to remove it. Do not
remove the collar when he is actively fighting it; only remove
the collar when he is calm and tolerant. Once he is used to the
collar, add the leash. Allow him to eat or play (supervised by
you) with the leash on so that he can associate it with fun
activities. A six foot nylon, non-extendable leash works best.

The key to beginning leash training is getting your dog to come
to you when called. Using treats is perfectly acceptable, but be
sure to praise as well. You can even begin in your own backyard;
have your dog wear collar and leash, and let him walk freely
through the yard. Call him to come close to you, and when he
does, give him a treat. Hang onto another treat, show it to him,
and have him follow you for a short distance. After a minute,
give him the treat. You should be able to gradually increase the
amount of time the pup follows you, and he learns that following
you and paying attention equals treats and praise.

When you are ready to take your dog or puppy out of the
backyard, arm yourself with motivation (food). The first few
walks should be short, and remember that until your dog learns
to walk without pulling, each and every walk is a training
session. Begin walking, and give the command of `walk,' or
`let's go.' If your dog follows, say `good walk,' if he freezes
and refuses to move, drop a few treats in front of him, leash
loose, and wait. Never pull or drag your dog, as this may
frighten him even more. You can also try to encourage forward
movement by touching the dog's hindquarters, or turn your back
to the dog and wait for him to become bored of sitting there.
If, on the other hand, your dog runs to the end of the leash and
pulls, stop moving. Do not pull back. As soon as the pup
realizes that pulling did not work because you are no longer
moving forward, get his attention, and motivate him to follow
you in another direction. You are much more likely to keep a
puppy's attention by making a game out of following you, and you
will have more fun too!

For an older dog that pulls, stopping alone may not work.
Remember that the goal is to walk with the leash loose at all
times, so you must be very careful not to allow the dog to
experience tension from the leash. Arm position is very
important; your arm should be relaxed, slightly bent, with your
elbow in toward your body. An outstretched arm offers less
control. The instant that the leash becomes taught from your dog
pulling, straighten your arm to create slack in the leash, and
take a step in a different direction. The dog may feel a tug at
the leash, but he will recognize that you made a change in
direction that he missed. This will encourage your dog to pay
careful attention to your body language, and rely less on cues
from the leash.

Leash training your dog can be extremely rewarding, and is
essential for a safe, well-exercised pet. Your dog will enjoy
trips out of the yard, and you will enjoy the ease with which
your pet walks along side of you. You may even become the envy
of your neighbors as you and your dog take pleasant strolls
throughout the neighborhood.

About The Author: David Beart is the owner of
http://www.professorshouse.com. Our site covers family, pets,
cooking and other household issues.

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