At one time or another we have all seen this, or maybe you’ve even done it yourself: a puppy being dragged along on by a frustrated owner, in an attempt to train the dog to walk on a leash. There are fundamental principles that must be learned in order to properly train a puppy to walk on a leash. In all fairness, there are definitely those puppies who feel natural being led; you snap a leash onto their collar for the first time, and they happily plod along after you.
But not every puppy is like that. This is why it is important to begin the process of teaching your dog to walk on a leash at a very young age. Building familiarization and positive associations with the collar and leash can be achieved simply through exposure. A puppy should wear a collar at least some of the time, as soon as it is old enough to do so. Keep a leash nearby, and let your puppy investigate it. You should praise your puppy a lot while handling the leash, and clip and unclip the leash from the puppy‘s collar. Reinforce these associations with plenty of excited praise, and carry the leash with you anytime that you and your puppy leave the house.
When your pup is old enough, probably around ten weeks, you can try attaching the leash for an actual walk. It is vital to remember to stay patient during this training. Some owners have ruined their dogs ability to be comfortable and obedient while on a leash simply by rushing it, and by forcing the animals to perform against their will.
The idea is to use your pup’s natural inclination to come to you; who it should see as the leader of the pack, or the alpha wolf. Stand in one spot and let the puppy move around you, allowing it to pull on the leash and see that it will be let loose. While your puppy is doing this, call to it excitedly, making certain that you say its name repeatedly. When the puppy stops fighting the leash and comes to you, praise it with a lot of enthusiasm, and reward with treats where applicable. After you have done this a number of times, wait until there is some loose tension in the leash, and move away a few steps. Encourage your puppy to follow, and reward him when he does; increasing the distance that you walk each time between praise or treats. Repeat this with patience every day for several weeks, and you should soon have a very obedient puppy at the end of the leash.
Always give your dog positive encouragement to come to you. If your puppy doesn’t mind the leash, but pulls excessively as you walk, you can easily correct this by using a head control harness. This item fits around the dog’s head and mouth, and attaches to the collar in front. The leash is clipped onto an area between the underside of the chin, and the collar. When pressure is applied with this harness, it causes the dog to be forced into turning its own head, which disrupts its attention and therefore its pulling. In time, this system can be discontinued, but your puppy will continue to walk straight because of the behavioral conditioning that was created.
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