The Ultimate Guide to Leash Training

For most dog owners, leash training is not considered to be a very important part of training a new puppy since more focus is placed on housetraining or potty training, In fact, some dog owners even think it’s cute for a puppy to wander in all directions while being walked on a leash. In time though, this will no longer be cute and can develop into a serious problem if not corrected early.

When your dog keeps pulling away while you are walking him, it can certainly get pretty tiresome. When your dog gets used to this habit, it can be very difficult even for a professional dog trainer to impose discipline on the dog.

Quite surprisingly, there is a very simple leash training trick to prevent your dog from pulling. Each time your dog attempts to pull away, stop all forward motion immediately. This will let your dog know that the more they pull, the less their chances will be of getting where they want to go. To further enhance the lesson, make sure you give treats and praises each time your dog behaves.

Using a Clicker for Leash Training

Another good way to keep dogs from pulling while on a leash is to let them know that they will be much better off when staying close to you. You can do this by using a clicker in your training sessions. The clicker is a small device that makes a clicking sound that is just loud enough to catch your dog’s attention. Use this device each time your dog shows good behavior and immediately follow it up with a treat. It will help your dog remember the difference between good and bad behavior.

The clicker is also good for keeping your dog focused on what you want him to do and prevents his attention from constantly straying off.

The best time to engage a dog in leash training is when he is still very young and has not had the chance to discover the fun of pulling. Take him outside for a walk while talking with him in a friendly conversational tone. Whenever he looks at you, click the clicker and give him a small treat. Soon enough, your dog will catch on to the fact that he will get more treats when he stays close to you while walking, effectively preventing the development of the pulling habit.