Dogs Don't come collar or leash trained. The basis of teaching your dog to walk calmly on the lead is teaching him to accept the collar and lead, which means getting him used to the idea that the collar is part of his "dog suit," and if he wants to explore the world outside of your home, the leash is the symbol of "walk." (Eventually, your dog will see the leash and make this happy association...and perhaps even bring the leash to you.) It is generally easier for your dog to adapt to a collar, although expect some fussing at first. He'll complain (by whining) and may rub his head on the ground in an attempt to loosen or remove the collar. He'll fast realize that the collar is there to stay, so do not remove it, despite his pitiful pleas. He'll get over it within a few hours.
Once the dog accepts the collar, put a small leash on it for your pet to drag around. The leash will seem like a toy at first-a string attached, what fun! Watch your dog carefully as he walks around the house with the leash attached, dragging. You don't want the leash to get caught on anything. Once he is used to the leash's dragging behind him, you can pick up the leash and allow him to lead you around. When a dog is confident on the leash-meaning he pulls it, as opposed to not budging or fighting it-teaching him to walk properly beside you is the next step.
Begin the walk only after the dog has sat calmly to have his collar on and continued to sit calmly as his leash was attached.
Once the leash is attached, it is important to make the dog walk calmly toward the door. If he jumps or surges ahead, gently correct him with a tug of the leash and return him to a sitting position. Make him stay, then move on again. Repeat this process until the dog is walking calmly by your left side.
Repeat the process when you reach the door. The dog should not be allowed to surge out the door or pull you through the open door. If he begins this behavior, return him to the house and make him sit quietly until he can be trusted to walk through the door properly. Starting a walk in control is crucial to creating a well mannered dog.
As you begin your walk, it is vital to keep the attention of the dog focused on you at all times. The dog should look to you for guidance, not take the lead himself. Every time you stop, your dog should stop. Getting into the habit of asking your dog to sit down every time you stop is a good way to keep your pet's attention focused on you.
Make sure your dog is looking at you, then move off again. If he begins to surge ahead, immediately stop and ask the dog to sit. Repeat this process until the dog is reliably staying at your side. Each time he does what you ask him to, reward him with a treat, a toy, or your praise.
If your dog pulls on the leash and you continue to walk away, you are inadvertently rewarding that unwanted behavior. Dogs learn weather you are actively teaching them or not, then learning the wrong things now will make learning the right things later that much harder.
Remember it is important to be consistent in your expectations.
Dog Lover's Daily companion
Wendy Nan Rees and Kristen Hampshire
Once the dog accepts the collar, put a small leash on it for your pet to drag around. The leash will seem like a toy at first-a string attached, what fun! Watch your dog carefully as he walks around the house with the leash attached, dragging. You don't want the leash to get caught on anything. Once he is used to the leash's dragging behind him, you can pick up the leash and allow him to lead you around. When a dog is confident on the leash-meaning he pulls it, as opposed to not budging or fighting it-teaching him to walk properly beside you is the next step.
Begin the walk only after the dog has sat calmly to have his collar on and continued to sit calmly as his leash was attached.
Once the leash is attached, it is important to make the dog walk calmly toward the door. If he jumps or surges ahead, gently correct him with a tug of the leash and return him to a sitting position. Make him stay, then move on again. Repeat this process until the dog is walking calmly by your left side.
Repeat the process when you reach the door. The dog should not be allowed to surge out the door or pull you through the open door. If he begins this behavior, return him to the house and make him sit quietly until he can be trusted to walk through the door properly. Starting a walk in control is crucial to creating a well mannered dog.
As you begin your walk, it is vital to keep the attention of the dog focused on you at all times. The dog should look to you for guidance, not take the lead himself. Every time you stop, your dog should stop. Getting into the habit of asking your dog to sit down every time you stop is a good way to keep your pet's attention focused on you.
Make sure your dog is looking at you, then move off again. If he begins to surge ahead, immediately stop and ask the dog to sit. Repeat this process until the dog is reliably staying at your side. Each time he does what you ask him to, reward him with a treat, a toy, or your praise.
If your dog pulls on the leash and you continue to walk away, you are inadvertently rewarding that unwanted behavior. Dogs learn weather you are actively teaching them or not, then learning the wrong things now will make learning the right things later that much harder.
Remember it is important to be consistent in your expectations.
Dog Lover's Daily companion
Wendy Nan Rees and Kristen Hampshire
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