Accustoming Your Pup To The Leash
Most
puppies, at first, resist walking on leash. They buck, pull back, throw
themselves on the ground and generally do not have a fun time. We
have, over the years, used this gentle and easy method to teach
literally thousands to walk boldly and with confidence.
What is
required is a soft, buckle collar, a leash that is comfortable in your
hands and a supply of tasty treats with which to reward his efforts.
Step
one. Accustom the puppy to the collar.
You can do this simply
by putting the collar around his neck and letting him wear it for
several days. At first, he will scratch at it as though it causes him
to itch. That's fine. Most puppies react to the collar in this
manner. In a few short days, he will be used to having it around his
neck.
Step two. Accustom the puppy to the feel of the leash.
Clip the leash to your puppy's collar and drop it on the floor. Let
him drag it around with him until he is used to the feel of its dragging
behind him. Do not leave him unattended while he is dragging the leash
because, if it becomes tangled on a furniture leg or the like, it can
give him a fright that may set his training back by several days.
Step
three. Accustom the puppy to the feel of you holding the leash
Reach down while your puppy is dragging the leash and gently pick up
the end of it. Try not to put pressure on the leash. Follow the puppy
about the house or yard. When this does not unduly bother him,
momentarily put just the slightest pressure on the leash and instantly
release the pressure. Continue this until the puppy is not bothered by
it. Gradually increase the time that you have pressure on the leash.
Do not stop walking, but continue following the puppy. If he should
begin to struggle, release the pressure and start over with this step.
Step
four. Teaching the puppy to yield to leash pressure.
When your
puppy is walking forward with intermittent pressure on the leash, it is
time to begin to teach him to move in the direction that the leash is
pulling. In this phase of his training, we do not, under any
circumstances, want to drag him.
With the end of the leash in
your hand, stand in front of him and put just the slightest pressure on
the leash. This pressure should not be more than, maybe, one pound of
pull. At first, he may back up. Do not give to him, but do not pull
forward. Be patient. Give him time to figure out that he can remove
the pressure by stepping forward. When he moves forward, even the
tiniest amount, release the pressure on the leash and praise him
sincerely. Repeat this lesson a number of times until he is always
moving forward when you apply pulling pressure to the leash.
When he has mastered this lesson, practice stepping to the right and to
the left, applying about one pound of pull, waiting for him to yield to
the pressure and then praising him generously.
Step five.
Teaching the puppy to not charge ahead.
It is now time to take
your puppy for his first real walk. Select a long straight area for
this first lesson. Put a goodly number of his favorite food treats in
your pocket. Attach the leash to the puppy's collar and put your hand
in the leash's handle. Do not fold the leash in your hand. One end is
attached to the puppy. You are holding the other end. Unfettered leash
is between the two of you.
Speak happily to your puppy and
start walking forward. If he comes with you, after a couple of steps
give him a treat, praise him generously and sincerely and pet him. Move
forward again. This time, your puppy must walk four or five steps to
earn his reward. Gradually increase the distance he must walk in order
to earn the treat, the praise and the petting.
Should your puppy
decide not to walk with you, but instead, pull back on the leash, pull
forward on the leash with about a pound of pressure until he yields by
moving forward. Praise him generously, give him a food treat and
continue your walk.
Many puppies, excited about the prospect of
new things to discover, barrel ahead. Should yours do this, stop
walking. Let him hit the end of the leash at full tilt. Most, after
just a few uncomfortable repetitions, quit rushing forward. Apply about
one pound of pressure to the leash. Keep the pressure on until he
steps back to you, yielding to your pressure.
Under no
circumstance should you move forward until your puppy has quit tugging.
When he lets the leash become slack, praise and pet him and then
continue your walk.
Step six. Teaching your puppy to turn
when you turn.
When your puppy is no longer attempting to drag
you down the street, you can begin teaching him to turn when you want to
change direction. Do this by making a definite turn. As you turn,
say his name to attract his attention and turn in the direction you want
to go. Apply about one pound of pressure to the leash. As he yields
to the pressure, praise him. Walk in the direction you have chosen and
give him a food treat as he comes with you. In a short time, his name
and your change of direction will be all that is required.
Step
seven. Give him practice.
Daily walks are good exercise for
your puppy. If you will provide them, you will find that his general
behavior will be much improved. Exercised puppies do not chew, dash
about the house knocking your possessions over or make general pests of
themselves. Start out with moderate walks - a block or two - and
increase their length as your puppy grows and gets stronger. The walks
are good for him, and come to think about it, they won't do you any
harm, either.