Dog Leash Training
We've all been there, standing in the park, teeth gritted as we try to get our hound to walk nicely on the leash. But, unfortunately, the more we tug and pull, the more poor Fido seems to think it's a great game of tug of war! Which, as you know, only ends in one way, an aborted dog walk and a speedy drive home.
While most pet parents understand that when leash training a dog, it is important to use the leash correctly, many of us are guilty of making one significant mistake- pulling on the leash! This only serves to frustrate your dog and make him want to pull harder as he tries to avoid your restrictive grip on his neck.
This blog post will illustrate how to use a leash correctly and provide some tips for effective dog leash training.
5 Easy Leash Training Steps
The proper way to leash train a dog is by using gentle pressure
and rewarding the dog when they walk nicely on a leash. Below are some tips for leash training your dog:
1. Start leash training in a quiet area with few distractions.
This will help your dog focus on you and not be distracted by his surroundings. Remember, a calm pet parent will ensure a stress-free pooch and therefore result in effective obedience training.
2. Use a comfortable leash that suits both you and your dog.
In other words, the collar should fit your dog's neck without being too tight or too loose, and the lead and hand grip should fit your hand comfortably without being too slippery. Furthermore, a leash that is too long or too short can be difficult to use and can make leash training more difficult.
3. Be patient when leash training your dog.
Dogs learn at different speeds, so it is important to be patient and not get frustrated if your dog is not progressing as quickly as you would like. Instead, start walking your dog for short distances around the block to get them used to the feel and tension of the lead. Then, gradually build up the length of your dog walks until your dog is totally comfortable trotting alongside you on the leash.
4. Reward your dog for walking nicely on the leash.
This could include giving him a treat, praising him verbally or allowing him to play with his favorite toy. Using positive reinforcement alongside dog leash training will help your dog associate the leash with good experiences and motivate them to participate actively in the leash training process!
5. If your dog begins to pull on the leash, stop walking.
Stand still until your dog calms down. This will teach your dog that pulling on the leash is unacceptable. As soon as they are calm, continue walking using lots of praise and encouragement for good behavior. However, remember to keep your dog leash training fun, if your dog thinks it's a game, they will be more invested in the process!
The Final Tug
Leash training or if you prefer, dog walking training, takes time and patience, but it is important to do it correctly in order to have a well-behaved dog who enjoys walks and does not pull on the leash. Following these tips will help you leash train your dog successfully.
Photo by hamza Gharnati on Unsplash
