Dog Walking

Dog Walking - How to Train a Puppy to Walk on a Leash


dog walkingTeaching your puppy how to walk on a leash is a very important skill. It will allow you to walk them as often as you can, which is necessary for their health and happiness. You need to get them to the point where they are comfortable with the leash. This will make them much easier to look out for and you will be able to keep them safe. Then, you'll be able really enjoy a nice walk with your dog whenever you want!

It's not always that easy to get your little puppy to warm up to the leash. Some of them refuse to even let you put one on! You're right to start when they are young though, because it is really a lot easier to battle with a puppy than it is with an older dog that is set in their ways.

When you follow this guide, it should not take more than a couple of weeks to train your puppy to walk nicely with a leash. With some dogs, you can get them leash trained in less than a week, but there is no need to rush. It's not a race, and each dog will warm up at their own pace. However long it takes, it is going to be worth it!

Just like everything else puppy related, don't expect them to automatically know what is expected of them. You need to communicate with your little pup about what the right behavior is and what will not be tolerated.

If you have more than one person in your family that will be walking your puppy you need to make sure that they are all consistent in the leash training. If everyone walks differently with the puppy, they will just get confused. If you all do it the same way, they will learn very quickly.

The first thing that you need to do is get your puppy used to wearing a collar. It doesn't need to be anything fancy. Just put on a nice lightweight type or whatever is available. The best time to put it on your puppy is when he or she is eating or when you are playing with them. They might try to struggle to get it off or they might not mind. Either way, you need to leave it on.

The next thing you need to do is bring out the leash. Your main goal is to get your puppy familiar with the leash. You want them to know that there is nothing to be afraid of. Any type of leash will do, and you just need to put it on the collar. At this point, you can let them play with it or struggle with it if you want to. Keep your eye on them, but let them run around with it in their mouth if they have to. Eventually, they will get tired of it.

When your puppy is finally comfortable wearing their leash, you can grab it and start your training session. You'll want to keep it fun and short. A great way to start is to just walk around because your puppy will want to follow. They will trot along with you anywhere you go! Whenever their is slack in the leash and they are not pulling, shower them with praise and give them a treat or two. The minute they start to pull though, you need to stop walking. Instead of yanking on the leash, you should just call to your puppy so they walk back over to you. If they do, then you can praise them.

The one thing you want to be careful to avoid is walking if your puppy pulls! This teaches them that it is ok to pull and you'll have to work hard to correct that behavior in the future.

Your main goal is to teach your puppy that when they are by your side and the leash is loose, you can go for a walk. Anything else results in you stopping.

This is really all you have to do, but you need to remember to be consistent about it!

Dog Walker - Are you really busy and thinking about hiring a dog walker to help your dog get the exercise they need? If so, you should check this out. It will help you to understand the pros and cons of getting someone else to walk your dog, and you'll know when you're done if it's the way to go.

Dog Walking Harnesses - If you are having a really hard time getting your puppy or older dog to walk with a loose leash, then you might consider using harnesses instead. They will allow your dog to walk without choking themselves and they won't be able to pull as hard, either.

Dog Walking Services - If you are thinking about hiring someone to walk your dog for you, there are plenty of things you need to find out first. Using the tips in this article, you will be able to find the best dog walker in your area and know that your pet is in the best hands.


 

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