Although walking on a leash is not a natural activity for puppies, the need to learn this skill is dictated not only by regulations, but above all by safety reasons. However, before a walk becomes a safe and pleasant form of cooperation, the guardian must patiently, step by step, teach the puppy to walk on a leash. So how do you teach your puppy to walk on a leash?
Walking, playing, traveling or practicing sports with your pet should be a process of cooperation and mutual understanding. For this reason, it is so important to get your puppy used to a collar or harness early and learn how to move properly on a leash. With a little knowledge and a lot of patience, training is not difficult at all.
Start by choosing the right dog collar. Then give your pet the time it needs to get used to it. The collar should be tight enough that the dog cannot pull its head out of it, and at the same time loose enough so that it does not cause discomfort. The collar is considered to be properly fitted when there is room for two fingers between the dog's neck and the collar strap. In addition, the collar should be made of a delicate material so as not to irritate the dog's delicate skin, on the other hand, it should be easy to adjust and solid enough to ensure safety and comfort of use. It is worth checking the fit of the collar regularly, because the puppy grows quite quickly and the collar should never be too tight. Of course, a harness can be used as an alternative, although in the first stage of learning to walk a puppy on a leash, it is not a good idea. Harnesses are a good choice when the puppy has already mastered the art of walking on a leash and does not cause major problems during everyday recreation.
After the collar comes time to choose a leash. The best is a short, stable leash with a length in the range of 120 - 150 cm. Such a leash is perfect for everyday walks and learning to walk with your leg. It guarantees the guardian a lot of control over the dog's movements, and at the same time ensures adequate freedom of movement for the pet. At the first stage of training, you should avoid the flexi retractable leash so as not to develop undesirable habits in your toddler.
Before starting the training, remember that:
Learning to walk on a leash, based on the formation of correct habits, is one of the basic elements of raising a four-legged friend. It is recommended that you start training your puppy after eight weeks of age and after a period of adaptation to new conditions. Often caregivers make a basic mistake by starting to teach a puppy on the first day of staying at home. It's best to give your baby a day or two to get used to the new situation and get to know the immediate surroundings. If you have the opportunity, let your puppy run around the backyard garden as well, so that he can get to know interesting smells.
It is worth starting the training with getting your toddler used to wearing a collar, so you should let him walk freely with it (for at least one session) without a leash attached. Make sure the collar isn't too tight. If you can slip two fingers under the collar, it fits well. Remember that puppies are true artists at freeing themselves from their collars, and this can be very dangerous. After you put the collar on, give your puppy time to get used to the new thing around the neck. Stay with him and let him run around the house or garden with her. Most puppies find the collar irritating and want to get rid of it at first. If at such a time you try to take the puppy for a walk, the first problems will immediately arise.
We always start teaching a puppy to walk on a leash in a calm environment that he already knows, in an apartment, house, garden. In the first stage of training, you only need a few square meters. Before you start exercising with your puppy, play with him and let him taste the treats that await him during exercise. Once your puppy knows you always have treats with you, it's time for proper training.
Summon the puppy to you. Be patient, it may take some time. When your puppy comes to you, put him on a leash and take a few steps. If your four-legged friend moves with you, you must reward him immediately. Then, in a gentle, friendly way, encourage your puppy to follow you. If he pulls away, yanks at the leash, hold it for a moment and then gently encourage him to walk forward again. Each time the pet walks a few steps on a loose leash, it should be rewarded.
After your puppy learns to walk on a leash in his familiar environment, it's time to explore new places with more distractions. If your puppy refuses to walk on a leash in such places and "protests" or sits down during a walk, give him space and time to get used to all these new sensations, smells and sounds. If your pup still refuses to walk with you on a leash, it's time to take a step back. Apparently your puppy isn't ready for this yet. Train at home, go to the woods or take a walk somewhere quiet. Reward your dog whenever he walks so that the leash is not tight. After some time, the puppy will understand that only obedient marching gives him a reward. Practice in short sessions of about 10 minutes, up to 4 times a day. Once the exercise in calm conditions becomes established, you can go for a walk again to busier areas.
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