How To Leash Train A Dog - Dog Discipline For Happy Doggie Walks In Less Than 24 Hours!
One of the first questions a new dog owner needs to find the answer to is how to leash train a dog.
As we all know, dogs need their daily walks.
But, without the dog discipline that leash training cultivates in your new dog or puppy, taking those walks could become more of a pain than a pleasure.
And no owner will want that! Before we look at the actual steps involved, bear in mind that the sooner you can start the training the better.
So for young pups, start immediately when you get them home.
Even for a not-so-young dog that you have chosen to adopt, now is better than later.
Here's how to leash train a dog in 4 simple steps -- 1.
Let your dog get used to the collar Initially, when you put the collar on your dog, you can expect some resistance simply because he or she is not used to wearing one.
Your dog will try all means to slip it off -- pawing at it, rolling around, etc.
Just let him or her be.
The first step is to make sure the collar fits snugly but not tightly.
Ensure you can slip a couple of your fingers in between its neck and the collar.
And, when your dog attempts to slip the collar off, don't make a big deal of it or scold him or her.
Or worse, don't laugh at it! Simply leave your dog be and after a while, you'll find that he or she will also forget that it's there.
So there, the first step on how to leash train a dog is done! 2.
Attach the leash Next, attach its new leash and allow your dog to drag it around your house to get used to it.
Part of dog discipline for any dog is for it not to play with or bite its own leash.
Observe closely to ensure your dog doesn't do so.
If it does, immediately point at the leash and say sternly "No!".
When it lets go and leaves the leash alone, you can pat and praise it, and offer a yummy treat.
The first time you put the leash on, let your dog walk around with it for say 2 minutes.
Then take it off, pat and praise it, and offer a yummy treat.
Then reattach later for 10 minutes.
Keep doing this -- attach, wait a while, take off, treat -- until he or she gets used to it.
3.
Walk indoors with your dog leashed The next step is to hold your end of the leash and let your dog get used to you walking with him or her.
The idea here is to let it lead you around the house.
Don't pull at the leash or leave so much slack that it drags on the ground, just make it like a game.
You want this to be a positive experience for your dog.
4.
Time to step outdoors The final goal is going outdoors.
Once your dog is used to and comfortable with the indoor "walks", try going out.
Initially, go to quiet areas preferably with few people, and no other dogs around.
Get him or her used to walking in a new area without any distractions.
Make these walks short to start with (5-10 minutes) and go for longer walks as progress is made.
Once your dog is able to go for any length of walk, you would have successfully learned how to leash train a dog.
There you go!You now know exactly and precisely what to do now.
You can see that, like all dog discipline training, this type of training requires positive reinforcement -- by praising and the giving of treats.
Definitely avoid scolding or negative physical actions (like beating) when you are learning how to leash train a dog -- these will only result in a traumatized and unbalanced animal.
Just follow the 4 steps above on how to leash train a dog and you'll soon be happily taking nice serene walks with your dog in the late evenings with a soft autumn wind gently blowing in your face.
Can you just imagine that?
As we all know, dogs need their daily walks.
But, without the dog discipline that leash training cultivates in your new dog or puppy, taking those walks could become more of a pain than a pleasure.
And no owner will want that! Before we look at the actual steps involved, bear in mind that the sooner you can start the training the better.
So for young pups, start immediately when you get them home.
Even for a not-so-young dog that you have chosen to adopt, now is better than later.
Here's how to leash train a dog in 4 simple steps -- 1.
Let your dog get used to the collar Initially, when you put the collar on your dog, you can expect some resistance simply because he or she is not used to wearing one.
Your dog will try all means to slip it off -- pawing at it, rolling around, etc.
Just let him or her be.
The first step is to make sure the collar fits snugly but not tightly.
Ensure you can slip a couple of your fingers in between its neck and the collar.
And, when your dog attempts to slip the collar off, don't make a big deal of it or scold him or her.
Or worse, don't laugh at it! Simply leave your dog be and after a while, you'll find that he or she will also forget that it's there.
So there, the first step on how to leash train a dog is done! 2.
Attach the leash Next, attach its new leash and allow your dog to drag it around your house to get used to it.
Part of dog discipline for any dog is for it not to play with or bite its own leash.
Observe closely to ensure your dog doesn't do so.
If it does, immediately point at the leash and say sternly "No!".
When it lets go and leaves the leash alone, you can pat and praise it, and offer a yummy treat.
The first time you put the leash on, let your dog walk around with it for say 2 minutes.
Then take it off, pat and praise it, and offer a yummy treat.
Then reattach later for 10 minutes.
Keep doing this -- attach, wait a while, take off, treat -- until he or she gets used to it.
3.
Walk indoors with your dog leashed The next step is to hold your end of the leash and let your dog get used to you walking with him or her.
The idea here is to let it lead you around the house.
Don't pull at the leash or leave so much slack that it drags on the ground, just make it like a game.
You want this to be a positive experience for your dog.
4.
Time to step outdoors The final goal is going outdoors.
Once your dog is used to and comfortable with the indoor "walks", try going out.
Initially, go to quiet areas preferably with few people, and no other dogs around.
Get him or her used to walking in a new area without any distractions.
Make these walks short to start with (5-10 minutes) and go for longer walks as progress is made.
Once your dog is able to go for any length of walk, you would have successfully learned how to leash train a dog.
There you go!You now know exactly and precisely what to do now.
You can see that, like all dog discipline training, this type of training requires positive reinforcement -- by praising and the giving of treats.
Definitely avoid scolding or negative physical actions (like beating) when you are learning how to leash train a dog -- these will only result in a traumatized and unbalanced animal.
Just follow the 4 steps above on how to leash train a dog and you'll soon be happily taking nice serene walks with your dog in the late evenings with a soft autumn wind gently blowing in your face.
Can you just imagine that?
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