How do you train a dog to a leash?

Answer 1

• If you don't own another dog, then find a friend to go for a walk with you that has a dog on a leash. Once your dog sees that the leash does them no harm by looking at the other dog it's easy. Just go for a walk on leash a few time with your friend and then take the dog somewhere quiet (like a park with no other distractions and practice.) They should walk on your left side and you hold the leash up and tight in your hand. Never shout or bark orders at your dog, (have some treats in your pocket) and when you are out stand still, use the leash to tighten on the dog and control him/her and say sit. If the dog doesn't, then gently tighten and pull back the leash and take your hand and push them down by their butt. Praise the dog and give them a treat. After a couple of times of this they'll do it on their own. The dog should always walk on the left side of you. You can train them to do this by holding the leash short (wrap it around your wrist until you have control). Teach your dog to heel (on the left side of you on leash or not), stop, back and sit. Dogs love praise so when they listen to you give them plenty of it and don't forget those treats. When I train my dogs (just trained a little 6 month old cockapoo) they aim to please as all dogs do. A well trained dog is a pleasure to have around. If your dog is small then use a harness and not a leash attached to a collar. This is good protection for your little pet should the danger arise where you have to get your dog up off the ground quickly. If you have a large dog then use the leash only. If you go to any pet store they should have DVDs on training your dog. Remember, take a short time at the beginning to train or the dog will become tired and disinterested and after every lesson, so have some fun with your dog and let them play and romp. This way they know if they listen well to you then it's "fun time!"
• All I did was use the leash at least three times a week and over a course of about five weeks he wanted me to take him for a walk. He just needs to get used to it.

Answer 2

Whenever she pulls, stop and jerk the leash enough to get her attention. You're not trying to hurt her, just make her realize that she has to do something different. Start walking again only after she's beside you. When she starts pulling again, stop and force her to stay beside you. It may take some effort and you won't walk anywhere very fast, but it's training and necessary if you want the dog to grow up to do well on the leash. A good relationship with a dog depends on rewarding good behavior. Praise the dog when it walks beside you, maybe even give it a treat. It doesn't need to be much. Rewarding "successive approximations" means that you praise or reward any behavior that is closer to what you want. It doesn't mean that the dog needs to walk perfectly on the leash the first time, but if it doesn't pull as hard as it did before, praise and/or reward it, maybe with few words of praise, a scratch behind the ears or a tiny piece of cooked hamburger or whatever the dog likes. A little extra time when the dog is young will result in a long experience with a well trained dog.

Using negative methods can result in a nervous dog who will pull to get away from you. Avoid yanking the lead. See the links for positive alternatives that won't harm your dog.

Answer 3

There are quick fixes with anti-pull equipment like special collars and harnesses, and there are permanent fixes where you teach the dog to keep the leash loose on his own, regardless of what equipment you use. The permanent fix takes longer, but will keep your dog safe even when you accidentally drop the leash or the equipment breaks. Without question, Sue Ailsby's Penalty yards technique is considered the best. There are other techniques like, "be a tree," and "automatic corrections," but please try Sue's method first. See link below

Other contributors have said:

• There are different ways to teach a dog to walk on a leash without pulling. I walk 8 dogs every day at the same time and I use a Premier Easy Walk Harnesses on all of them. Most harnesses have the leash attached to the top of them which will encourage a dog to pull. The Premier Easy Walk Harness has the leash connection at the front chest area. When a dog trys to pull on the leash, it will turn them back torward you. If they lag behind you can nudge them along. Premier also makes a head collar, but the first dog I tried it on didn't like it. I have used different methods to teach a dog to walk on a leash and have found using the harnesses to be the quickest and easiest.

• Get the dog used to the leash before you take him somewhere.Make sure the dog is really good with the leash in the backyard.

• First you should get the dog used to the fact that something is going to be around his neck. Then you should slowly encourage him to come to the leash by himself, do not go charging after him. I say this because if you were the dog then you would get really scared and run away. This is what the dog will do. When the dog is in the loop of the leash give him positive reinforcement, such as a treat, then let the dog used to the leash. It will take a while just be patient. Start slow, let the dog go out by itself. When you're walking the dog, here are some tips, dont pull the dog, the dog will push his weight, he's only getting used to it. If the problem continues you're probably walking him with the wrong attitude. You must stay calm submissive and calm assertive. Good luck!

I have also used the Premier Easy Walk harness in conjunction with a 10 step training plan which teaches your dog not to pull. All you need is patience and time to get your dog to stop pulling.

Answer 4

==Prevention== The best solution is prevention. It takes two to pull, so if you never get into a pulling match with your puppy from an early age, he'll never learn to pull on the leash. That means if you want him to go someplace, you don't drag him there by the leash. Instead, you lure or cajole him into going with you. Yes, it takes more time, but it will save big headaches in the future if you can convince him it's fun to be with you so he just goes along willingly and pays attention instead of dragging you hither and yon to investigate other things. When you're walking along, if your pup does pull the leash tight out of excitement or curiosity, simply stop moving. Cross your arms and stare at the sky. This technique is called "being a tree." He can pull on the leash if he really wants, but it won't get him any place or even get him any satisfaction of getting you to play tug with him. Bo-ring. Eventually he'll come back toward you to see what the heck is so interesting about the sky. When you feel the leash loosen, that's when you can praise him enthusiastically. The sensation of a loose leash eventually develops a pleasant connotation for him. What if you're walking a boisterous, large-breed adolescent? They don't have two neurons to rub together because of hormonal issues and they're darned strong. Try using a temporary training aid, such as an anti-pull harness, Easy Walk harness, Gentle Leader, Halti, or prong collar. Think of these tools as temporary training aids, not a lifestyle. There are disadvantages to each and potential injury from each when compared to a plain old buckle collar on a loose leash. Your goal is to use them as crutches during training and eventually wind up with a dog who walks nicely regardless of what he is wearing (or even if he isn't on a leash at all). ==For a dog that is already pulling== You can try the "be a tree" technique with confirmed pullers and it will work with some dogs. Unfortunately, it probably won't work with many of them. However, there is a technique that works with nearly all pullers. It takes time and persistence, but the technique is very effective and easy to maintain after training. This technique is called "penalty yards" and was developed by renowned trainer Sue Ailsby. This technique works a little like the game you use to play as a child called "red light, green light." Start from a specific location with something desirable several yards away. Take a step toward the treasure. If your dog pulls, go back to the start again. You only step toward the goal when the leash is loose. If you can convince him that the way to a steak in the back yard is a loose leash, the battle is half won. See details in the link below. ==Other contributors have said:== * I used a pinch (prong) collar which you can find at any pet store. It causes just enough discomfort to stop the dog from pulling. After a while the dog realizes that it does not need to pull. * You have the wrong size dog if your arm is coming out of socket, have an adult male walk the dog. * when you are training a pup to heel, start out on the walk with a regular collar and walk at your normal pace. when the pup starts zooming forward all you need to do is jerk it back to where you legs are and give a firm "no" every time. continue to do this as long as the dog continues to walk in front of you. the jerking does not hurt the pup, it just catches it by surprise. most of all, be PATIENT!!! pups are like small children and it may take a while to understand what you telling them. never hit the pup! if after several days the pup still seems to have a mind of its own, you can trade the normal collar with a choke chain (no spikes!!!) which you can buy at any pet store. all it does is increase pressure around the neck when you pull back so that pup knows who's boss and will take you more seriously. it does not hurt the pup. once it starts to understand where it is supposed to walk reward it with a pat on the head or a good back scratch. don't use treats when doing this type of training!! if you do , pup will expect treats every time you go anywhere and not behave very well at all of it isn't rewarded! good luck :-D

* You need to become the pack leader. * You need to train you children how to have the dog heel. obedience is key * They do it because they want to either say hi or play

Answer 5

Training a dog can be a very time consuming task, but if done properly it will be rewarding,

for the dog and owner. Dogs will always respond to positive input rather than scolding; if a dog is ignored when he does a certain thing, usually he will stop that behavior because he does not want to be ignored. Dogs would rather be scolded than be ignored!

Teaching a dog to walk on a leash can take any amount of time, from a few short days to nearly a month or longer. It depends on the age of the dog, the ability of the human and the amount of effort put in by both. You should try to work with your dog at the same time every day. A puppy or a young dog will usually learn faster if the training sessions are broken up into two or three - five to ten minute sessions throughout the day; rather than one 30 minute class. They have shorter attention spans and lose focus if you try over and over, after they have had enough. Also trying to teach them. Right after they eat a meal is not usually the best time either. Most puppies like to nap when their tummy is full. If you have a puppy or young dog try to get it used to training time right from the beginning. At first you are just getting to know each other, nothing more. But soon you will start knowing your dogs personality and the best way to work with your dog.

Professional trainers suggest getting a special treat only to be used during training. Meat treats textured like a hot dog are good, or those doggy bacon treats if your dog is old enough. Put some very small pieces in a baggy - shoved into a pocket or fanny pack, where the dog can't reach. Remember this isn't a meal, it is a reward. A little bit goes a long way.

Once the dog is comfortable around you, he needs to learn to wear a collar or harness. If he has never worn one before, then it should be slowly taught, by wearing it for short spells during the day at first and then gradually making the time greater over a few days. Some dogs are very sensitive to collars and will be resistant at first, but others do not care. If the collar is first put on the dog and it seems OK with it, leave it for a day and let the dog get used to the way it feels. Small dogs may do better on a harness (so they don't get hurt) or strong dogs like a Pit Bull or German Shepherd may do better on a harness because they will accidentally use their strength against you, while being trained. They can't help it that they are stronger than we are - so don't hold it against them. Also with dogs like the Pit, his neck is bigger than his head. One good pull and the collar is off. Once the dog is used to its collar and is wearing it 24/7, bring out the leash.

It is very important not to use a retractable leash. it will simply confuse the dog; one moment there is a restriction and the next, he can roam away from you. Remember, collars and leashes are completely foreign object to dogs, they are used to being free. This applies to all dogs, not just puppies. Only a dog who has been trained with leash should be expected to walk on it. If you only have a retractable, set it for 4 to 5 feet and lock it.

This is the point where the author and I go our separate ways, since she/he wrote this in such a way that it needed to be rewritten, I am going to give my training expertise first, then return you to the original author. I believe if you have never trained a dog before, you should sign yourself and your dog up for a class. And I have a good reason to suggest this. I have seen really good, smart dogs messed up, by people who didn't know what they were doing. I'm sure they had good intent, but they had no clue how to show the dog what to do and the dog had no idea what the human was trying to teach them. So that's my speech. There are inexpensive classes at most Parks and Recreation Departments and even in those big warehouse style pet stores. Now back to the original author!

At first, simply put the leash on the dog and stand still. When the dog pulls, ignore him. Do not tell him no or even do so much as look at him. If you are looking at him when he pulls, look away. The point is to ignore him. When he comes to you, give him a treat and tell him what a good dog he is, (because he is a good dog)! After he has had the treat, walk the length of the leash. A three foot to five foot leash is best for "heel" training. If he follows you, give him another treat along with petting and praise. If he stays where he is, causing tension on the leash, stay where you are, standing with your back to him. If he doesn't follow you, be patient. Stand there with gentle tension on the leash for as long as it takes to convince him to come over to you. He will eventually get tired of standing there having his neck pulled on. It may take a while, but it will happen. Whatever you do, if he has stayed and not followed you; do not look at him or try to coax him over to you, this would be you showing him that he can control you. The things that you do with him very first he will expect from you from then on. If you let him "win" and then are all of a sudden not letting him win anymore, he will be confused. "Letting him win" means letting him dominate you. Learning to walk on a leash is not the time for this. When he finally comes over to you, no matter how long it has been, make sure to give him lots of praise, petting and a treat. Exaggerate how happy you are with him, especially if he is a puppy. Walk away from him the length of the leash a few more times. If this takes a long time, it is OK. But keep in mind a young puppy has a short attention span. He will learn faster and happier from three ten minute exercises than he will from a 30 minute exercise.

After your dog will follow you for treats on the leash, the next thing to do is to attempt the exercise above without treats.* (ED. comment; when I was training 'The Best Dog Ever' - we always carried the treats - but once the puppy had the concept, we alternated on just praise, or praise with the treat.) Once again, it does not matter how long you may stand with the leash taunt waiting for your dog to give up and come to you. Do not give up slack on the leash, and do not give him any attention, until he has come 'all the way over to you'. All the way means that he is a foot or closer to you. Once he comes over, give him your attention. Repeating this exercise will probably be harder without treats, but do not give up. After he will gladly come to you on a leash when you do not have any treats, you have accomplished a very good thing!

The next step is to add the command "heel', it will always be used with a tone of authority, your tone will help focus the dog and let him know that this is serious. As soon as you have told the dog what to do, it is expected that he does it - immediately. You give the command 'heel" the dog knows to heel (note: get used to giving the command before you take that first step) Dogs are amazing but they are not mind readers! Once you are comfortable that your dog knows the command and he knows what to do, if he does not keep up, give the lease a sharp snap, the intent is not to hurt, it is just to get his attention back on task. Step forward and walk along at a normal pace.

If you are training a young puppy don't be surprised to find him lying down and letting you pull him, because they have never seen or felt anything like this. if you keep dragging them along, they will eventually get it that they are supposed to be on their feet. When they do follow you those few steps, make sure you praise them extravagantly.

One thing that you most absolutely do not want to do is to start attempting to do something with a reluctant dog without treats and then go get them later. The dog will learn that if he is disobedient, you will just give him treats later. That would be bad.

Once the dog will follow you without treats for a few steps extend the length that you walk, go in a different direction telling the dog Left or Right before you make the turn. Dogs are smart, they learn quickly, it is up to you not to let the dog be bored.

Next, add distractions. Distractions can be many different things. For example, a person being in the room, a different environment, maybe a radio on in the room, or navigating around different object such as a table or sofa. Once the dog is good at dealing with small distractions, add in bigger ones, such as a light flicking on and off (but not so dark you can't see with the light off) or kids running through the room (as long as this is not an aggressive dog). Periodically, when the dog becomes distracted, tell him the command again, give a tug only if he doesn't respond. A distraction is not your dog looking at another dog across the street or eyeing the neighbor's cat while following you. Although it might be a good idea to check that you are holding the leash well and to remind your dog with the command if he is eyeing a cat, if there is no tension on the leash then there is no need to pull on him.

In my mind, leash training is when the dog is walking with you comfortably, for both you and the dog. Walking on a leash is most certainly not the dog straining and the owner attempting to lessen the dog's strain. Go back to step one as often as you need until you and the dog are comfortably walking together. The good behavior of the dog will pay off for the amount of time spent training him in very many cases. Beware, though, do not overdo the process. Quit safely within the lines of knowing that your dog wants more treats and attention from you. There is always next time when training a puppy. Do not give up even if it seems hopeless. Very worst case scenario, take the dog with you and get professional help.
The first step is to get him used to wearing the collar. Just put it on and play normally to distract him. When he's used to the collar, attach a four foot piece of rope and allow him to drag it around. This will help him get used to the feeling of having a leash.

When you take him out to walk, take a pocket full of treats with you. When he walks quietly at your side, praise him and give him a treat. If he does accidentally pull on the leash while you are walking, simply stop. Do not pull on the leash. Stand still and ignore the puppy until he returns to you. Then you can praise him and start walking again.

If you are diligent from the beginning, he will never develop the habit of pulling on the leash.

Vets recommend a dog harness as if a dog pulls whilst wearing a dog collar, the dog's trachea can be damaged. An anti-pull dog harness is a good training aid along with a plan to stop your dog pulling.

Answer 6

One method used is holding the leash at a close length, keeping the dog next to your leg or slightly behind you, and if the dog tries to pull ahead, give it a jerk on the leash without stopping the walk; that tells the dog you're in control and won't let them dictate the walk. If you don't let th dog lead you outside, or on the walk, or wherever, you let the dog know you're the one in control.

The above method is only safe when your dog is wearing a dog harness, not a dog collar. The link below gives a concise easy training plan for training your dog how to walk on a loose leash without pulling with the use of a front ring anti-pull dog harness.

Answer 7

I see that you need some sort of guide that will give you tips and tricks to help your dog become fully trained and healthy. Recently on of my friends really needed some advice on how to train his dog. He used the following guide to successfully have a fully trained dog in a few weeks.

Check it out. http://bit.ly/hpEZ4K

Answer 8

When the dog pulls, give a quick and hard yank. Be sure to get a chain leash. If you don't train your dog immediately and correctly, it may cause major behavior problems.

The very last thing you should do is 'give a quick and hard yank' or get a chain leash. Both of these actions will damage a dog's neck/trachea and/or even more. Get an anti-pull harness and a training plan to help you use the harness properly to train your dog humanely how to walk without pulling. See links below to anti-pull harness reviews and an easy 10 step plan for use with the harness.

Answer 9

One of the primary things you should train your younger dog is how to walk on a leash. It is an essential ability for you as well as your dog. After teaching a dog to walk on a leash they will be much more reliable and controllable, this signifies walk is a life experience you can both participate and take pleasure in. It is easier to train a new puppy the proper way to walk on a leash, instead of attempting to re-train a mature dog.

• The ideal situation for the dog to heel, sit and down is beside you, on the left hand. This is often referred to as the heel position.

• To set your dog in the heel position, use the command of sit or lie down, Attempt once again and offer a treat. Once he remains in the right position, its mean that your dog have understood the heel position.

• When you are ready to take a walk, you should hold the leash in your left hand to handle the dog, while extra leash should be on your right hand. This will certainly provide you the best restrain over the dog.

Answer 10

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