Everyone who starts a dog needs to know in advance how to train a puppy on a leash. This is the most important skill, especially for those pets that live in the city. It is the leash that will help the owner control the puppy, prevent it from getting lost, protect it from cars and other dogs. Many inexperienced owners are frightened by the need to teach a pet, they can not cope, and as a result, an adult dog is uncontrollable. This is especially dangerous for large breeds, therefore it is very important, for example, to train a shepherd puppy to a leash from an early age.
How to choose the right ammunition
Before buying a puppy, you need to buy a lot of things for him: a bowl, toys, a place, items for grooming, as well as a collar and leash. Ammunition is necessary for the dog, since it will be for daily walks, and in the city it is impossible without it. Therefore, it is very important immediately after the purchase to teach a puppy to a collar, leash, harness, muzzle or other objects that he will encounter constantly. In order to make the learning process of the baby easier and the ammunition not to give him unpleasant sensations, you need to choose her correctly.
For dogs of different breeds, different collars and leashes are used: from canvas, leather, nylon, metal. But for all puppies, regardless of who they grow up, experts recommend that the same rules be followed when selecting ammunition:
- The collar for the first time, the baby needs a soft and light so that it does not rub and does not interfere.
- It’s better to train a puppy to walk in a harness first, it’s safer for him and it’s easier to train him, but you need to train your collar at the same time.
- For a start, you should take a short leash - up to one and a half meters, when training, you should avoid self-pulling leashes in the form of tape measure, heavy tarpaulin and slippery silk cords.
- After the purchase, new ammunition should lie down for some time in the house, preferably in a well-ventilated area, so that the artificial smells are gone.
- Before putting a collar and leash on a puppy, you must first introduce the baby to them, he should smell, but not play with these items.
Basic principles
The main thing in the question of how to teach a puppy to a leash is not to cause negative associations with his subject. The whole training process should be based on play and affection. It is very important for the owner to show patience and perseverance, and then the described question will soon cease to be relevant. To make this happen faster, you can turn to the advice of experienced dog handlers.
- It is necessary to solve the problem of how to teach a puppy to a leash when he turns 1.5-2 months old. At this time, it is easier for him to get used to unfamiliar objects. An older dog will be much harder to train.
- It is necessary to put on a collar and a leash on a puppy when he has already become acquainted with these objects and has ceased to show interest in them.
- The first days of ammunition should be on the baby only a few minutes. It is advisable to distract the puppy with a game at this time.
- The learning process should be gradual. After a few days, the puppy will calmly react to the collar, will cease to notice it. Then you can leave it on the neck of the baby for a longer time.
- Only after that it is necessary to fasten a leash to a collar. He should hang freely, so that the baby does not play with him, you need to distract him.
- You can speed up the learning process with the help of goodies and affection. Only in this way, and not out of fear, the puppy will quickly get used to the collar and leash.
Home training
It is not recommended to immediately go out with the puppy. First you need to practice walking with him on a leash around the house. In this case, you can not pull the puppy and pull it. The leash should hang down freely, only from time to time it needs to be slightly pulled. It is advisable that another family member join the training. He should call the puppy to himself, encouraging him when he comes up.
It is very important at this time to learn how to wear a collar. You can not tighten it strongly - between the neck of the dog and the ammunition must enter two fingers. But he should not be free, otherwise the puppy will simply take it off. The owner also needs to learn how to adjust the leash length during training at home. It is not worth using a roulette yet, so it is important to be able to quickly shorten the leash when there is a danger nearby, or dissolve it to allow the dog to run.
How to teach a puppy to walk on a leash
After the baby quietly walks in the collar and leash around the house, you can go out with him. On a walk, you need to immediately teach the dog to go after the owner, and not drag him along. Gently, without jerking, using a toy or a treat, you need to direct it wherever you need.
It is especially important to know how to teach a puppy to walk on a leash to owners of large dogs. Already at this age, they should understand that you need to go after the owner and obey at the slightest tension on the leash. You can start walking nearby after three months, before the baby just won’t understand this.
The Importance of Encouraging a Puppy
According to reviews, to teach a dog something is possible only with the help of affection and patience. This rule needs to be learned by anyone who is interested in how to teach a puppy a leash. In the learning process, it is worth using goodies, favorite toys, stroking.
When the puppy comes up to the owner’s call, he must be praised. But you can not give a treat if the dog has not complied with the requirement, rests or tries to break out. In this case, you can only distract the puppy with toys. Talk with a dog in disobedience in a calm but strict voice. Do not abuse the goodies, otherwise the dog may overeat.
What to do when training a puppy
Inexperienced owners often make mistakes when training dogs. They are either too strict or very sorry for the baby, not showing persistence.
To easily teach a puppy to walk on a leash, you need to know what you can’t do while doing this:
- In no case should you allow the dog to play with the leash and collar, nibble them.
- Do not use a leash as a punishment.
- You can’t allow him to bite and scratch when putting on the collar, if the puppy is too excited, it is better to postpone the learning process and let him calm down.
- It is unacceptable for the first time to leave a baby in a collar unattended, be sure to play with it, distracting from a new subject.
- You can not pull the puppy by the leash when it rests, it is better to lure him with a treat or a toy.
- It is not recommended to scream, scold and punish the baby in the learning process.
- You can’t completely ignore the puppy’s desire to play, forcing him to walk alongside.
- It’s not necessary for a small dog to use shocker collars and “strict” ones; they are needed only in special cases.
According to the owners of the dogs, with the correct behavior of the owner, the puppy quickly understands what is required of him. If time is lost or the dog is uncontrollable, it is better to seek help from a professional dog handler. But to teach a pet to a leash is a must.