Puppy Leash Training

I am often asked how to teach a new puppy not to pull on the leash.   Keep in mind that your puppy has spend his/her entire life running freely any time his feet were on the ground. 

leash manners takes practice, its that simple.

The owners perception of walking their new puppy is often frustrating for both pup and owner as he/she pulls every which way and the walk often turns into chaos. Even with high value treats the puppy may ignore his/her owner.  Walking is often no fun for the human as their new puppy can't seem to stay on one side nor can he/she keep her nose off the ground.  This often reduces the time spent on leash and the owner finds ways to exercise their new puppy off leash as it is simply easier.  However, this only reinforces your puppy bolting anywhere he pleases, so when you do attach the leash, the frustration will be even greater.   

Now that you have introduced him/her to an entirely new world of smells, sights and movement outside the yard, all of which are so new and exciting, they out rank the food you may be using to teach your puppy to stay with you.  What to do?

To make walking on a leash a win win for you both, always begin your leash training in a quiet area in the home or back yard where there are little distractions.  Once she/she understands that the leash means he goes when you go and he stops when you stop, ask your puppy to walk a certain length, say 10 steps while focused on you and reward with a treat, after a few repetitions of this say "ok" release her and let her go sniff.  Repeat, train, reward, sniff or play time.  Her attention span is very short so know this is a progression!  Always begin your leash training indoors and gradually move this training outside while increasing the duration your puppy can focus on you.  Leash manners will take many weeks or even months depending on how often you practice.  If your pup is running off leash Monday through Friday, then please do not expect them to have good manners on leash if he/she is spending most of his time off leash.  Remember your dogs environment is training your dog as much as you are!