Discover How to Leash Train Your New Puppy

Many new puppy owners think of themselves as prepared when they get a new their dog. Their puppy's shelter, bedding, food, leash, a crate for crate training, dog collars and etc is ready to go. Many dog owners also have a set plan on how to housebreak their dog. Whether it's through clicker training or crate training, they are geared up for battle when it comes to house training. However, many dog owners forget one thing...leash training their new puppy. Many people assume that a dog will know what to do with a dog leash, unfortunately that is not the case for many puppies. Here is what you can do to leash train your new puppy.

First things first, keep in mind that having a collar and leash connected to your new puppy is not a natural feeling for them. Expect for them to tug, pull and do all they can get it off. That's why it's important to get a collar that won't come off easily. One of the worse collars is the buckle collar the clicks into place when connected.

When training a new puppy, get a dog leash that won't easily come off when your dog is pulling and tugging you along (expect pulling and tugging in the beginning.) Extractable leashes that is not a dog leash you want for a new puppy. Sometimes the button gets stuck and you don't have full control of your new dog just yet, it will be best to wait until your puppy has obedience training before you get an extractable leash.

How to Leash Train Your New Puppyr
When going out for a walk, your new puppy will want to pull and tug his way along. Do not allow this behavior. When you allow this behavior, you are telling your dog "good job, do more of it." It is best you train your dog basic commands like sit, stay, heel and etc while leash training. You can do this by firmly associating a word to the action. For example, stand still and don 't allow your dog to go anywhere, he will whine and try to pull but firmly say your cue word (i.e. no pull, stop, wait and etc.) Repeat several times until your dog stops tugging. When your dog obeys, reward him and continue walking. Do this several times until your dog stops tugging and pulling. This will take several practices for your dog to associate what happens when he tugs and pulls on the leash.

Dogs learn very well when trained using positive reinforcement. When you praise and reward your pet, your dog will do it's best to get more of that attention. When you put your foot down and do your best to train your puppy what behavior is acceptable, it will take several tries for your puppy to learn. Positive reinforcement is a great way to effectively train your new puppy what is expected of him.

Clicker training is one of the best training techniques that use positive reinforcement. Your puppy will learn that by tugging and pulling on the leash, he won't get to hear the desired sound of the click he hears when it comes to clicker training. Once your dog gets the gist of click training, he will do his best to be on his best behavior. Clicker training starts off as a rewards program using treats.

Training your new puppy how to walk on a leash without all the tugging and pulling will take a lot of practice and time. With consistent training, you will soon be able to walk your dog without your dog walking you.