How to Train a Pit Bull Puppy to Walk on Leash

Hello Velencia, Know that what you described is normal for basic obedience; the initial goal is just to teach pup what a word means and motivate them to learn it in a calm environment. What comes next is intermediate obedience. For intermediate obedience, you will gradually work up to distractions and pup developing the skills to obey in those situations too - at first the distraction might be someone walking through the room, a squirrel in the yard, a leaf blowing by, ect...Start with less distracting environments, then gradually move onto harder environments and spend intentional time practicing in each of those new environments until pup can focus there too. For example, in your home without others around is easiest, your backyard is a bit harder, your front yard is even harder, your neighborhood is even hard, your home with guests present is even harder, a pet store is even harder, ect...Go out of your way to practice at the current level pup needs to learn at and to create the distractions pup is ready to learn to overcome during training sessions when you can control things - so that pup can also respond when things are more out of your control in every day life, but keep the distraction level what pup is ready for at that point in the training so pup can still succeed with your help. The goal is to guide pup and provide consistent, calm boundaries at this point. Second, you may need to switch some of your training methods now that pup knows the commands and is sometimes choosing to disobey. For example, when teaching Sit I would first recommend using the Treat Luring method from the article linked below. Once pup knows that method well and has worked up to some distractions, the command could be enforced using the Pressure method from that same article when pup chooses to disobey something they know. The pressure method will still reward some but will also give a gentle consequence for disobedience to encourage pup to obey even when they don't find it as fun. Another option is to withhold something pup wants until they obey Sit when told, having pup work for what they want. For example, ask pup to sit before opening the door to go on a walk, then wait until pup does, repeating only every five minutes if needed. You may wait thirty minutes the first time, but if you're consistent you will rarely wait that long again, pup will learn to do it sooner and sooner, expecting that that's the only want to get what they want - to obey. This can be used when feeding pup, tossing a toy they want, letting them go say hi to someone, ect...wait pup out and incorporate practice into daily life so pup is earning what they want throughout the day and not only when you have treats. Sit - Pressure method: https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-german-shepherd-puppy-to-sit For the Leash walking, check out the Turns method from the article I have linked below. https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-poodle-to-heel For the coming when called, check out this article, especially the sections on using a long training leash and teaching with the Premack Principle: https://www.petful.com/behaviors/train-dog-to-come-when-called/ And the Reel in method from this article: https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-whippet-to-recall Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden

May 10, 2022

Hello Savannah, Check out the Turns method from the article I have linked below. https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-poodle-to-heel Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden

Jan. 3, 2022