How to Train Your Puppy to Accept a Leash

To begin, put your puppy's collar on him and leave it on him for a week. This is to help him to become comfortable wearing it before introducing a leash also. If your puppy is already used to wearing a collar then you can skip this step.

When your puppy is used to wearing his collar, attach a leash and allow him to drag it around your home while you are supervising him. If you have more than one leash, use your shortest leash for this as long as that leash is still at least two feet long. If you have the option, use a leash without a handle, so that the leash will be less likely to get caught on objects.

Have your puppy drag his leash around for at least four days under your supervision. After you have done this, grab the loose end of the leash and take your puppy to a calm location outside, such as your own yard.

While you are holding the end of the leash, allow your puppy to explore while you follow him around. After ten minutes, encourage your puppy to follow you back inside, without applying any leash pressure. If he will not follow you, then pick him up and carry him inside.

Take your puppy outside at least five times over the next few days. Following your puppy around and keeping the leash as slack as possible while you do this.

After you have taken your puppy outside at least five times, then when you take your puppy outside a sixth time, every three minutes call your puppy in a happy tone of voice and give a gentle tug on the leash. If your puppy responds to your encouragement and tug by coming toward you, then praise him enthusiastically and offer him a treat as soon as he comes toward you.

If your puppy pulls against you and fights the leash, then stand still and wait until he stops. When he stops, call him and give the leash a gentle tug again. Repeat this entire process until he responds by coming toward you, even just one or two inches. When he comes toward you, praise him and give him a treat.

When your puppy completely stops fighting the leash whenever you tug on it , then practice calling him and rewarding him until you can walk and encourage him to follow you with the leash and with your voice, and he will continue to follow you while you walk.

To begin, attach your puppy's leash to him and give him a treat. Do this whenever you attach his leash for at least two weeks.

When the leash is attached to your puppy, pull on the leash so that it is tight and your puppy feels pressure, but do not physically drag your puppy toward you at all. If your puppy steps toward you when you do this, even by a couple of inches, release the leash pressure, praise him enthusiastically, and give him a treat.

If your puppy fights the leash when you tighten it, then simply stand still and keep the leash a little bit tight. Do this until your puppy stops. The second that your puppy stops fighting the leash, praise him, show him a treat, and encourage him to come toward you. When he comes toward you, give him the treat.

Repeat tightening the leash and rewarding your puppy when he comes toward you when you do so. Do this until your puppy will move toward you right away when he feels the leash tighten.

When your puppy is consistently coming toward you when you apply pressure with the leash, then begin to wait until your puppy comes all the way to you before you give him the treat. Continue to praise all movement toward you with your voice though.

Once your puppy has learned to come all the way to you when you tighten the leash, practice walking with your puppy on the leash outside. Whenever your puppy begins to pull ahead, simply stop or change directions, so that the leash tightens, then do not allow your puppy to continue the walk until he has returned to your side first. Practice this until your puppy no longer pulls on the leash and follows you whenever you change directions.

To begin, put your puppy's collar on and have him wear it for a week, to accustom him to wearing it before attaching a leash. If your puppy is already used to wearing a collar then move on to the next step.

After your puppy has worn his collar for a week and is used to the sensation, then place small treats into a zipper bag in your pocket or into a treat pouch. Attach your puppy's leash to his collar and hold the end of the leash and stand still.

When your puppy reaches the end of the leash, if he begins to jump around and fight the leash or to pull, simply stand still and wait until he stops. This may take a few minutes the first time. Be patient.

When your puppy stops fighting and pulling on the leash, and puts a little bit of slack in the leash by coming toward you a bit, then praise your puppy and offer him a treat.

Reward your puppy every time that he stops fighting or pulling on the leash. Do this until your puppy stops fighting or pulling on it completely.

When your puppy is no longer pulling on the leash or fighting it, then take one or two steps away from him. Let the leash become a bit tight, so that it is pulling your puppy toward you a bit. If he starts to fight the leash or to pull away from you when it becomes tight, then simply wait until he stops. Reward him with a treat when he stops fighting or pulling and comes closer to you, even by one or two inches. When you reward him, immediately relax the leash.

Repeat walking away from your puppy until the leash becomes slightly tight, and then rewarding your puppy when he comes toward you in response to the leash pressure. Do this until your puppy will immediately come toward you whenever he feels tension in the leash.