How to Train Your Dog to Use a Leash
Introduction
Your puppy is still a cute little ball of fur, but now he needs to learn to brave the outdoors and walk with you while on a leash. Except when you try to put on the leash, he goes berserk. He doesn’t know what this peculiar long bit of string is, and when you do get it on him he either refuses to walk at all or pulls you in every direction. Not getting the point of the leash might have been cute to start with, but you’re quickly getting fed up so he needs to learn fast.
Most people don’t realize that dogs often need training to use a leash to start with, but it’s a lesson we all learn swiftly. If you can train him to use a leash properly then your walks will be stress-free and relaxing.
Defining Tasks
"Walkies."
It’s one word that turns many dogs into crazed and over-excitable creatures. Training your dog to use his leash calmly isn’t always as easy as one might hope. You need to motivate him to stay calm and incentivize him to behave when he’s on his leash. If he’s a puppy and the concept of the leash is new to him, then he may need a week or two to adjust. If he’s had years of messing around and refusing to use his leash properly, then you may need up to a month before you break the bad habit.
Get this training right though, and you’ll be forever thankful you stuck with it. The leash is an essential part of leaving the house and coming into contact with other people and dogs, so it’s worthy of your time. He won’t pull, he’ll quietly and patiently wait for you to secure him to his leash and the word ‘leash’ won’t ever conjure up headaches.
Getting Started
Before your work can begin you’ll need a few bits. As you can imagine, a leash will be the first requirement. You may also want to invest in a body harness to reduce the strain on his neck. Treats or his favorite food will also play an essential role during training.
Make sure you have a few minutes each day to commit to training, plus ensure you have a quiet outside space you can practice in. A quiet field or a yard should suffice.
Once you’ve checked that all off the list, you just need to be patient and come with an optimistic attitude and then you can get going!
The Constant Approval Method
The Gradual Introduction Method
The Behavior Method
Success Stories and Training Questions
Training Questions and Answers
Lucky
My dog keeps chewing up his leashes. I canct count but think he'd chewed up 20+ leashes already since we got him. We now use dog cables, cut them in the middle, and splice one end to make a loop, making a strong leash for Lucky to use without it breaking when he chews it.
He also chews on dry erase markers, highlighters, or any type of stick like the shape of a pencil whenever they fall onto the ground. He sometimes would jump up and steals it as though it was a treat.
519 Dog owners recommended
Hello Kien, You did the right thing by creating a chew proof leash. Seven months is a heavy chewing period because of jaw development. You can also purchase chew-proof leashes here: https://www.amazon.com/VirChewLy-Indestructible-Leash-Dogs-Medium/dp/B004HIM590/ref=asc_df_B004HIM590/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=218543830990&hvpos=1o1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=12356904543524668648&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9010518&hvtargid=pla-353603998053&psc=1 If he is still attempting to chew the chew-proof leash, then purchase "Bitter Apple" or "Bitter Mellon" and spray it on the leash so that it tastes bad. Also be sure that he has access to his own chew toys. For the markers, work on teaching him a "Leave It" command and once he can leave food alone when told to, practice the command with the markers also. Check out the article below and follow the "Leave It" method. https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-shih-tzu-puppy-to-not-bite You can also booby trap places like desks, that he tends to jump up on to steal markers from. To do this, set something up that will make some noise or quick movement on the desk so that when he jumps up he is surprised, even when you are not there. There are several products on the market designed to discourage counter surfing, which is where a dog jumps up to steal things. You can also stack lots of metal things, like pot lids, run a string through them, and attach the string to a marker, so that when he jumps up and grabs the marker, he will pull the string and cause the lids to crash together, surprising Lucky. When you do this, go to the next room over and listen for him to trigger the booby trap, so that you can run back in there and pick up the marker to keep him from going back to it after he triggers the booby trap. You can also attach a string to the lids and to something secure behind them to keep the lids from falling off of the desk all of the way, to avoid any of them hitting him. Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden
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