Puppy Leash Training – Here’s What To Do If You Want This To Work

Training your new puppy to accept a collar and lease is the key to successful training. This is called puppy leash training and it can start just as soon as he is settled in his new home.

Training your dog to become accepting of a collar and leash is important because it will set you up to be in control. Once your dog accepts that you are in charge, training has a much better chance of success.

As soon as you can get your puppy to live with his collar and lead, you will be able to start focusing on other areas. Here’s how to train him to accept his collar and lead.

It’s important that the collar fits properly. Too loose and he’ll back his way out of it. Too tight and he won’t be comfortable. Try adjusting it so you can slip two fingers easily between his neck and the collar.

At first when you put his collar on he’ll need lots of affection and attention to stop him from thinking about the strange thing around his neck. It will take some time for him to get used to it. After he is used to the feel of the collar you will be able to move onto the next step in your training of your puppy. Leash training becomes much easier if you give him time to just get used to wearing his new collar before trying any other training.

The next step is to attach a short, very lightweight leash to his collar. The leash should not be longer than about three feet. Allow him to just drag it around for short periods of time. The idea is for him to get used to the feel of having something attached to his collar.

Keep a close eye on your puppy while he is wandering around with his lead attached. If he happens to get stuck while you are not around, he may become agitated and frightened. You want him to see how it feels to be restricted for a brief period of time, but you don’t want him to become upset when it happens. Quickly free the lead when it gets stuck.

Within a few days he will have become accustomed to the feel of the leash. Once this happens, attach the other end of the leash to yourself rather than letting it drag loosely. As your puppy explores, he will get stuck as before. The difference is that this time, you will not go to him to free-up the leash.

Instead try to help him get rid of his distress by crouching down and calling his name. Entice him to get himself unstuck and to come to you by offering some toy or treat. Give him his treat and lots of praise when he does come to you. Be sure to continue with this every day for short periods. After a few successes each day, remove the leash from his collar, but leave his collar on at all times.

When he routinely returns to you when called, your puppy leash training has been a success. You can now move onto the rest of the training program knowing that it will be much easier.

A comfortable bed is a great way to show your dog that you appreciate how hard he works during your training sessions. Dogs love to feel warm and cozy. A heated dog bed is the ultimate in comfort. Some dogs prefer the soft padded cushion and the bolster which doubles as a pillow in a bolster dog bed.