When it comes to dog training tips to teaching your dog to walk on a leash, you really have to commit to spending time with them. A dog is not going to respond to the occasional training session with a leash. They need regular work and repetition. That said, you can overdo it as well. Here are some dog training tips to teach your dog to walk on a leash that will keep you and your pup on the same page and moving forward in your training.
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Dog Training Tips: Teach Your Dog to Walk on a Leash
Dogs naturally are going to prefer to pull. Their natural instinct is to be excited about what is outside and to explore the world around them. They will want to pull because we are almost always slower moving than they are. When your dog pulls, you have to take control the first time and every time. If you don’t, the dog will pull every time just to see if they can get away with it.
Be prepared to try several different training tips to teach your dog to walk on a leash. One method is not a catch all for each dog on a leash. Some dogs do well under one type of training but are impossible to work with with another. Try several and find the leash training method that works for your pup.
Pick out a very popular treat that your dog only gets when he is leash trained. These should be tiny to keep their weight and health maintained, but they should be given liberally when the dog does the right thing. That positive reinforcement will be at the core of what you are trying to do.
Try exercising your dog before you take him on a walk. If you get them a bit tired you will have a calmer dog on the end of the leash and more of a chance to praise their behavior. You have to always praise when they get it right and never allow them to tug. Even one walk on the leash that “takes a break” from the typical training can be very damaging to their learning. All leash walks must be training in the beginning.
Move quickly but not running. When you have a dog that is leash training, the last thing you want is for them to stop and smell every rose along the way. Dogs will naturally want to sniff and investigate everything if you are walking along. Instead, move quickly and be sure to make the training session quick to hold their attention well.
Walk briskly and keep your dog alongside you through gentle rewards and practice. You can easily get a dog to do what you want once or twice. After that, it is all about rewarding them for behaviors well done and correction when they get it wrong. Your primary focus has to be on what they get right, however.
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