Walking

[ChicKstA]

Whats do you think is the best way to train you puppy to walk on a leash?

[calgal]

First let it get used to having a collar and leash on. Hold the leash and let the puppy go where it wants without pulling on it. Keep this up for a few days. Then carry some treats for training and gently tug while saying come and give praise then treat. I use harnesses instead of a collar on Zada simply because she is a small breed and their trachea can be damaged when they pull.

[Novel]

I agree with Calgal, but would take it one step further and just let the pup drag around the leash for the first few days. Make sure she's supervised so that you can keep her from getting hung up or in any danger. After a few days of this, then begin holding the leash and encouraging her to come with you. Try and always keep the leash loose, and use the treats to get her to move with you as much as possible and resist pulling her with the leash. Once she's used to the weight and sensation of the leash, she will more easily take to being led with the leash. You can begin this as early as 5 weeks, IMO! Many sporting dogs have collars and puppy size check cords being dragged around as soon as they can walk.

[mulroony]

You are going to hear a million different methods for doing this... so hear are a couple I have used.

For an older dog, who will not snap/bite, who pulls on the leash what I do is kick GENTLY at their back legs. They do not like this and will slow down. After a couple times they figure out hey if I stay back hear they don't do that anymore. SO far this has worked very well for me.

If the dog has a realiable sit. When the dog gets infront of you, stop and make them sit. Overcome them and then reward them for as long as they stay next to you. Simply stopping and have the dog return behind you before you proceed also works.

If you have some time, and I have only found limited success w/ this, but when the dog gets in front of you promptly turn around and walk the other direction. When the dog gets infront of you do it again.

When the dog is no longer pulling on the leash I find zig-zagging and varying my speed drastically helps teach the dog to keep an eye on me while walking.

Some people live by harnesses and collars. I used one for a little while and it worked, but only when I kept it on. A lot of people were afraid because they though it was a muzzle (a muzzle that doesn't keep the dogs mouth closed, real effective...) Other people have found more success w/ them then I have.

There is no one rbest way to train a dog to walk. You will have to try a bunch out and se which one works best. Just be consistant and positive, after all a walk is supposed to be fun for the dog.

[Kade]

With a puppy who is too distracted by the leash to actually move while attached to it, recruit a friend with a leash-trained dog. Your puppy will be so intent on following the other dog around that s/he will forget all about the leash! A bag of treats shaken and held out in front of the pup will also work for this.