Leash training your dog is very important especially in his growing age. This provides proper foundation for good behavior and gives more safety in the future. Also, improvement in the communication with the owner and better control in different situations are the benefits of proper leash training.
Importance of proper leash training
- Heeling
One of the most important reasons of proper leash training is so that your dog can walk beside you comfortably. This allows your dog to walk directly beside you without tugging ahead or walking behind.
If your dog is too far ahead, it might lead to certain injuries such as arm injuries for the dog owners or even collar-related injuries for the dog. Walking beside each other comfortably is a good thing for both the owner and the dog.
- Safety
The leash is not just a tool to make you dog walk side-by-side with you, but also to keep your dog safe. If a leash was used properly, it allows you to prevent your dog from going into danger or dangerous scenarios. Dogs without leash tend to run around without care which is dangerous because accidents may happen in modern scenarios.
- Communication
A leash is also not just an extension of your arm. With proper commands and controlled movements, communication may be achieved with the use of the leash.
Without training, the leash is just an equipment that pulls your dog around and cause them to be angry. It may lead to disinterest and avoidance of your dog to the leash. It may even bite the collar and leash to shreds while walking.
- Control
A well-made leash that is properly used will help in controlling the moves and how the dog does it. This is important especially if you are walking along with your dog. If your dog is very lively and somehow wants to chase other animals like squirrels while walking, you are able to take control of the situations just by using a leash.
6 steps on introducing your dog the leash
1. Familiarization
The first step in almost every dog training is familiarization. You have to let your dog be familiarized with the item that you are going to introduce to him. It may be as simple as leaving the leash on the ground to wait for your dog to pick it up and investigate it.
You will notice how your dog would smell it from time to time and even play with it. This will make your dog understand that the leash is not a threat to him and just an ordinary item.
2. Showing the dog
Once the dog has been familiarized with the leash, you will now show him that you are not afraid of the leash either. You can do this by holding the leash and even play with it. Your dog will realize that you are not doing any threatening actions using the leash in your hands.
3. Get closer
After your dog has realized that the leash is not a threat to the both of you even while you are handling it, get closer to them while holding the leash in your hand. Once your dog approaches you, reward with a treat. Try to repeat this action multiple times until your dog has created a positive association with the leash that you are holding.
4. Hooking the leash
After the positive association has been set, your dog is now fully familiarized with the leash. You can now approach your dog to hook the leash into his collar. You may do this stealthily by holding a treat or toy to distract your puppy’s attention to the leash.
After hooking on the leash, give the treat to your dog. Allow your dog to walk with the leash on. This is to let your dog be familiarized with walking while having the leash on. Make sure that the leash would not catch anything along the way. To ensure this, provide a wide enough space for your dog.
5. Try holding the end of the leash
After your dog’s familiarization of the leash on their collar, try taking the end of the leash in your hand and walk all over the house while joining your dog. Call the attention of your dog using your voice and praise, and maybe an object like a ticker.
If your dog does not want to move, wants to sit down, lies down on the floor, or pulls his head out of the collar, release the leash to let your dog continue familiarizing without much activity. Do not pull the leash in order to make your dog obey you. It will destroy the training and will somehow make your dog associate negatively with the leash.
Forcing the dog to put your leash is probably unwanted by your dog. Continue to practice familiarization of your dog with the leash until he gets more comfortable with the leash. Afterwards, try walking your dog in your home with the leash attached for next time. Be consistent and patient with your dog at these stages because this is a very crucial time in training.
6. Finalization
After practice walking with your dog on-leash, start doing some walking outside. You can now introduce your dog the world outside that fence. But be cautious and start with safe areas outside to start practicing leash walking.
Start slowly and do not rush into wide areas for your dog. Set a time for walking every day, and slowly increase the time for walk until your dog is fully accustomed to walking with leash
The simple steps above, if applied correctly will almost guarantee that your dog will be able to be walked outside with a leash. Always keep in mind that dog training is not completely dependent on the dog, but rather on the owner as well.
Your persistence and patience as an owner will be tested during training. If you manage to hold on, you will see good results with your dog training especially even if it’s just leash training.
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