Leash Training Puppies

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Are you finding a hard time training your new puppy, and getting it to like its leash? Then you have come to the right place; read on...

Once you have purchased or adopted a puppy, the first thing you need to do is train it. Get your puppy familiar with the environs of your family and home. Training puppies is a demanding task, but the results are worth it. One of the most important things to train is the presence of a leash.

Leash Training Puppies

Puppies love to wander and play, and most often hate having any restrictive object attached to them. To limit the negative behavior and to get a pup used to the leash, apply these simple tips:

● First buy a training collar that suits your pup. Try to get the pup used to it. You can expect the pup to try to scratch it off. Put the collar back on when the pup is eating, or playing with you. Remove the collar once a day when your puppy is not trying to free itself from it.

Do not remove the collar when the pup is trying to remove it. Wearing a collar for the first time will feel odd to the pup, just like we feel weird for a few days when we wear a new watch or a new pair of glasses. Buy a collar that fits your puppy, but it should not be stiff. A lightweight collar is a good choice.

● Attach the leash to the collar. Some puppies might be excited to see a colored rope tied to their neck. Let your pup get comfortable with the leash. Allow it to roam in the house with the leash attached, but under supervision. Pups will try to chew the new leash; this is the time where you distract and play with the pup.

You can apply bitter apple on the leash to refrain the dog from chewing it; but remember that this wouldn't last long, and you would have to apply it every hour. Applying bitter apple is one of the easy ways to stop your pup from biting the leash off.

Dog lovers believe that chewed leashes are very useful as chew toys for growing pups. Don't leave a leashed puppy unattended, as it can get tangled in various risky things.

● When you see that the puppy is comfortable with the collar and the leash, it is time to begin the leash training. Make the training sessions short and lively. Pups love to follow their owners; use this as an advantage.

Start with a short walk around your house or yard, with the puppy walking beside you. If your pup strains on the leash stop immediately. Never walk with the pup when it is pulling on the leash.

● The pup will gradually learn that pulling on the leash takes it nowhere. If the pup wants to continue to walk, the best option is to walk with you on a loose leash.

Some Useful Tips

● Remove the leash when your pup goes into the kennel or crate. This will associate the leash with going outside, and will make the puppy want it. ● Consult your vet about your dog's breed and which collar to use.

● Never leave your pup unsupervised with a leash. The leash could latch on to something, and strangle your pup. ● However, leave the collar on unsupervised pups. If pup is lost, the identification tag on the collar can help save its life. Try to follow these steps with some patience and persistence, and soon your puppy will be raring to get onto the leash.