Originally Posted by
Altenweg
The harness was first invented for hunting and sled dogs. It allowed the dog to pull on the leash without choking. This made it possible for the hunter to allow the dog to go after the scent, while holding a leash but not choking the dog and thereby discouraging him to continue following the scent. That's also what the extendable leashes were made for.
A lot of people like using the harness because they feel it's more humane, or because it's more secure (the dog can't easily slip out of it), but as a training tool, it's not great.
My collar of choice is a leather buckle collar. It's like a little belt. This way you can tighten it to just the right tightness without fear of it expanding and slipping off, or fear that the clasp will break. It's important that it's secure because beagles (or any mix with beagle in it) are likely to run and keep running if they ever get loose. They find a scent and that's it, they're gone.
Putting the collar on the dog is almost as important as the walk. He has to learn to associate the collar with something fun, and going for a walk should be fun. When you get a new collar spend the first day or two getting him accustomed to it. Let him sniff it, inspect it. Get him good and tired (play catch, tug of war, whatever he enjoys) and than put him on your lap and try to put the collar on. If he resists, stop, but give him a treat for getting this far. Keep trying to put the collar on, give him every opportunity to slip his head in by himself. Lots of praise with every attempt, and a treat.
The object is to have him willingly have the collar placed on him.
Once it's on and he doesn't mind it, it's his, and stays on.
When going for a walk make sure the dog is calm, sitting, waiting by the door to have his leash put on. Do not start the walk by getting him overly excited. Yes, walks are great, but you are the leader and he is the follower. He has to sit patiently and wait for you to begin the walk. There shouldn't be a struggle to get the leash on. He shouldn't be jumping around, wriggling out of your reach. This isn't play time, this is walk time. He's at the perfect age to learn walk etiquette. Lots of treats and praise, but for this behavior we don't want to get too excited. It's not like potty training where you go overboard when he does what's expected. If he sits patiently waiting for the walk to begin a simple monotone "good boy" and a treat.
Once he's calm, sitting at your feet, put the leash on. Than open the door. You exit the door first, you're the leader. If he bolts out of the door first, go back in, calm him down, than try again.
My rule when we're walking is that we walk for 30 minutes with the dog beside me, or slightly behind me. We don't stop for sniffing, and if he tries to get ahead of me, I do a quick turn to get him to keep his eyes on me (because he has to watch where I'm going so he can follow).
After 30 minutes he's allowed a 10 minute sniff/potty break. When that 10 minutes is up he gets a treat, a "good boy" and we continue our walk. Your puppy is still little so 30 minutes without a potty break may be too much. I'd start at 15 minutes, 10 minute sniff/potty, 15 minute walk, another 10 minute sniff/potty, and than home.
He's really little still and the collar/leash experience is still really new, and a bit scary. He doesn't know that he's supposed to walk while this scary new thing is on his neck. Positive reinforcement, associating the collar and leash with something good (a treat) and patience, and he'll soon get the hang of it. :)
