[stevered638]

What's the best way to leash train your puppy?

[tickle]

eHow | How To Do Just About Everything! | How To Videos & Articles › Pets › Dogs › Dog Training
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Good tips on this website. Start from basics, comffortable collar, leash, etc.

You don't say what kind of pup you have ?

Tick

[shazamataz]

There are many different way to leash train but this is what I do:
Get a light collar and leash, nothing too heavy so it weighs the dog down.
Put the leash on and encourage the dog to move forward by coaxing him with treats.
Don't put any pressure on the leash... just use the treats to begin with.
Gradually you can apply a little pressure after he is used to walking with a loose lead.

I use a noise to accompany the treats, I make a clicking noise with my tongue so they think that the clicking noise means they are going to get a treat. That way you don't have to use treats all the time.. the clicking noise will trick them in to thinking you have food ;)

Once he is comfortable walking alongside you with minimal pressure you can begin using the leash to direct him to where you want to go.

Leash training can take anywhere from a few days to a few months depending on the dog and how much effort you put into training.

If this method doesn't work for you you can try the weight method.
This is where you put a collar on the puppy and just let hi wear that for a few days.
You then gradually increase the weight on the collar to get him used to the feeling of something pulling.
Eventually you can clip the leash on and let him drag it around the house, and finally pick up the leash and hold on to it yourself.

I'm not a fan of this method but some people prefer it.

[Catsmine]

I've used a combination of Shazamataz' methods. All my dogs wear collars from a young age (10 weeks) if only to have a place to put the tags.

I begin lead training when they start responding to their name. Verbal cues, treats, and gentle pressure let them get used to the idea that I want them to stay with me.

With help and advice from a professional trainer, you can even get them under verbal control.

[tickle]

There is also the issue of what type of control, which necessarily goes along with the breed of the dog. For instance, a body harness is quite useful for a husky, samoyed or any working dog, from my experience. I don't agree with choak chains, but a lot of people of found the collar with the inverted metal pieces to be quite useful, although it didn't work for my Walker Hound. She disregarded it and that was suggested by dog trainer.

The best device for her was always the halty. The theory being control is obtained because the dog doesn't like its head pulled sideways. I see this method used on quite a few Labs in the neighbourhood.

Tick

[Catsmine]

Halty's are excellent tools, but I like to reserve them for a "plan B." There are dogs that won't accept their owner as leader, or don't think about the leader regardless, and those are my candidates for Halty collars. Labs are notorious for being overly enthusiastic, which fits into that latter category.

[Aurora_Bell]

I have never liked using the harness types only because I found that they promote pulling, as that is what they would normally be used for. Especially in Huskies or working dogs. I found they were great when attaching my daughters toboggan, but not for normal every day walking. For me personally Iliked the gentel leader. Or the face collar as they have been calle don this site before :)
Gentle Leader Product Description - Premier Pet

[Aurora_Bell]

True, but on the link I posted above it does explain the differences between the halty and the gentel leader.
Halty's work just as good in my opinion, the gentel leader is a bit more expensive but has a few more featurs.

[Cat1864]

I have never liked useing the harness types only becasue I found that they promote pulling, as that is what they would normally be used for.

However, there are some breeds (toy breeds in particular) that harnesses are safer for them. Their little necks can get injured very easily or they don't have much of a neck.

I wish the op would come back and tell us what type of puppy and the age of said puppy.

[Aurora_Bell]

Ahh yes the toy breeds. Usually do much better with the harness. Very easy to hurt their little necks.