Sunday, January 10, 2010

Training Dog to Walk on a Leash

By Jim Witt

It can be difficult for a dog to learn to walk at our pace because they walk at such a quicker speed than us. Dog's are naturally curious animals and want to go explore. It is up to the owner to help them learn to walk on a leash without pulling you around.

It is important to begin your training with authority. Never be cruel to your dog to establish your authority. By building a good relationship with your dog, you will be able to really help with the training process.

When teaching your dog to use a leash, there are different techniques you can use. The most popular technique is to give a fast snap on the leash whenever your dog decides to pull against the leash. Stop walking with the animal until he stops pulling, and then positively reinforce him every time he lets the leash have any slack.

Be sure to get a good training collar. Find one that works well for training, such as a nylon dog collar that won't slip off. Be careful when using a standard choke collar, since these can cause a lot of damage to your dog's vocal chords if use improperly.

Find a quality dog leash. Find a dog leash that is comfortable, especially for your grip. The best-sized leashes are usually 4 to 6 feet long.

Train with your dog by having him sit on your left side, with both of you looking in the same direction. Start walking with your left food. If you use your left foot every time you start to walk this will signal to your dog that you are about to walk.

Walk at your normal pace. Your dog needs to get use to your speed. Talk to your dog and make it fun so she wants to walk with you and not just explore on her own.

Walk a short distance and then stop walking. Praise your dog and tell him what a wonderful job he has done with walking with the leash. Practice this a few times a day. Keep it fun and your dog will be trained in no time.

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