Dog Training: Do You Go for a Walk or a Drag? Dog Training Tips

24 February 2010 No Comment

Taking a young puppy for a walk can be a start and stop affair! Puppies love to sniff everything and mark everything and will often stop dead when they encounter something unfamiliar to them. If this sounds like your puppy, I recommend you start dog training early and initially use a harness rather than be constantly pulling on the puppy’s neck or throttling him with a slip collar.

As the dog grows, you should progress to teaching him to walk correctly rather than allow him to tow you behind him as he drags off in front. With a small dog, the worst scenario is that you may find yourself wrapped up in the leash again and again as your dog runs around you, but if you have one of the larger breeds, if not corrected early, you could end up with a real problem.

The unhappy result of the absence of necessary leash training is that your dog will miss out on the simple enjoyment of taking a walk with you. If every walk is nothing more than a constant battle, it most certainly won’t hold any pleasure, either for you or your dog.

Thankfully there is a very easy routine to leash-train your dog. It is effective without the necessity for any rough discipline or unceasing jerking on the leash and it works rapidly because your dog really wants to please you and remain close to you. The only negative is that to any onlookers you may appear a little odd when carrying out this method correctly. But surely that’s the least of your worries if you pause to consider a lifetime of pleasant walks with your friend once he learns his lesson.

To begin use a slip collar (also known as a choke collar). Normally I am very definitely not an advocate of slip collars, but this is one of the very few instances when I do recommend one. Another solution—and this is the one I prefer—is a snugly fitted halter, especially on smaller animals. To this attach a leash that is 10-15 feet in length. The initial stage of this training can be carried out in your back yard if it makes you feel more comfortable, but on the whole it will be best if you use a route that is not one that your dog is familiar with.

With the long leash attached, start out walking at your normal pace. An untrained dog will immediately set off to the left or right, or will rush ahead of you. The instant he does this, you should make a turn and proceed to walk in the opposite direction, giving a soft tug on the leash. It is critical that carry this out before your dog reaches the end of the leash and is pulling against it. While turning, use his name once and give a gentle tug. Never stop—just continue walking in the opposite direction.

Your dog will run to catch you up and the moment he reaches your side, say “heel” clearly using your normal voice. If he remains at your side for a moment, follow the command “heel” with a pat and “good boy” in the voice you use to indicate praise. Persist with this walking pattern whenever your dog is on the leash. Each time he goes off to the left, you should immediately turn and go to the right. If he goes right, you turn left. If he rushes straight ahead, turn completely around.

As with most aspects of dog training, timing is critical for your dog to understand exactly what you want him to do. Your turns need to be made before he reaches the end of the leash and is pulling, and you only use the “heel” command when he reaches your side. Never use negative commands or punishment, only positive reinforcement is necessary. The majority of dogs swiftly understand what you are doing. They realize that unless they are close to you, they won’t know where you are going.

After several lessons, you could move forward to including “uh uh” sharply whenever your dog starts to move away from you. This command is preferable to “no” and augments the “heel” command. It will divert your dog’s attention away from whatever he finds so interesting and returns his focal point back to you, his leader.

These walks need to be short and carried out at least a couple times a day. After just a few sessions you will discover a significant improvement and reminders to “heel” with merely a gentle tug on the leash will quickly be enough to keep your dog at your side and produce pleasurable outings for both you and your pet.

Occasionally you may encounter a dog that does not respond fast to this leash training method usually they are the high activity, easily distracted breeds. For these dogs, there are harness systems available that curtail their lunging and pulling habits. Dogs everywhere love going for walks with their owners so employing dog training methods that make this a positive, pleasurable experience for both you are definitely worth pursuing.
Copyright © 4PetsOnline.com | All rights reserved.