6. Walking on a Leash - Intro
Walks!
Whether you’re used to being a couch potato or the avid neighborhood walker, get ready to move. Puppies especially young ones (1-2 months) will need to go outside every one to two hours to pee and need enough exercise to keep their energy levels down at home. This gives you the opportunity to teach them basic leash manners & to check in with you as you walk.
There is no dog that knows inherently how to walk politely and all the good pups you see on the street have learned a skill that needs to be trained to your pup. This is one lesson you’ll value as they get older as little habits go a long way.
The Training
When your puppy first starts out walking, make sure they’re already familiar with their collar/leash & you’re familiar with clickers/mark training. If you haven’t already, check out this quick guide for collars & leashes and clickers intro training.- Now with the leash on, our goal now is to get them to start responding and coming to you. It might be best to start inside as puppies (especially young ones as they are easily distracted) so try to find a quiet, distraction-free environment.
- Whether by saying “yes” or using your clicker, make your sound to get your puppy’s attention. The second they look at you, reward them with a treat.
- After a few repetitions your pup will automatically begin coming towards you. While they’re approaching, back up a few steps and reward them as they get close to you.
- Once your puppy starts to understand to come to you, you can take them outside for practice. While on your walk, they will likely get distracted, as every smell, sound and sight is new to them. Stay patient and keep the first few walks short.
- If you notice that they’ve gotten distracted or are about to lunge towards something, make your sound and take a few steps in a different direction. Reward your little one for following you.
The Tips
Watch out for new sights, scents, and sounds, as everything will be new and interesting to your little one. Practicing in parking lots are a favorite of mine.
At a few months of age, don’t worry about them being perfect and focus more on redirecting their behavior. Simple eye contact after they’ve seen a distraction is worth an over praise and a reward.
As a puppy, they’ll need more consistent treat reinforcement and guidance, but as they get older, you’ll want to reduce how often you give them a treat. You can even start to randomize when you reward them while on a walk and make your corrections less frequent. Generally, it’s always a good idea to have a treat on hand.
Pulling
- If your puppy starts pulling the best response is to stop completely, imagine if you just became a boulder and you can’t move. Stand still and refuse to move until your puppy comes back to you, it’s not your job to go to them it’s their job to come to you. No yanking or jerking at the leash is required. You’re communicating that any tension on their leash means they’re not going anywhere.
Lunges
- Our goal is to be proactive and look for potential distractions before they get your puppy’s full attention like a biker, a runner or a car passing by. Your puppy will usually stop paying attention to you as a distraction comes up and this is where redirection is the best approach.
- Try offering a treat while creating space between you and the distraction. It’s your job to stay alert to incoming distractions, remember anything that’s new to your puppy or different can get them excited.
Disclaimer
The video and/or my content cannot guarantee that this learning method is right for your dog. The information I give is based on my knowledge and opinion of different learning types and is not directly endorsed by professionals. The methods shown within the video are meant to be demonstration purposes and does not guarantee success with all dogs. If you have any specific questions or concerns regarding the given information, please reach out to us through our Contact Page and we can get in touch.