Got a New Puppy? Here’s How to Train Them to Walk on a Leash

The first time your puppy pulls you down the street, you will likely get frustrated. You try different things, but it just doesn’t work. Then, one day, your pup starts walking like a tiny human on their leash out of the blue. This is an interlude in the training process and is quite a moment for everyone involved. 

First of all, it takes time! It takes patience as well as discipline and motivation. Be sure to have these qualities before embarking on any training program with your pet. It may seem daunting to train a young pup to walk on a leash, but it’s not that hard. However, knowing the basics of training your puppy will be easier for you and your pup!

• Can You Train A New Puppy At Home?

Yes, you can! It’s straightforward. All you need to do is train your puppy while they are young. You don’t have to be able to do tricks with them. Just focus on the leash. The process of training puppies to walk on a leash often takes time, but you have to be patient to get results. Practice short trips, and make sure your puppy is comfortable with everything you do.  

As new puppies grow into adult dogs, they learn to walk independently and behave appropriately in public. They start from day one, knowing what is expected of them by walking regularly and obeying all commands. They also learn that we are their pack leaders, who set the rules for them, so all these things become natural.

• Five Steps of Training Puppies to Walk with a Leash

When bringing your puppy out of his enclosure (puppy pen/gated space), you need to put him on his leash before he can run away. But, a new puppy is only sometimes ready to accept a leash unless trained to walk with a leash. The process of training puppies to walk with a leash starts with making a puppy comfortable with its leash and then practicing walking with it. Here are five steps that you can follow to train your puppies:

• Step 1: Help your puppy become comfortable with wearing a collar and leash

Most puppies will start to walk on their own accord within the first few weeks of being born. So the first step in training your puppy is not to run after him when he runs away from you and starts pulling – which only teaches him that pulling on his leash is his way of getting what he wants. 

Instead, please spend some time gently chasing him from behind whenever he jumps or runs in front of you, but never let him get control over you. This will gradually teach your puppy that he doesn’t get control over anything unless he wants to.

• Step 2: Put a harness and a collar on your puppy simultaneously

You can start putting a harness and collar together for your puppy while you start training him. Letting him wear it overnight is best before walking with it. This will help make him feel more comfortable with wearing a harness/collar so that he feels as if he half belongs to you.

As your puppy begins to walk with its leash, don’t pull on it. If your puppy pulls on its leash, let it go and gently tug on it again to get him to stop. Keep doing this until he learns that there are better ways of getting what he needs than drawing.

• Step 3: Take your puppy walking while wearing the harness or collar

When you take your puppy out for a walk, and he learns that he gets to go outside, he will be excited. To keep your puppy under control, you can use treats and praises whenever they do something good or try to tug on the leash. This will teach your puppy that walking nicely leads to positive rewards. 

You can also hold onto their leash firmly whenever they stop walking so they learn not to slow down when approaching other people and dogs. They should also grow into this feeling at home.

• Step 4: Practice at home

When you are at home, play with your puppy. This will help him to associate walking with a leash and positive experiences. Practicing at home also makes teaching your puppy how to walk on its leash easier. Building trust through friendship is the key to a good relationship with a pet. The more time you spend with your dog, the better he will get at understanding your commands. 

• Step 5: Practice walking in public or around other dogs or people

When you take your dog out for a walk, try not to go where there are many distractions and people. The best place is the park or around the neighbourhood without anything going on – like children playing or cars passing by. Practice walking with your dog and praising them when they do something right, like sitting down while they wait for their treats. To teach your puppy to walk with a leash, click it when you want them to start moving. 

When training your puppy, use treats as often as possible, but don’t rely on them alone. An alternative is to use small toys such as stuffed animals, treat bags, or even rope toys instead of food treats. 

• Why Is Training Essential for Pet Dogs?

You must give your dog guidance and proper training as a pet owner. If you does not get proper training he may develop mistakes in its behavior or be unhappy. For example, if your dog is still learning how to leash and walk on the leash properly, it will cause them to get frustrated. Dogs are intelligent, and it’s not unusual to know how and when to walk with a leash. Training a dog is essential because: 

• They need to learn from an early age what they can get away with and can’t. For example, the puppy should know that he must always be under control while outdoors.
• A dog should know the difference between right and wrong, or it will end up doing stuff that can cause a lot of trouble. For example, they might fight with other dogs, run after cars, or other dangers.
• Your dog deserves to have a good time while you have him out in public. However, if they are not trained, they may not be ready to face many distractions from the environment.

Training is much easier when your puppy is young and more likely to obey than if you wait until he grows up for this training. The key here is training your pet as young as possible. Be sure to know a leash and how they should behave while wearing one before they are grown up.

• Safety Gears for Dog Training

Dog walking gear like dog leashes and pet harnesses are much like the seatbelt for humans: it’s there to keep them safe and under control at all times. Use these gear to give your dog a secure way of walking and not just let them run out of control. Once they get older, you can teach them the commands that will make them obey their orders. For example, they can learn how to walk on a leash or sit and wait for treats. 

Introducing dogs and other pets into your life will create many opportunities for training. Before you bring a new dog or cat into your family, you must ensure they are adequately trained. Your pet will be happier with a well-trained dog, especially when brought into their new home environment. Your dog will be as safe, obedient, and comfortable as a trained pet. Your pet will enjoy positive attention and interaction with new people when you introduce them to walking on a leash. 

• How Much Training Should Your Dog Get?

The number of hours needed for drill or obedience training depends on several factors. Among those factors is the age of the dog. The faster your dog matures beyond its puppy years, the more movement it will need. The older he gets, the more you can expect him to get confused by commands or problems that his lack of experience could cause. You can start with simple controls if you have a young puppy and then move on to basic obedience training. 

Whether you are a beginner or an experienced dog trainer, you will find that this training is easy and fun while developing good habits and communication with your pet. Of course, the more often you do it, the better! If you want to learn more about what it takes to get a training program started for your puppy, get in touch with us immediately!

Final Thoughts

Although the dog training process may seem difficult initially, it will be much more fun with a happy puppy and a good relationship. When you use these tips, you will want to train your puppy from the very beginning so that he learns good habits from an early age. For example, pet dogs need to know how to walk on a leash and sit still for treats for well-trained pets. Using all these tips, your dog will also have a lot of fun!