How to Leash Train a Dog

Are you tired of your dog dragging you all over the place on walks? Are you tired of your dog misbehaving even though you have a collar on him? Would you like to be the one in charge? Well, help is on the way. You can learn how to leash train a dog.

Leash training your dog has definite advantages. This first, and probably the most important, is that owning a trained dog will lead to a lifetime of exercise and fun for both of you. To maintain good health, dogs (just like humans) need regular exercise.

Of course it is easier to begin training your dog while it is young. However, training an older dog is not impossible. With any dog, there are few things you must keep in mind when you leash train your dog.

It is very important that you are consistent in reinforcing the behavior you want your dog to learn. Dogs are generally intelligent creatures and capable of learning behaviors quickly. However, you must be careful that you don't give your dog mixed messages. Stop and think. Human beings have great difficulty in decoding mixed messages. Dogs, on the other hand, are incapable of figuring out what we want unless we are clear and specific.

Also important is your tone of voice. Dogs are pack animals. In essence, we become the alpha dog in its pack. Therefore, just like in a pack, dogs respond to the tone of our voice and will act accordingly.

Keep in mind that dogs learn one word commands quickly. It will be to your advantage to start here first. Once these are learned, you can proceed to more complex commands.

When leash training your dog, it is easier to begin by teaching the dog to sit and wait quietly while you put on the collar and leash. This establishes a sense of calm that will be necessary to teach the dog further behaviors.

Make sure you get your dog to respond to a command before giving it any attention. Then reward it immediately when it performs the correct behavior for the command.

Treats are good to use when leash training your dog. The treats should be small, tasty, and easily chewed. Treats will encourage your dog to learn the correct behaviors.

Daily walks are a good time to teach your dog commands and reinforce them. This also exercises you and your dog.
There are a number of collar and leash choices available to you. Each of them has advantages and disadvantages. Collars include buckle collars, prong collars, chain collars, harnesses, head halters, and no-pull harnesses. Leashes range from leather to nylon to chain. Some of the above choices can unintentionally hurt your dog if they are used incorrectly. Unless you are an experienced dog trainer, it is best to consult a good canine instructor to decide which option is best for you and your dog.

If you are leash training an adult dog, keep in mind that it will take more time. Most canine trainers say that it takes about five to six weeks to replace an old behavior with a new one.

These tips will get you started. Remember that you can't go wrong to consult a good, reputable canine trainer. The money you spend will be returned many times over in years of fun with your trained, well-behaved dog.