Puppy leash training help?!?
I have had my puppy black lab for a few months now and we pretty much got the training down except for leash walking. He just doesn't sit still. He always strains my arm because he pulls so much and I do tug back a little but it doesnt work. What can I do to keep him under control? He is always calm in the house and backyard, it's only when I'm leash walking him. Also how do I get him to stop chewing on the leash?????
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Tugging back does not work. A dog will pull harder against tugging. If you had asked this question when you got your puppy, he would be walking well on a leash by now. As it is, he has had months of this type of pull and tug walking and he probably thinks it's how we walk on lead.
Starting tomorrow, put your leash on your pup and step outside the door. You shouldn't be using anything longer than a 6 foot leash (a 4 foot leash is probably better right now- you will have more leverage), please don't use one of those retractable leashes. Your first new day walking him - you probably won't get very far, that's ok, you are training him to walk nicely on lead. Take a few steps - the very second you feel tension on the leash (the leash gets tight) stop and plant your feet - do not take another step. Call your pup back to you, praise him when he does, and start moving again. You may only move a step of two when you feel tension again, stop and plant your feet again. Call your dog back to you, praise when he comes, and start again. I think you get the idea here. When you walk dogs, the purpose is to move forward - dogs 'get' that. Dogs don't like that forward motion interrupted. You are conditioning your dog to understand whenever there is tension on the leash - he doesn't get to move forward.
The first few times you walk your dog in this manner, both you and he may get a little frustrated because you won't get very far. Your dog will come to learn that if he wants to move forward, there can't be any tension on the leash - he can feel the tension and it will be a cue for him to lessen the tension by returning to you or slowing down. I promise, after walking him this way, you will see your dog self-correcting his pulling behavior. You must be consistent and stop every single time you feel the tension, if you let him pull you along once - you will have to go back to square one.
I will add - it would be a good idea to take along a few treats the first few times you walk him this way, so that when you call him back to you - he comes! Good luck!
You could buy a head collar and get a chain leash. The head collar will stop the pulling because when ever he pulls, his head will be pulled toward you. The chain will stop the chewing because I'm sure he won't want to chew on a metal leash!
Well, there's some advise I need to take myself. Our seven month old puppy pulls so hard that I have to crouch down on the ground just so I won't be pulled along after her! And, she tries to play tug of war with the leash... She's a black lab mix so the have a lot in common it seems! :)
Hi, I understand that you are looking for some advice or resources to help fully train your dog or fix behavior problems. If a professional dog trainer is not an option at this time, or if you want to trt training your dog on your own (a great way to bond), I'd suggest you https://bitly.im/aMMll
A friend recommened it to me a few years ago, and I was amazed how quickly it worked, which is why I recommend it to others. The dog training academy also has as an excellent home training course.
Use a choke chain and hold the leash more upright. Make him stay by your side on a short leash, and don't be afraid to use a short sharp tug on the leash to get him under control. Also, don't walk if he's misbehaving. Oh, btw, the dog whisperer book is really helpful.
Get a choke collar or prong collar. Also, bring small treats and give them to him when he does good things(like sitting on a street corner). Make clear the difference between playtime and a walk. During playtime, he can sniff around more and play fetch or whatever but on a walk, he needs to stay with you. He probably has a lot of energy so he wants to play. Dog beaches and parks are good for them because it makes them more social. The main reason he wants to be ahead is because he thinks he's the leader(pack leader). Teach him he follows your commands.
I have been training dogs for a long time..please don't use a choke chain, it can harm the throat of a dog...prongs can cause wounds around the neck as well....i like to use The Gentle Leader...you can buy itat Walmart for about $6-$9..within a week you will see a big difference in your dog ...good luck
A harness will let you have more control. Also, if he wants to keep pulling pull up above him. Not too hard, but just enough to stop him so he knows hes moving too quick.