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Dog Leash Training

Humans can't walk as fast as dogs. Dogs will start yanking on their leash anytime they're tethered to one, because they're naturally quicker than us. Dogs have something called an 'opposition reflex' - they'll naturally push against any pressure that they feel on their chest or neck. By understanding this reflex, it becomes obvious that you won't have a calm walk with Your Dog unless you train them against pulling at a very young age.

Give your dog a little while to get accustomed to the new collar on his neck. It's likely that the puppy will try to scratch it off or roll around after you put it on initially. Secure the collar completely, and don't take it off while the dog is struggling. You can finally take the collar off once the dog settles down and shows signs of getting comfortable with it. The dog learns two things from this experience - that he can't remove his own collar, so it's best to get accustomed to it, and that the collar won't be on him forever. The collar can become too tight, so check it often. Of course, the collar needs to be adjusted as your dog grows.

Once the dog seems comfortable, attach the leash to his collar and let the dog adjust to this feeling again. Set aside a couple of minutes daily to train your dog on the leash, and reward him with treats. Ultimately, you should be able to enjoy your walks with the dog without fighting against his pulling at the end of the leash. Your dog should be able to stand still with you and also follow your pace, not the other way around.

To start off, place the collar on your dog's neck and hook up the leash. Be sure to hold the leash tightly. Stand still, and try to keep the dog still next to you. If your dog begins to wander away and puts pressure on the leash, summon the dog back, and when he returns, give him a treat. When your dog reaches the point where he can patiently stand beside you, try walking around a little bit. Summon him back to you if you find him wandering and putting pressure on the leash. It's okay to pull back on the leash. Once the dog comes back to a distance you're comfortable with, and can walk along with you without yanking on the leash, offer another reward.

Until the dog can respect the limits of the leash consistently, repeat this training along with the reward system. Once you and your dog have mastered standing still and walking with a loose leash around your backyard or house, be sure to praise your dog with lots of physical attention and snacks. Now, your dog is ready to talk a walk in public.

Don't forget that when conditioning your dog to understand the limits of the leash, you need to let your dog move forward while the leash is loose. If you only let your dog move forward while the leash is pulled tight, you're only showing them how to pull against you.

If you want to learn more, you can read this article on Dog Leash Training or these reviews of products that address dog leash training Best Dog Training Products. For more information about dog training and dog behavior problems visit Dog Training.

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