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Leash Manners...Too Young?
- Thread starter mamadoodle
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It's never too early to work on leash manners! (well, maybe before they've opened their eyes)
At this age, puppies usually like to stay with you and check often to make sure you're still there. You can use this to help leash train. Put her on a 5-6 foot leash, and you can give her as much slack as you want - maybe just hold the leash by the handle on the end. Let her walk, and whenever she even looks back at you, praise and reward big time for this. If she comes to you, that's even better. If she starts to pull on the leash (you feel any weight on the leash, it becomes tight), immediately stop walking and wait until she loosens the leash. Don't entice her to you or jerk on the leash, just stop walking and let her figure it out. When she loosens the leash, you can praise her and start walking again, but again, if she looks at you or comes to you, give that a big reward.
I would not expect her to be able to "heel" just yet, wait until she's about 6 months or so and has a little longer attention span. But in the meantime, following the above instructions will help you out a lot with heel when you teach that.
At this age, puppies usually like to stay with you and check often to make sure you're still there. You can use this to help leash train. Put her on a 5-6 foot leash, and you can give her as much slack as you want - maybe just hold the leash by the handle on the end. Let her walk, and whenever she even looks back at you, praise and reward big time for this. If she comes to you, that's even better. If she starts to pull on the leash (you feel any weight on the leash, it becomes tight), immediately stop walking and wait until she loosens the leash. Don't entice her to you or jerk on the leash, just stop walking and let her figure it out. When she loosens the leash, you can praise her and start walking again, but again, if she looks at you or comes to you, give that a big reward.
I would not expect her to be able to "heel" just yet, wait until she's about 6 months or so and has a little longer attention span. But in the meantime, following the above instructions will help you out a lot with heel when you teach that.
My next dog will be learning to walk on a leash first week I get it, just around the house.
I'm going through hell with Buster atm reteaching him to walk loose leash, he's pretty good now untill there is a distraction, a car going past (traffic makes him nervous) or a dog up ahead and suddenly all concept of "don't pull" is gone, he has to run, he has to stop, turn, whine sit, drop etc.
I'm going through hell with Buster atm reteaching him to walk loose leash, he's pretty good now untill there is a distraction, a car going past (traffic makes him nervous) or a dog up ahead and suddenly all concept of "don't pull" is gone, he has to run, he has to stop, turn, whine sit, drop etc.
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It's funny. She's not looking back at me all that often, because she usually is looking for something to pick up in her mouth. I generally just hold the leash a little tighter so she can't reach her moth to the ground when I can tell she's trying to pick something up, but I also don't want to hurt her neck.
Anyway - thanks for the advice. I'll begin leash work tomorrow.
THANKS!
Anyway - thanks for the advice. I'll begin leash work tomorrow.
THANKS!
This is hard to do unless she's walking RIGHT beside you, which is hard to do with the leash loose at this point. So instead of pulling the leash up, maybe just turn quickly and walk the other way, talking and calling to her the whole time. The leash will probably have to tighten until she figures out to follow you, but make sure it's loose while she's with you.
Remember, too, that the walk needs to be mentally stimulating to her - experiencing new sights, smells, and tastes is a really important part of puppyhood. Unless it's something dangerous (garbage, cigarette butts, etc), try to let her smell it or even taste it (if it's a leaf, stick, bug, etc.).
It's also not too late to start practicing "Leave It!" When are you starting a puppy training class? Most classes will let puppies start when they're 9-12 weeks old.
Remember, too, that the walk needs to be mentally stimulating to her - experiencing new sights, smells, and tastes is a really important part of puppyhood. Unless it's something dangerous (garbage, cigarette butts, etc), try to let her smell it or even taste it (if it's a leaf, stick, bug, etc.).
It's also not too late to start practicing "Leave It!" When are you starting a puppy training class? Most classes will let puppies start when they're 9-12 weeks old.
I have had many, many puppies as young as this learn how to be in the heel position and hold it while keeping complete focus on the handler. Granted their attention span isn't long, but you can give a 'done' command to let them travel further out on the leash. We can start showing puppies as young as 4 months and by time they know how to walk and trot in the heel position (and in a straight line, on a loose leash) and how to free stack.
Puppies can start competing in Rally at 6 months................
Isn't it easier to start training them right from the beginning how to do it properly than to have to change the rules on them later?? It can be done nicely and completely with PR.
Puppies can start competing in Rally at 6 months................
Isn't it easier to start training them right from the beginning how to do it properly than to have to change the rules on them later?? It can be done nicely and completely with PR.
I have been working with my 9 week old puppy on leash training. I am having some problems with her. She doesn't want to leave the house. It is so hard to get her to walk out of our yard and go around the block. Once she can't see the house anymore, she is fine, but as soon as the house is in sight again, she tries to run to the door. I don't know why she is doing that.
Another thing is when she puts tension on the leash and I stop walking to wait for her to loosen it up again, she'll just sit down while the leash is still tense. She will be happy to sit there all day I think!! If another dog in the neighborhood barks, she will get scared and run back to me. Otherwise, I have to talk to her and say her name a lot before she will come back. I don't know how to get her to loosen the lead on her own.
Another thing is when she puts tension on the leash and I stop walking to wait for her to loosen it up again, she'll just sit down while the leash is still tense. She will be happy to sit there all day I think!! If another dog in the neighborhood barks, she will get scared and run back to me. Otherwise, I have to talk to her and say her name a lot before she will come back. I don't know how to get her to loosen the lead on her own.
mnwscar>> try a step or two backwards. As soon as she looks at you (like what the heck are you doing?), offer a treat, she will have to come to you to get it, and move on. If pups find it rewarding to check in with you, they will continue to do so. IMO bad leash manners are taught by us humans when pups are little. We let them pull when we go for walks, so pulling on the leash becomes part of going on fun walks.
Little Zoey was, or should I say is getting very adventurous going outside now. It's not much fun getting her in the snow. So tonight I went out there and got her, and put a leash on her. She was so afraid that she didn't want to move. She has never had a leash or a collar for that matter on her. Is this a normal reaction for the 1st time?
She was probably scared to begin with if you're mad or frustrated that she won't come in, and then you come and grab her. Then when she was scared to begin with, you start to, what, tug her on the leash? Yeah, this is definately a normal reaction, no surprise here.
Why didn't you just pick her up?
I would definately start now putting a collar and leash on her to get her used to it. Start with just a collar, and just leave it on her all the time (unless maybe when she's in her crate, it can get hung on the wires). Once she's comfortable with the collar, you can put her leash on her and just let her drag it around the house for a few days.
Why didn't you just pick her up?
I would definately start now putting a collar and leash on her to get her used to it. Start with just a collar, and just leave it on her all the time (unless maybe when she's in her crate, it can get hung on the wires). Once she's comfortable with the collar, you can put her leash on her and just let her drag it around the house for a few days.