Leash Training Guide: What Age to Start Leash Training a Puppy?

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what age to start leash training a puppy?

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When we see a pet owner walking his dog, we may think that the dog always knew how to walk on a leash. But surprisingly enough, our pups don’t inherently know how to walk on a leash; they need to be taught. So now the question arises, What age to start leash training a puppy?

Well, you would, of course, want to walk your puppy around and not want him to disturb anyone or just chase squirrels aimlessly. And the best time to start leash training is when your pup is 8 weeks old. During this early time, the puppy begins to develop its mind and physique, which is the best time to train him at tasks as crucial as leash walking.

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Puppy Leash Training

What age to start leash training a puppy?

You have to be careful in this matter as if you started leash training earlier, your puppy may be freaking out from training.

On the other hand, if you start leash training too late, it will also cause stress for both of you because the training of a mature pooch is a little bit difficult as compared to a puppy.         

So the age factor is crucial for your puppy and in this article, I will elaborate on what age to start leash training a puppy.

Why you should start leash training your puppy?

You must keep your pup in your approach to keep it safe and after successful leash training, you will be able to keep your canine on a leash with you.

There are several reasons to start leash training your puppy;

  • Your pup may be naughty enough and you have to keep an eye on it all the time.
  • Some canines have a habit of jumping and they may hurt themselves.
  • Puppies always tend to go outside your house, so you have to control them for their safety.
  • Your little four-legged companion may be stuck in fences in your backyard.
  • Sometimes your pooch wandering around the home may get an aggressive adult dog, so the consequences may be worse.
  • The most important reason is that it is easy to start the leash training of a little canine.

What is the perfect age to start leash training a puppy?

Everyone has their views from their experience but the most common suggestion by dog experts is that you should start leash training your pup when it is around 8 weeks old.

This is the optimum age for your canine. From 7 to 8 weeks old age, your puppy gets enough ability to walk and understand easily.

what age to start leash training a puppy?
what age to start leash training a puppy?

If you delay training then you will certainly miss a good opportunity to teach properly your four-legged buddy.

Does vaccination matters for training?

Some people also have an opinion that training should be started after the completion of proper vaccination. But let me clear your mind that it is not important for your little canine when you start leash training indoors.

You must consider vaccination if you want to take your pup outside your home or park.

What type of leash and collar should be used to train your puppy?

This depends upon you on what type of leash and collar you choose. Most of the experts say that you should use a regular flat collar for leash training for your little canine as it is very safe and easy to use.

  • Some pet owners also believe in the use of a harness as it is easier and it doesn’t exert pressure on your puppy’s neck.
  • Some professional pet trainers believe that you have to choose either a flat collar or harness according to your puppy’s health.
  • If it has any respiratory problems and is habitual of pulling then you must choose a harness for leash training your pup otherwise flat collar is considered best.
  • The most important point is you must use a short-length leash or retractable leash to train your pup as it keeps your canine in your approach.
  • If you want to teach your small pup like a professional trainer then you should go with long-length leashes.
  • And If your cute friend is a chewer then must choose a chew-proof leash.

What should you teach first?

Before starting leash training your puppy, you have to teach some basic obedience commands like “come” and “sit”. A puppy can understand these verbal commands when it is 7 to 8 months old.

The question is;

Why should you teach those commands?

The logic is that you can not teach your pooch anything without using these basic commands even leash training is also impossible.

Because you always keep on training processes along with verbal commands to assist your canine.

Get Your Canine Accustomed to wearing the collar

How to introduce a collar to your puppy?

This seems very simple. You can not just put a collar on your canine’s neck as it will make it scare off or confused.

You have to do this playfully. Pick the collar in your hand, keep playing, and touch the collar with your canine. Then put the collar on the ground and allow your pup to play with it.

 In this way, you can make familiar your pooch with the collar and can remove its hesitation. When you feel your puppy is no more uncomfortable with the collar then put it on its neck but in a playful manner.

How to introduce a leash to your canine?

Introducing a leash is just like introducing a collar to your canine. Just pick the leash in your hand and keep in touch with your pooch. Then put the leash on the ground and drag it as it makes a sound.

The purpose of dragging and making sounds is to make your pooch familiar with the sound of the leash.

Then attach the leash with the collar through the D-ring on your little pet’s neck. Initially, it will feel hesitant and start biting the leash. Keep patience and allow your pup to accept it.

If your puppy still feels fear from the leash then use a small piece of rope or shoelace to get rid of fear in it. When its hesitation was gone you can use the leash again.

Make your canine come to you on a leash

After putting the collar and leash on your pet’s neck, put the free end of the leash on the ground and let your pooch feel it. Call your puppy to you by showing some treats.

Sometimes your puppy gets confused and refuses to walk toward you wearing a collar and leash around its neck. Don’t pull awkwardly. Instead, you should show him a treat or a toy whatever your pup likes.

You have to make it forget about the collar and leash. Once it comes to you, you will feel less fear and hesitation afterward.

Use positive reinforcement

Along with treats, always praise your puppy verbally, saying “good boy” or any other phrase whenever it obeys your command on the leash. This will encourage him to become habitual in wearing the leash.

How to teach your pooch to walk with you?

There are several ways of teaching your pup to walk with you.

  • Take your puppy in your backyard and this time hold the leash end in your hand. Walk slowly and see its response.
  • If it is walking with you then “thank God” and if ”no” then try to pull gently. Just pull and release and do it again and again but this is somehow not a good method.
  • Another way is pretty nice. Just put treats in the route of your puppy and walk along its route. It will automatically walk with you enjoying treats and forgetting the leash around its neck.
  • If your baby pet pulls you then don’t pull it back. Just stand still like a tree and let him stop.
  • Along with walking straight wards, train your canine on how to turn.
  • Pull towards the direction in which you want to turn it with soft hands.
  • Then keep changing direction after some distance. This will enhance your puppy’s ability to walk with you quite smoothly.
it always sounds good to walk with you little friend

Keep training sessions short and consistent

Do you think puppies can be trained like adult pets?

When you want to start training your pup, you have to pick a different procedure from that of mature dogs.

Your small four-legged companion has short focus spans. So, you must also adopt short-period training sessions depending upon the age factor of your canine.

Stay calm and polite to your pup

Puppies are too young and sensitive to bear your anger. You have to be cool and calm.

If you make a hurry or scold your canine it may produce worse results;

  • Your pooch may scare off you.
  • Your relationship with your pooch could be weak.
  • There can be less understanding between both of you.
  • It may affect your puppy’s performance in training sessions.

 If you consult with a professional trainer, he will surely tell you to be excessively polite with your canine. In simple words, you have to behave like a “MOM” with your puppy.

What is the best option indoors or outdoors to train your puppy?

A lot of people start training outside their houses or in parks. This is not a good idea at all. There are a lot of distractions in any public place and you can not start any training in public areas.

Another important point is there may be other dogs in public places and your puppy’s security may be at risk in such places.

So the best option to start training is inside your house especially for your little pooch as they are much more sensitive.

Instructions for leash training your puppy?

These are essential overall steps you must follow when you want to train your puppy on the leash;

  • Take to start when your puppy is 7 to 8 weeks old.
  • Practice indoors for fewer distractions and safety purposes.
  • Use the collar or harness which best suits your pet.
  • Don’t use a too snug or too loose collar.
  • Make your canine used to collar or harness.
  • Recognize and attach the leash with a collar or harness.
  • Make your pup walk on a leash using positive reinforcement and treats.
  • Keep an eye on it and keep checking whether the leash is not stuck in something.
  • If your pooch is scared of the leash then use a little piece of rope first or a shoelace.
  • Don’t pull hard, keep calm and wait for your pup.
  • Using basic commands is a must.
  • Keep patience and don’t be harsh as your puppy is too sensitive.
  • Don’t let the leash hang on your puppy’s neck, remove it completely after the training session.
thank you for giving me such a healthy tips

Conclusion

Honestly, if you wish your puppy would behave like a well-mannered companion in its adulthood, you must start educating your canine in a prepubertal period i.e, around 8 to 10 weeks of its age.

The more you spend time with your pup, the more you will be developed your understanding which will consequently make training activities more joyful and entertaining for both of you.

Hopefully, you have got a clear vision about the query of what age to start leash training a puppy.

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