Leash training - next step

Once you have acclimated your puppy to having a leash attached to his collar without biting it, the next step I like to take is what I call "controlled wandering."  I let the puppy walk wherever he wants within a "safe" area I determine ahead of time.  This could be a patch of grass in your yard, or a 8 x 10 square area on your patio.  I keep the leash slack at all times, following the puppy slowly but not guiding him anywhere in particular.  However, if the puppy gets too close to the edge of the safe area, I don't follow and let the leash slightly tighten.

If you are using a martingale collar (see blog on collars, June 17, 2010), the tightening will signal to the puppy to stop to release the pressure.  I stand firm, not letting the puppy go outside the area, but giving the leash slack again if the puppy changes his direction so he stays in the safe area.  If the puppy just keeps wandering within the safe area, I just let him go.

Of course it is better if the safe area is not boring.  I place some toys, interesting objects (like a brick or rock) and a water dish within the safe area.  If your puppy starts getting used to this exercise and wanders around  freely without responding negatively to being kept within the borders of the safe area, you have made excellent progress and your puppy will be primed for more guided walking.

If your puppy doesn't want to stay in the safe area and pulls at the leash, showing his displeasure at not being able to go out of the area, then use the same technique of walking towards him or distracting him by calling his attention to a toy within the safe area.  If you walk towards him, walk past or around him to another spot within the safe area, reeling in the leash as you near him so he doesn't get to go out of the safe area.  Then stop so there is no tension on the leash anymore, but the puppy hasn't "won" the tug of war by getting you to go directly to where she / he is trying to get you to go, but to somewhere else.  It also helps if you don't keep focused on him, with your body pointed int he direction he wants to go (i.e., outside of the safe area).  Face toward another direction and look at or touch an object within the safe area.

Alternatively, you can sit down on the ground and invite your puppy to sit in your lap for a cuddle, a vigorous scratch or whatever he might like to do.  Again, patience and taking small steps are the keys to success. Once I get the puppy to understand how we should stay in the safe area, and that the leash is a way to signal the safe area, we can go onto the next step, most often in another session. I end the session by picking up the puppy or (if they are too big to pick up) patting it on the head and giving it a lot of praise and tell the pup it's time to go home.  Once inside, the pup gets a nice treat and time to let his training session sink in.