Puppies can be great they are cute, cuddly and most of all they can be trained to do whatever you want. However, sometimes they can be a bit handful. What happens is that your furry friend may end up playing a game of tug of war with you, and to him it will be innocent playtime, however for you it can be a struggle to hold on to the pup, and to ensure that he doesn’t leave your side you need to invest in a good leash. I suggest that you buy one from Kustom-fit Halters, as they have some of the best designs and collections available.

You may have seen those well-behaved dogs who move side by side with their owners and happily wag their tails, but if you are reading this I think your pooch must be a bit rowdy and a nightmare to handle as he may tug and pull at his leash whenever he gets the chance. However, don’t fret there is a way with which you can train him properly and ensure that he is well behaved and obedient just like those other dogs who you see walking the streets with their owners.

Image Credit: Mountpleasantgranary.net

Training is important and I would suggest you take out at least twenty minutes from your daily schedule to train your dog, as it is not only important for his training and development but it will also teach him the desired behavior that you want of him.

First off it’s absolutely important to not tug on his leash when he is being disobedient. What you need to do here is implement the concept of loose leash walking. Now this can be a little tricky, but if done properly it can lead to some really fruitful results.

What you need to do is rest your hands by your sides and allow the dog to take the lead and walk besides him at a gentle pace. You will notice that both you and the dog will be moving in cohesion with each other, and more often than not you will find that your dog will be inclined to listen more if you just relax a bit and ensure that he has the freedom required to move. Pulling at his leash not only can harm his neck but will also hamper is learning process as well.

Furthermore, I cannot stress on this enough “DO Not Under Any Circumstances Use Choke Chains”. This can severely damage your dog’s neck. Let the dog walk on his own pace, and encourage him to sniff around. Remember this is supposed to be a leisure activity for your dog, and letting him sniff around will only aid in his development.

Image Credit: Wikimedia

When you feel like you have made significant progress proceed with the simplest of steps. For e.g. ask your dog to sit by your left leg. Do this in a location where you can practice comfortably, I prefer training my dog in the park, so do try doing that.

You can also try making your dog sit by saying heel, and when he does that give him a small treat, this only reinforces positive behavior, and will encourage your dog to repeat this behavior time and time again.

Enjoy your walks and allow your dog the freedom to express himself, with each positive action re-inforce his behavior by offering him a small treat.

Put this tips to good use and you will find that your dog will be more responsive towards you. Stay blessed and keep trying, cause the reward is worth it.

Training a dog can be hard work, there is a lot of determination required and you need to be on your feet constantly because that is what will make your dog listen to all your commands.

Training a dog comes with its own set of challenges, however there are times when trainers try to do a bit too much and in doing so complicate the learning process of their canine. I was the same and I remember going to get a leash from Kustom-Fit Halters for my pooch Prometheus, and when he did not obey I used to yank his leash, which I later learned was a practice frowned upon. Hence, here are simple tips and tricks which can help you train your dog efficiently.

Be Positive with your Dog

Source: Flickr

The key here is to be happy and upbeat when training your dog, your dog will respond better to positive vibes and will be more responsive to all of your commands.

Understand Your Dog’s Psyche

Dogs can take a bit of time comprehending the human body and language and hence you must be patient with him, and try to learn what his behavior indicates. This will lead to a stronger bond between you and your pooch and allow for effective communication.

Understand the Basics

Simple psychology tells us that behaviors which are reinforced are likely to be repeated, and the same thing holds true for your dog, as positive reinforcement will mean that rewarding your dog for a good behavior will likely encourage him to repeat it.

Short Training Sessions

Source: Wikimedia

This has got a lot to do with a dog’s attention span. Consider this if I give you soccer drills for one hour daily you will have fun doing them, but if I force you to do this grueling training regime for 4 hours a day, you are bound to hate me. Similarly keep your training sessions short and fun, and allow the dog to express himself.

Make Training a Daily Routine

You know how that old expression goes practice makes perfect, and that couldn’t be more true as daily practice is bound to improve your coordination with your dog and pretty soon it will become a good habit.

Use Low Distraction Areas

Again, this has a lot to do with the dog’s attention span. The environment where the training is taking place has got to be quiet and free of distractions so your dog can concentrate on the task at hand and get the job done.

Patience

This is extremely important your dog will not learn all its tricks in a day, it will take a lot of time and patience, but trust me it will be worth it. A dog who is trained with patience is going to listen to each one of your commands and is going to respond in the most positive way possible.

Use Toys and Food as Reinforcements

Source: Pixabay

Now here is a tried and tested formula. Every time your dog performs an action which you think is positive reward him with playtime with his favorite toy, or give him a nibble from his favorite snack. Just like you would prefer a raise after a hard day’s work, your dog also likes to be rewarded for displaying a positive behavior.

Training a dog is never an easy job, and it requires a lot of trust and wellbeing on the part of both the dog and the trainer to achieve a level of communication where both the dog and the trainer can read the mind of each other.

A puppy is like a newborn child and it will need a lot of time and attention if he is to learn how to walk properly you will need to guide him each and every step off the way, and ensure that he gets all the love and support that he can from you.

Patience

The first thing you need to remember is the fact that you need to be incredibly patient with your pup. The concept of a leash will be new to him, and hence you must do your outmost to put him at ease. Take it slow initially and let your pup take his time whilst he is trying to adjust to his leash.

Find a Suitable Collar and Leash

Next up you need to remember the fact that you will need a collar and a leash which is suitable for your pooch. I would recommend you check out the wide variety that is available at Kustom-Fit Halters. I usually buy all of my collar and leashes from them and they seem to fit my dogs perfectly.

Baby Steps

Source: Flickr

First and foremost, let your dog familiarize himself with a collar and a leash. Be warned though some pets have a tendency to throw temper tantrums and hence they will have a tendency to resist putting on a collar or attaching a leash. Hence I recommend that you put the collar on preferably while you are feeding your pooch as at this time he will be occupied with eating food, and it is highly likely that he will be fully focused on his food and will not notice that you have slipped on the collar on his neck. From then on let him get accustomed to his leash and let time do his magic, sure initially he will try to scratch and claw the collar off but after a while you will find that your pup has gotten accustomed to the idea of having a collar around his neck, and doesn’t seem to mind it as such.

Leash and Playtime Go Together

Source: Pixabay

Basic psychology indicates that if we associate a behavior with something positive, then it is more than likely to result in the subject looking forward to performing that action which will lead to the said behavior. In laymen terms the concept is famously known as Pavlov’s Dog. Hence similarly if you associate the leash with playtime, it is very likely that your pup will start associating his leash with a fun activity and will actually look forward the next time you attach a leash to his collar. Initially start of small and then take your pup to long walks, and maybe head towards the park. Such activities will only strengthen the association of the leash with playtime.

Encourage

Source: Auggie

Initially do not yank on the leash and expect that the pup will follow each and every one of your commands. If however he does listen to your commands that is great news for you, however the chances are that he will be a bit stubborn and will refuse to heel. When that happens just exercise patience and kneel down and encourage and pet your pup to guide him towards the desired behavior. Some dogs might just sit down and refuse to move, in such a situation move a few steps away kneel down and offer your pooch a treat. This is an effective trick and it works every time. The reason for this is again due to positive association.

Introducing your pooch to a leash can be a bit of a challenge but with love and a lot of care you can overcome it quite easily.

There is a belief amongst many dog owners that dogs are inherently supposed to know how to walk on a leash; however, that is more often than not the case especially if you have a shelter dog, and chances are that you will probably have to train them. Here are some tips that are going to help your dog master the art of walking on a leash.

Before You Start

Credit: Wikimedia

The pre-leash stage is as important as the training exercises and whatnot. Here you check the fact that the leash and other equipment that you need is in order. In case you need to buy a leash or any other equipment for that matter, I recommend checking out Kustom-Fit Halters, as they have a wide variety too choose from.

Introducing Your Dog to the Leash

The first thing you do is monitor your dog’s behavior there may be times when he tugs at the leash and tries to break free, but at other times he will prod along and walk with you. In psychology there is a term called as Pavlov’s dog which refers to positive reinforcement and behavior modification. We basically are trying to achieve the same results. By rewarding the dog every time the leash goes slack. Give him a treat and a pat on the back to make sure that he repeats the behavior again and again till it becomes a habit.

A Cue

Credit: Wikimedia

Let’s refer to Pavlov again, what Pavlov did was introduce a cue to let the dog know that food is coming, and his mouth would start to salivate. Similarly what you are going to do is use a clicker or some other means to let the dog know that food is nearby. The second he looks at you and adheres to your command reward him with a treat.

Reinforce

Credit: Public Domain Pictures

By now I am assuming that you have got the basics down to a notch however it is understandable if your dog is not repeating the behavior as often as required, and it’s probably going to take a lot of love and patience for him to master the desired behavior. Remember dogs have a short attention span, and hence their mind diverts within seconds, make your dog come to you by backing up a few spaces and then allow him to come to you, the second he does that again reward him with a treat.

Practice

Credit: Geograph

Once you have got the basics mastered regularly practice with your dog around 25 minutes daily, teach him about the behavior expected of him, and guide him at all times. Behavior reinforcement is largely successful if it’s done on a regular basis, and done in an environment which fosters growth and learning. Offer your dog treats and praises every time he comes to you with a leash on, and ensure that he can practice in a distraction free environment.

It’s Time to go Outside

It’s now time to head to the great outdoors, and put your dog’s skills to the test. Remember that you are bound to be confronted with new challenges as your dog gets accustomed to the new surroundings (chasing squirrels is particularly troublesome), but you can overcome this with love, patience and some training. Remember to follow these tips, to ensure that your dog has no trouble at all whilst walking on a leash.