Loose leash walking is essential for dog training. It teaches a dog to follow directions and keep away from danger. When your dog does not walk according to your commands, it can get you into some tricky situations. You may think your dog understands, but he or she really is just getting by. Following simple dog training tips will help you teach your dog to follow your lead with pleasure.
A good beginning dog training tip is to start your dog loose leash walking with the collar on. Loose leash walking means your dog is walking next to you and not pulling on the lead at all during your walk. However, so many dog owners expect their dogs to automatically learn how to walk on a loose leash just from coming out of the crate, but that’s not the case at all. In fact, many dogs actually have a hard time walking when their collar is on because they do not like the feel of being controlled by the leash. Letting your dog walk loose right from the beginning makes it much easier for you to work up to giving him or her more control over the walk by attaching the leash.
Many dog trainers make the same basic mistakes when teaching their dogs to walk loose. One of the biggest mistakes is teaching their dog to pull instead of walk calmly. Another mistake is expecting your dog to catch up with you every time you go for a walk. Even the simplest of dog training tips will tell you that dogs naturally run slower than humans, so expect your dog to walk quite a bit slower than you too. Here are some simple tips to speed up your walks with your dog.
One of the most common mistakes made by dog trainers is teaching their dog to pull. The easiest way to correct this is to be consistent about letting the dog pull if he or she does something wrong. Some trainers will give the dog a treat after each pull, which makes the dog think that they are getting rewarded for pulling. If you do this, you dog will get confused and will naturally start pulling again. The best way to correct a dog for pulling is to be firm but polite with him or her the first time.
Another common mistake with dog training is using harsh training methods such as choke chains, choke collars, and other aggressive tools. While these techniques can be effective for some situations, they are not necessary for good loose leash walking tips. Anytime you use force during training, you are setting yourself up for failure and possible injury. Instead of choking your dog during training or using any aggressive tools, try learning some simple, safe, counter conditioning techniques.
A clicker training method that may help you get started is to pair a command (like “step forward” or “come here”) with a pleasant sound (like a smile). You may want to use your own voice or the tone of your voice as well. This will help your dog understand what you’re trying to teach by the sound and the command itself. Using this technique, you will be able to teach your dog to walk properly on a loose leash without any problems.
Something else you may want to try in your dog training tips for loose leash walking is the use of collars. There are several different types of dog training collars that you can choose from. Collars for walking on a loose leash come in varying sizes, colors, shapes, and materials. Some types of collars also have the option of electronic stimulation so that you can teach your dog to stay on the leash.
The best part about these dog training tools is that they allow you to not only teach your dog how to walk properly on loose leash walking, but also to exercise control over him while you walk. You can use your harness as a reminder to your dog that he should not leave you while walking, or as a reward for good behavior. As an alternative, you could also use a shock collar which would be unpleasant to your dog, but would be effective if you were using the harness. Either way, there are several great dog trainers that you can find online who have written books full of loose leash walking tips and techniques that can help you easily get started. The most important thing you can do is simply to take action and start walking with your dog.