Lead Training a Puppy - 7 Simple Steps

Your puppy may refuse to budge while on a lead or leash one day, and try to drag you down the street on the same lead the very next day! It's well worth the time to develop this skill with your puppy. Remember, it takes a lot of patience and time when lead training a puppy.

7 Simple Steps for Lead Training A Puppy

1. Place a collar onto your puppy.

Make sure that you can fit no more than two fingers between the collar and your puppy's chest. Check the collar every couple of days and adjust for comfort.

2. Help your puppy become accustomed to the collar before adding a lead or leash.

Allow your puppy to walk in the home and in the garden with the collar alone.

3. Remove the collar from your puppy and replace it with a lightweight lead.

When lead or leash training a puppy, allow him/her to wear this lead for a couple of hours, then place the collar back on. Repeat this process for 3 or 4 more days. This will enable your puppy to become used to both collar and lead.

4. Train your puppy to walk on the lead around your home and garden.

Remove the collar and place the lead on your puppy. Hold out a treat in front of your pup's face and say, "come." Give your puppy the treat if he walks up next to you and does not attempt to pull further ahead. Keep walking and give him a treat about every 15 seconds. Repeat this puppy lead training process for a few minutes a day, four times a day for a week.

5. Take your puppy for a walk.

Take your puppy outside on the road and walk with him at a slow pace.

6. Allow your puppy to roam.

If your puppy begins to pull ahead and yank on the lead, stand still until he stops pulling.

7. Give your pup a treat

Give your puppy a treat and praise when he begins to walk at a comfortable pace and does not pull. Repeat steps 6 and 7 during the walk and on any future walks, until a steady pace is achieved.

As you can see, lead training a dog takes a lot of patience and time, but is quite enjoyable!