Leash Etiquette For Your Dog
Leash training your dog can be a task. Puppies aren’t born with the know-how of walking in a guided manner, and new pet owners need to keep their fur friend on a leash while on walks for their own safety. Yanking or pulling is a common reaction you’ll witness, especially when they smell something they want to sniff out or see another animal. Alternatively, your pet could also be stubborn enough to just plonk in a place and not budge, no matter how hard you tug their leash.
Whether your pet’s a pup or a grown dog, introducing leash training to their routine would be highly beneficial. It can control aggressive behavior and make them more receptive to commands by you. Plus, it wouldn’t hurt if you do it with a stylish Martingale collar!
Simple Training Tips
Besides plenty of patience and love, a few tested techniques by trained dog handlers will get your pet walk ready in no time:
Make Them Feel Comfortable
Placing a collar or a harness on your dog can make them feel restricted and possibly scared. You might even find them immobile momentarily as they get used to something around their neck or body. Before you take them out for walks, start by making them wear that gorgeous Martingale leather dog collar at home. Getting them accustomed to the collar will build confidence, as they walk freely at home, before adding a leash.
Add a Treat, Teach a Cue
Auditory signals such as a click from a clicker or a command are great to condition them from excessive and sudden jerks and movements. Adding a treat as positive reinforcement will surely help this process. You need to follow the chosen cue word with a reward. This increases focus and commitment to the task at hand.
Once trained with a simple cue, get them out and concentrate on your command while being overstimulated by their surroundings. Doing this consistently will make your dog more comfortable and willing to follow clear instructions as you add more cues to the mix.
This trick is also great for limiting unnecessary stops and get on with their business faster.
Tire Out the Excitement
If you have a boisterous dog, try wearing them out. A scheduled play time before their walks will drain them of excess energy, making them calm during walks and less likely to yank that leash. If they continue to be energetic, then revisit the cue word to make them heel.
Stop When They Pull
An effective technique to control your dog, stop and wait each time they pull you on. Patiently wait till they stop tugging, at which point, call the dog back to you with a cue or command they know. If the leash stays loose, reward them with their favorite treat to reinforce their appropriate behavior. A Martingale collar with chain would be a wonderful accessory to work with!
Desist That Resist
Your dog may not be big on walking or may refuse to head back home from that walk. This behavior could be related to fear and anxiety over the sights and sounds they encounter. Start small by less stimulating events like simply sitting on your porch or a short walk down the stairs and back. With the aid of treats, slowly add more distance to their walk time.
With leash training, consistency and patience is key. Adding a snazzy martingale collar will certainly help the process!
