Puppies - walks & leash training

[penny w]

At what age is it okay for puppies to start going on a walk around the neighborhood? Oh, and how is the best way to start the leash training? Jagger has never been leash trained.

[Meldor]

I think you can start training leash walking as soon as you are taking them out on a leash. I know that is pretty vague but I believe as soon as the puppy got his shots (12 weeks?) he can go out and start little training sessions.

If he has not been leash trained, I would start training inside at home and do a few sessions a couple of times a day. I would then increase the distractions around you guys when you train for a few more training sessions. Afterwards I would move to the backyard and eventually go out around the neighborhood.

One thing that really helped me with loose leash training was kikopup's videos..

This one is all about no pulling and she shows a dog that never had any leash training : http://youtu.be/ueE1S1k74Ao

There is this one about stopping the Yo-Yoing and pulling on walks: http://youtu.be/voW2Vkq0u6Q

I love her videos, I should also practice this more often.

[Tagg]

Puppies are good to go as soon as they are fully vaccinated and about a week to 10 days is elapsed. Having said that, I walk around with baby puppies of 7 weeks of age but I don't put them down where other dogs might have been. They need to see the world for their mental health.

If Jagger is excited about treats then you can get him collar trained first, then attach a lead to it and start by encouraging him to come with or to you. Keep that lead as loose as you can. I never pull them in my direction but instead using a calm but happy voice I encourage. I will reward either with treats or with my voice any and all movement in my direction. In the house you can attach a short length of a cheap nylon lead that would only be long enough to touch the floor with the cut end to help him get used to the sensation of a lead. The object of the game is to get them to walk beside you so imagine a bubble of about 1 foot ahead of your leg and behind your leg. Once he is walking without struggle then encourage him to stay within the bubble area and reward when he is in it. Make sure you don't stop to reward, you have to keep walking.

Tinsel was terrified of the lead and would drop to the ground and try to make himself small. He was probably dragged to the breeding shed on a rope while he lived in the mill. After weeks of this behaviour not getting much better I started laying a trail of tiny pieces of chicken weiners and then telling him what a smart little guy he was to follow the trail even though the dreaded lead was attached. From there we went to the pieces being back in my hands as well as on the ground. Now he is walking along like he has been doing it all his life and doesn't pull or lag.

BTW, I always start dogs in a place they are comfortable in with little distractions. I want their introduction to lead training to be what the dog is focussing on instead of cars whizzing past or people interuptions. I also never allow the dog to mouth the lead.

[Emmasmom]

When I started off with Noah and Emma and leash training, I started in the hallway of the house. This way, they had to walk close to me and there were no distractions. A few minutes, and they were walking on it like they had done all along. They were both about 10 weeks. Dad would take Noah out whenever he and Mom went out and sit him on the hood of the car and show him off - he was so proud of Noah.

[corbinam]

I started by allowing Lexi to drag the leash around the house and just do her thing. That way she learned to like the leash--it wasn't just for limiting her adventures :)

Then I'd take her out on it and just follow her around holding lightly onto it, but letting her dictate where we went. Then, I'd go out with her and cheer her and call her (sometimes bending down, clapping) and if she ran towards me, we played or I gave her a treat.

[penny w]

Thanks so much for the tips! I'll be giving it a whirl.