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Topic Dog Boards / General / Lead training
- By Gema [gb] Date 23.08.10 11:57 UTC
At what age should lead training begin?
I am wondering whether to start with my pup - she can't go in public yet as she has only just had her 2nd jab. I have had a little go around the garden and she just bites the lead and tries to pull or just stands there!  Any tips would be gratefully received!!
I have put the collar on her so she can get used to that.
- By Jeangenie [gb] Date 23.08.10 12:06 UTC
Keep practicing in the house and garden; she needs to be walking reasonably well on the lead in familiar surroundings before the time comes to venture out into the big wide world!

Practice getting her to follow you in the garden without the lead - it makes lead training much easier. However put the lead on her for a couple of minutes two or three times a day so that she gets used to it.
- By Trialist Date 23.08.10 12:42 UTC
I've had access to some of my dogs from an early age, so lead training has started at 6 weeks. There is soooooo much you can do with your pup in your house or garden, and starting something like lead training is just so easy whilst young. Then once jabs complete, you're ready to hit the road with her.

Get her used to the collar at first - scratching is the norm!
then attach a light lead and let her trail it for a little bit - she'll probably be more interested in playing with it.
I always start off with encouraging a pup by my side, clicking my tongue or tapping my leg, lots of praise when she's with me. If for any reason the lead goes tight, just stand completely still - she may well do the manic flinging about on the end of the lead for a second or two. Just stand your ground, hold the lead against your leg so you know you're not altering the position/length of it, once the lead goes the teeniest bit slack loads of praise and continue with the encouraging her by your side.

If you do clicker training, you can use the clicker - lead slack, click, treat.

I've found this method so easy and so gentle and very quick with youngsters, I don't normally put any command to it until they fully understand where I want them to be. It's amazing how much encouragement just making clicking noises with your tongue can give to an interested youngster. But use this time when you're confined to playing in the garden to your advantage. Lots of recall training, retrieves, etc.

My own litter were 8 weeks at the weekend, 2 pups went but they went knowing how to walk nicely to my side (no commands given, that's up to the new owner), and the rest are well on their way to being lead trained, when the next ones go over the next couple of weeks they'll all be beyond the flinging around at the end of the lead stage.

Don't forget though, whilst she can't go and walk out in the big wide world you must still take her out and about in your arms - there's a whole lot she needs to see so that she's not out phased when you actually walk her out, so take her out on your doggy walk in your arms.  Good luck I'm sure it will go well, I love this stage of training :-)
- By Gema [gb] Date 23.08.10 13:13 UTC
I was getting worried when she was flinging about and throwing herself to the ground - I will keep practising!
She has been carried about lots (large breed so getting heavy now) and has also been in the car a fair bit. The noise in the car has stopped - sick on Saturday but fine yesterday so just keeping going (with lots of newspaper)!

I start puppy classes with her in a couple of weeks but thought it would be good to turm up with a pup that will walk on the lead!
- By tohme Date 23.08.10 13:15 UTC
When my pups are small I do what I used to do with young horses, I tie them up making sure they can NEVER get out of the collar whilst I sit down and have a cuppa.

Once the pup has realised that restraint is not a problem then you remove most of the antics when on the lead eg biting it jumping, rodeo etc.
- By Jeangenie [gb] Date 23.08.10 13:21 UTC

>I was getting worried when she was flinging about and throwing herself to the ground - I will keep practising!


I once heard the first few attempts at lead walking a puppy described as trying to land a fish on a line! Very apt!
- By LucyDogs [gb] Date 23.08.10 13:24 UTC
My first two threw major tantrums the first time they went on leads, so I let them trail them around the garden the 2nd time I tried it and they got used to it pretty quickly. I've already started with my 8 week puppy, she sits down and refuses to budge, but she's not too bad.
- By Trialist Date 23.08.10 14:55 UTC
I once heard the first few attempts at lead walking a puppy described as trying to land a fish on a line! Very apt!

An excellent description :-)
Topic Dog Boards / General / Lead training

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