Loose leash walking is an important dog training trick to master. This training method uses a leash, treats, and sometimes even a clicker or bell. A clicker is an easy device that makes a clicking sound when you press the button. The sound, combined with some dog treats, tells your dog that it is doing the right thing by obeying your command. It is sort of like when seeing a “ding” sound from a favorite game show.
This dog training trick can be used for many different purposes. If your dog is urinating on the ground and you want it to stop, using this loose leash training tip could work wonders. You could pull your dog onto its leash and then give it some positive reinforcement training treats as a punishment for urinating on the floor. Do not use any force; just use your voice to reprimand your dog. Repeat the process over until your dog understands the connection between being on his or her hands and getting rewarded.
Another use for this dog training tip is teaching your dog how to walk a long line. In order to teach your dog how to walk a long line, you must first use positive reinforcement training. To start, put some treats in your dog’s mouth. Let your dog walk the loose leash while he or she eats your treats. Gradually increase the distance the dog has to walk each time you put treats in his or her mouth. Your dog will quickly get the idea that walking a long line will get him treats and positive attention.
For a more advanced loose leash walking tip, attach a bell to a leash. Start by attaching the bell only to the end of the leash. As the dog begins to get better at walking the line, attach the bell further out so that the dog can see the bell and hopefully begin to get used to walking the line. If you do this successfully, your dog will have developed the habit of always walking the length of the leash no matter where you put it.
Now that you have taught your dog how to go for the line, you will need to teach him or her the other commands associated with loose leash training. The first thing that you should teach your dog is how to come when called. Many people think that it is not possible to train a dog to come when called, but you can easily teach your dog to come when called. All you need is to have treats ready, and then say “come” in a firm voice.
There is another part of loose leash training that you will also need to know about. Puppies have the need to pull. If your dog has not already learned this behavior, it is your responsibility as the owner to eliminate this behavior. The easiest way to eliminate this pulling behavior is to just start walking with your pup by your side. This is the quickest way to get your pup used to walking beside you.
You should also learn how to control your dog’s tension. This is very important to have in loose leash training. If the dog pulls on your leash, you should immediately give your dog a tension collar. If you do not do this, the dog could pull and damage your dog’s neck or shoulders.
These are the basic loose leash walking tips that you should keep in mind. There is one last tip that you should consider before you begin your walk with your dog. This tip involves taking your dog outside of his dog pen. When doing this exercise, try to walk forward with your dog while giving him plenty of attention.
