Over 100,000 puppies trained through Zigzag<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tStart your personalised plan today!<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t![\"\"](\"https:\/\/zigzag.dog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/AppStore1.png\")
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t![\"\"](\"https:\/\/zigzag.dog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/GooglePlay1a.png\")
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t![\"\"](\"https:\/\/zigzag.dog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Stars.png\")
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tRated 4.8<\/span>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\nA guide to puppy lead training in 5 easy steps<\/h2>\nStep 1: Train naked!\u00a0<\/h3>\n
By \u2018naked\u2019, we mean your puppy, not you. Please.<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t worry about the lead, harness or the collar just yet.<\/p>\n
First, you\u2019re going to start with puppy lead training inside the house by\u00a0teaching them that somewhere next to you is the right place to be.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
PS:\u00a0<\/strong>I tend\u00a0to train them to stay on my left side \u2013 obedience style. Old habits die hard,\u00a0and this is how I learned to train dogs in the olden days! If you\u2019d rather walk\u00a0your puppy on the right, that\u2019s completely fine.\u00a0<\/p>\nHave some treats in your left hand, and your puppy on the\u00a0left side of you. Pop them on your puppy\u2019s nose.<\/p>\n
Now, slowly walk forward a couple of steps with your puppy\u2019s\u00a0nose sniffing the treats in your hand. Are they following the treats? What a\u00a0good dog!<\/p>\n
Do this a few times to make sure they get the point of
following the food in your hand and walking with you.<\/p>\n
Once they have the hang of this, keep walking and bring your\u00a0treat hand up to your waist as you\u2019re moving forward.\u00a0Your puppy should follow you \u2013 reward them with your \u2018good\u2019\u00a0marker and give them a treat.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
PRO TIPS:<\/i><\/strong><\/p>\n\n- All we\u2019re looking for in Step 1 of lead training your puppy is to get the following right. We want our puppy to act like a little\u00a0shadow.<\/li>\n
- By using treats, we\u2019re teaching our puppies that \u2018next to\u00a0us\u2019 is the \u2018reward zone\u2019 , so that it\u2019s understood as the best place to hang\u00a0out. Just like we find the kitchen the best place to be at parties.<\/li>\n
- Try to reward your puppy WHILE you keep moving \u2013 we don\u2019t\u00a0want them to learn that we\u2019ll always stop to give them a treat because it can\u00a0make them stop more on walks.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Step 2: Get your puppy dressed!<\/h3>\n
Time to gear them up. As you put the harness and collar on,\u00a0you\u2019ll want to use treats \u2013 the harness\/collar combo can feel funny to them at\u00a0the start, so we want to teach our puppy that wearing them will mean that good\u00a0things will happen, rather than discomfort.<\/p>\n
By now, you\u2019ve hopefully done handling exercises outlined in\u00a0some of our other articles or in the Zigzag app so your puppy is used to having\u00a0the harness taken on and off and it being no biggie.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Once you have your puppy\u2019s harness and collar on do the same\u00a0exercise as in Step 1: Walking around your house with the harness and collar\u00a0on, rewarding them for close following.<\/p>\n
We\u2019re not going to take them outside just yet. At this stage\u00a0of puppy lead training it\u2019s best if they learn to walk nicely indoors, in the\u00a0yard and in places where there are as little distractions as possible before\u00a0you try it outside.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Just imagine what a bird flying by can do to their concentration.<\/p>\n
\nPRO TIP:<\/b>\u00a0If they haven\u2019t had their full vaccinations
yet, we\u2019ve got good news. You can still start lead training a puppy indoors so\u00a0they start getting the gist of everything, and be unstoppable (in the best way possible) once they\u2019re able to step outside.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\nStep 3 \u2013 Attaching the lead<\/h3>\n
Here\u2019s how you get working with the lead:<\/p>\n
Attach the lead to the harness and practice indoors and in\u00a0your yard, rewarding your puppy for walking next to you.<\/p>\n
Try and do a few more steps between treats.\u00a0Make sure there\u2019s no tension in the lead.<\/p>\n
\nPRO TIPS:<\/b><\/p>\n\n- Keep your lead \u2018smiley\u2019:\u00a0When the lead loops down loose, it will look like a smile between you and your dog. As long as the lead looks happy and smiley, you\u2019re on the right track.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n- Have the lead in the opposite hand to the side you walk your puppy on. That way, you have a treat in the hand of the side that your puppy is on, and you wont have to perform and contortionist act.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/blockquote>\n
![\"Step-by-Step](\"https:\/\/mk0zigzagcwy7sqx1uba.kinstacdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Step-by-Step-How-to-Lead-Train-Your-New-Puppy-1-1024x768.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Step 4 \u2013 Start puppy lead training outside<\/h3>\n
The day has come!<\/p>\n
Before getting all excited and attempting a walk to the park\u00a0straight away, let\u2019s start with taking your puppy outside for a few short and\u00a0simple lead walking training sessions.<\/p>\n
You can repeat Step 3 from above:<\/p>\n
Create a reward zone by treating your puppy for being next\u00a0to you.<\/p>\n
Lure your puppy a few steps and reward them with a
treat.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Bring your hand up higher (around your hip or waist height)\u00a0and reward your puppy for walking next to you \u2013 they\u2019ll be looking right up at\u00a0the treat to begin with, that\u2019s great!<\/p>\n
Do more steps for one treat as your puppy learns the ropes.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\nPRO TIPS:<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n- Outside, puppies will want to sniff everything. This can be\u00a0quite distracting, and make it difficult for them to follow their puppy lead\u00a0training. When I\u2019m doing lead walking training, I like to go up and down the same street, over and over again, because it will eventually become familiar to\u00a0your puppy, and they will be much more likely to focus. Emphasis on eventually<\/b>.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n- Some dog owners will find cheese or liver paste in a tube useful\u00a0for lead training a puppy as you don\u2019t have to bend down so far \u2013 a good tip\u00a0for tall people and small dogs!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n- Dogs either like to walk very very slowly, or they like to walk\u00a0quite briskly; regular human speed can be difficult for them to get the pace\u00a0right. To get them to engage more with you, try speeding up your pace slightly.\u00a0Not so much that you look like you\u2019re in a speed walking race though.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Step 5: Spice it up and change locations.<\/h3>\n
It\u2019s very likely that you\u2019ll want to take your puppy on
walks to a lot more places than up and down your street.\u00a0<\/p>\n
When discovering new places, there are endless distractions\u00a0that can make it difficult for your puppy to focus; but don\u2019t worry, it will be\u00a0possible. One day, you\u2019ll take them on walking holidays in The Lakes like
you\u2019ve always wanted.\u00a0<\/p>\n
To prepare for walking in new places, you\u2019re going to need:<\/p>\n
a) A puppy who has some idea that walking next to us
predicts rewards,\u00a0and has practiced that
behavior in easy locations first.<\/i><\/strong><\/p>\nb) Some high value treats to teach our puppy that engaging\u00a0with us instead of everything else is worth their while. You\u2019re not bribing\u00a0them, it\u2019s all part of training.<\/p>\n
c) Your mind on the job! Let\u2019s avoid\u00a0you<\/em>\u00a0getting
distracted with other things, so best put away your phone. If you\u2019re\u00a0really\u00a0<\/b><\/em>keen on\u00a0having it, then better put some tunes on \u2013 Walk This Way by Run DMC should get\u00a0you in the right mood.\u00a0<\/p>\n\nPRO TIP: <\/b>Our goal is to increase the number of steps between treats so our puppy learns to wait for treats until they’ve walked a bit further – don’t rush this part, but keep it in mind once your puppy’s got the hang of things.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Puppy Lead Training: Troubleshooting<\/p>\n
Ah yes, there will be whoopsies along the way.<\/p>\n
What should I do if my puppy pulls on the lead?<\/h3>\n
STOP!<\/p>\n
Puppies pull because they think it\u2019s going to get them where
they want to go faster, so we want to teach them that what happens is actually\u00a0the opposite \u2013 they\u2019ll be going nowhere.\u00a0<\/p>\n
How do I teach this?<\/strong><\/p>\nIf your puppy pulls on the lead, just stop walking\u00a0immediately. Avoid the temptation to yank, check or pull back \u2013 just stop and\u00a0wait.\u00a0<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
If your puppy looks round at you, give them some verbal\u00a0praise, take a few steps backwards and gesture them to come with you. Then,\u00a0you\u2019ll need to either:<\/p>\n
a) Change direction and walk away from what your puppy\u00a0desperately wants to get to, and make a note of what it is in your head so you\u00a0can train for that distraction later. Some of us could benefit from this for\u00a0food shopping.<\/p>\n
b) Keep them looking up at you and being rewarded for\u00a0walking on a nice loose lead towards the thing they want to get to. Unless it\u2019s\u00a0fast moving traffic.<\/p>\n
The option you choose will depend on what your puppy wants\u00a0to go towards \u2013 like we said, not so great to walk towards moving cars.\u00a0<\/p>\n
What should I do if my puppy sits down and won\u2019t walk?<\/h3>\n
It happens quite a lot, it\u2019s not just you! Puppies sit down\u00a0on a walk for a few reasons:<\/p>\n
\n- They\u2019re tired \u2013 they\u2019ll need to be swept into your arms and carried home.\u00a0<\/li>\n
- They\u2019re in pain \u2013 same, they\u2019ll need to be carried home.<\/li>\n
- They\u2019re worried about the situation they\u2019re in \u2013 if this happens, give them time to figure things out, and continue with teaching\u00a0them to walk next to you like we explain below.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
If your puppy is worried
about the situation they\u2019re in:<\/strong><\/h3>\nWe can understand how it might be tempting to pull or drag\u00a0them along the floor if they\u2019re not walking, but please don\u2019t do this. It will\u00a0make them associate lead walking with a bad experience, and make them much more\u00a0apprehensive about walking again.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\nGOOD TO KNOW<\/b>:\u00a0Dogs are always sizing situations up \u2013\u00a0asking themselves whether this \u2018thing\u2019 is an opportunity or a threat. It\u2019s an\u00a0essential survival skill \u2013 but for puppies who don\u2019t know how the world works,\u00a0they\u2019ll often sit down while they figure things out. Kind of like a fight or\u00a0flight situation in humans\u2026except for them sometimes it\u2019s to freeze, other\u00a0times it\u2019s just them sat there thinking like a small Yoda.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
If your puppy doesn\u2019t want to walk, here\u2019s what you can do:<\/h3>\n
Walk forward just a step and wait \u2013 keep the lead loose, no\u00a0pressure on the harness.<\/a><\/p>\nWhen your puppy decides to walk again, give them lots of\u00a0verbal praise and treats while carrying on walking.<\/p>\n
\nPRO TIP:\u00a0<\/i><\/b>In fact, make sure to\u00a0reward them (both verbally and with treats) when you\u2019re in motion \u2013 if we
always stop and reward them, they can learn that stopping (instead of walking)\u00a0gets <\/i>them rewards. Which is, indeed, the opposite of our\u00a0mission.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Keep up the practice with puppy lead training at home so\u00a0they don\u2019t lose the good habit of walking next to you.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Give it time! As your puppy\u2019s confidence with the outside\u00a0world grows, they\u2019ll feel much better about walking. It will come, we promise.<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s talk about puppy lead training equipment:<\/h2>\nWhat lead should I get for my puppy?<\/h3>\n
Before getting started with your puppy lead training
program, we recommend you get a double ended dog training lead (sometimes\u00a0called a police style lead \u2013 as it\u2019s what the boys in blue favour).\u00a0<\/p>\n
These will let you:\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n- Adjust the length of the lead to suit your needs<\/li>\n
- Have two points of connection to your puppy\u2019s harness \u2013 great for balance and safety\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n
- Pop it round your waist for hands free lead walking and training \u2013 so you can practice juggling oranges at the same time, of course.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/li>\n
- Secure it to chair legs for settle training \u2013 ideal for taking your puppy with you to the bar in the afternoons soon.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
To know whether you\u2019ve got the right lead, make sure it has:\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n- A narrow width so that it\u2019s not too heavy for\u00a0them. Don\u2019t want to be training them for pulling on sledges yet.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/li>\n
- A good length \u2013 preferably adjustable with rings so you can change it from short to long.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Check out\u00a0our\u00a0guide on the best dog training leads<\/a>\u00a0for our absolute faves.<\/p>\nShould my puppy wear a harness?<\/h3>\n
We vote yes.<\/p>\n
Harnesses are kinder as they reduce strains on their neck\u00a0and back by dispersing pressure onto a bigger surface area.\u00a0They are a\u00a0crucial part, apart from the lead of course, of puppy lead training, an\u00a0uncomfortable harness, equals an uncomfortable and distracted pup!<\/p>\n
Also, no one likes to see a puppy choking themselves in a\u00a0collar \u2013 so a harness is a great option to avoid this.<\/p>\n
How do I pick a good harness for my puppy?<\/h3>\n
A good harness is one that has no moving parts.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Avoid any that say \u201cno pull\u201d or \u201cstops pulling\u201d \u2013 these
generally work by restricting your dog\u2019s movement, and causing them discomfort\u00a0or pain if they pull, which we don\u2019t want for your puppy.<\/p>\n
Pick one that\u2019s comfortable for your puppy to wear, which\u00a0will vary depending on your puppy\u2019s body shape. But here are our top three
favorites:\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n- Perfect Fit Fleece Lined Harness<\/a><\/li>\n
- Tellington Touch Harness<\/a><\/li>\n
- Ruffwear Front range<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
![\"Step-by-Step](\"https:\/\/mk0zigzagcwy7sqx1uba.kinstacdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Step-by-Step-How-to-Lead-Train-Your-New-Puppy-2-1-1024x768.jpg\")
<\/h2>\n
\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n
Should my puppy wear a collar?<\/h3>\nAlso, yes \u2013 by law, all dogs in the UK must wear a collar and an ID tag with their owner\u2019s name, address and phone number.\n\u00a0\n
Let\u2019s not get anyone in trouble with the coppers.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Treats and treat pouch for puppy lead training?<\/h2>\n
As with any other kind of puppy training, lead walking training is easiest with treats and positive reinforcement. Check out our guide to find out\u00a0how to choose the best treats for your puppy<\/a>.<\/p>\nFood really can-do wonderful things.\n\u00a0\n\nPRO TIP<\/strong>:\u00a0A treat pouch like this one from Mikki<\/a>\u00a0will let you have easy access to rewards for your puppy when you\u2019re training them. This also means you\u2019ll no longer have fish-smelling, sticky hands.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\nShould my puppy wear a collar?<\/h3>\n
\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n
Also yes \u2013 by law, all dogs in the UK must wear a collar and an ID tag with their owners name, address and phone number.<\/p>\n
\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s not get anyone in trouble with the coppers.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n
Treats and treat pouch<\/h3>\n
\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n
As with any other kind of puppy training, lead walking training is easiest with treats and positive reinforcement. Check out our guide to find out how to choose the best treats for your puppy<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n
Food really can do wonderful things.<\/p>\n
\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n
\nPRO TIP: <\/strong>A treat pouch like this one from Mikki<\/a> will let you have easy access to rewards for your puppy when you\u2019re training them. This also means you\u2019ll no longer have fish-smelling, sticky hands.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n![\"Step-by-Step](\"https:\/\/mk0zigzagcwy7sqx1uba.kinstacdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Step-by-Step-How-to-Lead-Train-Your-New-Puppy-3-1-1024x768.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n
What do I do if my puppy keeps barking during lead training?<\/h3>\n
\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n
Puppies often communicate how they\u2019re feeling through barking. If they bark on a lead, this will probably mean one of two things:<\/p>\n
\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n
\n- Fear: <\/strong>They probably don’t like the scary thing (which could be anything – a rock, or your scary neighbor) and they want it to go away.<\/li>\n
- Excitement: <\/strong>They\u2019re simply really excited, and don\u2019t know what to do with themselves. Except to bark.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n
Work out which one it is by reading their body language, and then:<\/p>\n
\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n
If it\u2019s fear: <\/strong>Let\u2019s change the association of what\u2019s frightening to at least \u2018not scary\u2019 with some training and desensitisation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n
If it\u2019s excitement:<\/strong> I guess it\u2019s better than fear but still; you\u2019ll need to work on teaching your puppy to be calm around the exciting things to avoid ending up with a noisy, frustrated puppy!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n
What do I do if my puppy keeps grabbing and biting at the lead?<\/h3>\n
\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n
Hm, playing tug with the lead might look cute at the start, but it isn\u2019t so fun when the game is never-ending and all you\u2019re trying to do is go for a nice stroll.<\/p>\n
\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n
If your puppy thinks quite highly of playing tug with their lead, here\u2019s what you can do:<\/p>\n
\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n
1. Check that the combination of their lead, collar and harness isn\u2019t hurting them.<\/p>\n
\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n
2. Teach them an alternate behavior. For some puppies, this might be teaching them to hold a toy when we walk so that their mouth has something to do, while others do better with a high rate of reward, so going back to working on the basics of lead training a puppy.<\/p>\n
\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n
Yanking the lead back will only make them feel the game is getting better, so make sure to fight your temptation to do so. We do understand how hard this might be!\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n
Lead training a puppy FAQs<\/h2>\n
\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n
When can you start lead training a puppy?<\/strong><\/p>\nAs soon as they\u2019re home! Start loose lead training a puppy without a collar, harness or lead (when they\u2019re in the full nude) and teach your puppy that walking next to you predicts rewards!<\/p>\n
How to know if you have the right lead for your puppy?<\/strong><\/p>\nSmall breeds of puppies prefer lighter leads with smaller clips, while larger breeds should have a slightly stronger lead for safety. They can be surprisingly strong, those big puppies.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Go for a 2m training lead – they\u2019re ace for switching up the length to what\u2019s right for you and the situation. Too often, I see puppy leads that are too short which make walking stressful and definitely not a walk in the park.<\/p>\n
Can I use a retractable lead?<\/strong><\/p>\nRetractable leads serve a purpose…but that purpose is not loose lead walking, sorry!\u00a0 They can teach puppies to pull, and they\u2019re also quite uncomfortable to hold when lead training your puppy.<\/p>\n
Retractable leads aren\u2019t terrible though – they can be useful when attached to your puppy\u2019s harness if you\u2019re not so keen to let them off lead, or when there are \u2018dogs must be kept on lead\u2019 signs.\u00a0<\/p>\n
How do I stop my dog from pulling on the lead?<\/strong><\/p>\nWell, stop letting them. I know it may sound easier than it seems, but do try to change your direction away from what they want to pull towards. Even if it\u2019s a fish and chips food stall you also want to walk towards.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Instead, follow the loose lead walking guide in this article \u2013 what\u2019s important to keep in mind, is that walking next to you should always be more rewarding than the alternative.<\/p>\n
What to do if my puppy keeps grabbing and biting at the lead?<\/strong><\/p>\nTeach them to do something else, with help from your treats. For example, teach them that walking next to you gets rewarded, or that when they hold a toy while walking gets them a yummy snack too.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Remember to do a quick check for tiredness, pain or over excitement as any of these can cause lead biting too. I also like to bite things when I\u2019m tired.\u00a0<\/p>\n
![\"Step-by-Step](\"https:\/\/zigzag.dog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Step-by-Step-How-to-Lead-Train-Your-New-Puppy-4.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Are training leads good for dogs?<\/strong><\/p>\nYes. Specifically, a 2m training lead is brilliant because you can do so much with it:\u00a0 alter the length, do hands free walking, and pop it around a chair leg to teach settle training.<\/p>\n
A 5 -10m long training lead is super useful for recall training<\/a> – you\u2019ll probably want to look at those later.<\/p>\nHow long does it take to lead train a puppy?<\/strong><\/p>\nWell, providing you\u2019re able to get them to never pull, teach them to walk nicely next to you from the beginning, and gradually increase the difficulty of locations and distractions, not that long at all. Sounds like a piece of cake when I put it like that…but it might not be.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Of course, hiccups and mistakes will happen along the way, but that\u2019s more than okay. All that matters is to stay consistent and patient – that\u2019s when the best results come about!<\/p>\n
What is the best dog training lead?<\/strong><\/p>\nThe best dog training lead is one that\u2019s going to be:<\/p>\n
\n- Comfortable in your hand<\/li>\n
- Size adjustable<\/li>\n
- Not too heavy to attach to your puppy \u2013 comfort is key!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
And yes, we\u2019re sure you can find bedazzled training leads that fit the criteria above.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n
We hope our puppy lead training article is of great help to you and your pup\u00a0 \u2013 the days of walks in the park that actually <\/em>feel like walks in the park are just a few days of practice ahead!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n
For more detailed lead walking exercises and games, check out the Zigzag app – there\u2019s plenty more to see.<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t forget to find out when you can start taking your pup out into the big wide world! Read our guide on when you can take a puppy out safely<\/a>, next.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Start your personalised plan today!<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tRated 4.8<\/span>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\nA guide to puppy lead training in 5 easy steps<\/h2>\nStep 1: Train naked!\u00a0<\/h3>\n
By \u2018naked\u2019, we mean your puppy, not you. Please.<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t worry about the lead, harness or the collar just yet.<\/p>\n
First, you\u2019re going to start with puppy lead training inside the house by\u00a0teaching them that somewhere next to you is the right place to be.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
PS:\u00a0<\/strong>I tend\u00a0to train them to stay on my left side \u2013 obedience style. Old habits die hard,\u00a0and this is how I learned to train dogs in the olden days! If you\u2019d rather walk\u00a0your puppy on the right, that\u2019s completely fine.\u00a0<\/p>\nHave some treats in your left hand, and your puppy on the\u00a0left side of you. Pop them on your puppy\u2019s nose.<\/p>\n
Now, slowly walk forward a couple of steps with your puppy\u2019s\u00a0nose sniffing the treats in your hand. Are they following the treats? What a\u00a0good dog!<\/p>\n
Do this a few times to make sure they get the point of
following the food in your hand and walking with you.<\/p>\n
Once they have the hang of this, keep walking and bring your\u00a0treat hand up to your waist as you\u2019re moving forward.\u00a0Your puppy should follow you \u2013 reward them with your \u2018good\u2019\u00a0marker and give them a treat.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
PRO TIPS:<\/i><\/strong><\/p>\n\n- All we\u2019re looking for in Step 1 of lead training your puppy is to get the following right. We want our puppy to act like a little\u00a0shadow.<\/li>\n
- By using treats, we\u2019re teaching our puppies that \u2018next to\u00a0us\u2019 is the \u2018reward zone\u2019 , so that it\u2019s understood as the best place to hang\u00a0out. Just like we find the kitchen the best place to be at parties.<\/li>\n
- Try to reward your puppy WHILE you keep moving \u2013 we don\u2019t\u00a0want them to learn that we\u2019ll always stop to give them a treat because it can\u00a0make them stop more on walks.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Step 2: Get your puppy dressed!<\/h3>\n
Time to gear them up. As you put the harness and collar on,\u00a0you\u2019ll want to use treats \u2013 the harness\/collar combo can feel funny to them at\u00a0the start, so we want to teach our puppy that wearing them will mean that good\u00a0things will happen, rather than discomfort.<\/p>\n
By now, you\u2019ve hopefully done handling exercises outlined in\u00a0some of our other articles or in the Zigzag app so your puppy is used to having\u00a0the harness taken on and off and it being no biggie.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Once you have your puppy\u2019s harness and collar on do the same\u00a0exercise as in Step 1: Walking around your house with the harness and collar\u00a0on, rewarding them for close following.<\/p>\n
We\u2019re not going to take them outside just yet. At this stage\u00a0of puppy lead training it\u2019s best if they learn to walk nicely indoors, in the\u00a0yard and in places where there are as little distractions as possible before\u00a0you try it outside.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Just imagine what a bird flying by can do to their concentration.<\/p>\n
\nPRO TIP:<\/b>\u00a0If they haven\u2019t had their full vaccinations
yet, we\u2019ve got good news. You can still start lead training a puppy indoors so\u00a0they start getting the gist of everything, and be unstoppable (in the best way possible) once they\u2019re able to step outside.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\nStep 3 \u2013 Attaching the lead<\/h3>\n
Here\u2019s how you get working with the lead:<\/p>\n
Attach the lead to the harness and practice indoors and in\u00a0your yard, rewarding your puppy for walking next to you.<\/p>\n
Try and do a few more steps between treats.\u00a0Make sure there\u2019s no tension in the lead.<\/p>\n
\nPRO TIPS:<\/b><\/p>\n\n- Keep your lead \u2018smiley\u2019:\u00a0When the lead loops down loose, it will look like a smile between you and your dog. As long as the lead looks happy and smiley, you\u2019re on the right track.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n- Have the lead in the opposite hand to the side you walk your puppy on. That way, you have a treat in the hand of the side that your puppy is on, and you wont have to perform and contortionist act.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/blockquote>\n
<\/p>\n
Step 4 \u2013 Start puppy lead training outside<\/h3>\n
The day has come!<\/p>\n
Before getting all excited and attempting a walk to the park\u00a0straight away, let\u2019s start with taking your puppy outside for a few short and\u00a0simple lead walking training sessions.<\/p>\n
You can repeat Step 3 from above:<\/p>\n
Create a reward zone by treating your puppy for being next\u00a0to you.<\/p>\n
Lure your puppy a few steps and reward them with a
treat.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Bring your hand up higher (around your hip or waist height)\u00a0and reward your puppy for walking next to you \u2013 they\u2019ll be looking right up at\u00a0the treat to begin with, that\u2019s great!<\/p>\n
Do more steps for one treat as your puppy learns the ropes.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\nPRO TIPS:<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n- Outside, puppies will want to sniff everything. This can be\u00a0quite distracting, and make it difficult for them to follow their puppy lead\u00a0training. When I\u2019m doing lead walking training, I like to go up and down the same street, over and over again, because it will eventually become familiar to\u00a0your puppy, and they will be much more likely to focus. Emphasis on eventually<\/b>.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n- Some dog owners will find cheese or liver paste in a tube useful\u00a0for lead training a puppy as you don\u2019t have to bend down so far \u2013 a good tip\u00a0for tall people and small dogs!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n- Dogs either like to walk very very slowly, or they like to walk\u00a0quite briskly; regular human speed can be difficult for them to get the pace\u00a0right. To get them to engage more with you, try speeding up your pace slightly.\u00a0Not so much that you look like you\u2019re in a speed walking race though.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Step 5: Spice it up and change locations.<\/h3>\n
It\u2019s very likely that you\u2019ll want to take your puppy on
walks to a lot more places than up and down your street.\u00a0<\/p>\n
When discovering new places, there are endless distractions\u00a0that can make it difficult for your puppy to focus; but don\u2019t worry, it will be\u00a0possible. One day, you\u2019ll take them on walking holidays in The Lakes like
you\u2019ve always wanted.\u00a0<\/p>\n
To prepare for walking in new places, you\u2019re going to need:<\/p>\n
a) A puppy who has some idea that walking next to us
predicts rewards,\u00a0and has practiced that
behavior in easy locations first.<\/i><\/strong><\/p>\nb) Some high value treats to teach our puppy that engaging\u00a0with us instead of everything else is worth their while. You\u2019re not bribing\u00a0them, it\u2019s all part of training.<\/p>\n
c) Your mind on the job! Let\u2019s avoid\u00a0you<\/em>\u00a0getting
distracted with other things, so best put away your phone. If you\u2019re\u00a0really\u00a0<\/b><\/em>keen on\u00a0having it, then better put some tunes on \u2013 Walk This Way by Run DMC should get\u00a0you in the right mood.\u00a0<\/p>\n\nPRO TIP: <\/b>Our goal is to increase the number of steps between treats so our puppy learns to wait for treats until they’ve walked a bit further – don’t rush this part, but keep it in mind once your puppy’s got the hang of things.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Puppy Lead Training: Troubleshooting<\/p>\n
Ah yes, there will be whoopsies along the way.<\/p>\n
What should I do if my puppy pulls on the lead?<\/h3>\n
STOP!<\/p>\n
Puppies pull because they think it\u2019s going to get them where
they want to go faster, so we want to teach them that what happens is actually\u00a0the opposite \u2013 they\u2019ll be going nowhere.\u00a0<\/p>\n
How do I teach this?<\/strong><\/p>\nIf your puppy pulls on the lead, just stop walking\u00a0immediately. Avoid the temptation to yank, check or pull back \u2013 just stop and\u00a0wait.\u00a0<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
If your puppy looks round at you, give them some verbal\u00a0praise, take a few steps backwards and gesture them to come with you. Then,\u00a0you\u2019ll need to either:<\/p>\n
a) Change direction and walk away from what your puppy\u00a0desperately wants to get to, and make a note of what it is in your head so you\u00a0can train for that distraction later. Some of us could benefit from this for\u00a0food shopping.<\/p>\n
b) Keep them looking up at you and being rewarded for\u00a0walking on a nice loose lead towards the thing they want to get to. Unless it\u2019s\u00a0fast moving traffic.<\/p>\n
The option you choose will depend on what your puppy wants\u00a0to go towards \u2013 like we said, not so great to walk towards moving cars.\u00a0<\/p>\n
What should I do if my puppy sits down and won\u2019t walk?<\/h3>\n
It happens quite a lot, it\u2019s not just you! Puppies sit down\u00a0on a walk for a few reasons:<\/p>\n
\n- They\u2019re tired \u2013 they\u2019ll need to be swept into your arms and carried home.\u00a0<\/li>\n
- They\u2019re in pain \u2013 same, they\u2019ll need to be carried home.<\/li>\n
- They\u2019re worried about the situation they\u2019re in \u2013 if this happens, give them time to figure things out, and continue with teaching\u00a0them to walk next to you like we explain below.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
If your puppy is worried
about the situation they\u2019re in:<\/strong><\/h3>\nWe can understand how it might be tempting to pull or drag\u00a0them along the floor if they\u2019re not walking, but please don\u2019t do this. It will\u00a0make them associate lead walking with a bad experience, and make them much more\u00a0apprehensive about walking again.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\nGOOD TO KNOW<\/b>:\u00a0Dogs are always sizing situations up \u2013\u00a0asking themselves whether this \u2018thing\u2019 is an opportunity or a threat. It\u2019s an\u00a0essential survival skill \u2013 but for puppies who don\u2019t know how the world works,\u00a0they\u2019ll often sit down while they figure things out. Kind of like a fight or\u00a0flight situation in humans\u2026except for them sometimes it\u2019s to freeze, other\u00a0times it\u2019s just them sat there thinking like a small Yoda.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
If your puppy doesn\u2019t want to walk, here\u2019s what you can do:<\/h3>\n
Walk forward just a step and wait \u2013 keep the lead loose, no\u00a0pressure on the harness.<\/a><\/p>\nWhen your puppy decides to walk again, give them lots of\u00a0verbal praise and treats while carrying on walking.<\/p>\n
\nPRO TIP:\u00a0<\/i><\/b>In fact, make sure to\u00a0reward them (both verbally and with treats) when you\u2019re in motion \u2013 if we
always stop and reward them, they can learn that stopping (instead of walking)\u00a0gets <\/i>them rewards. Which is, indeed, the opposite of our\u00a0mission.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Keep up the practice with puppy lead training at home so\u00a0they don\u2019t lose the good habit of walking next to you.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Give it time! As your puppy\u2019s confidence with the outside\u00a0world grows, they\u2019ll feel much better about walking. It will come, we promise.<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s talk about puppy lead training equipment:<\/h2>\nWhat lead should I get for my puppy?<\/h3>\n
Before getting started with your puppy lead training
program, we recommend you get a double ended dog training lead (sometimes\u00a0called a police style lead \u2013 as it\u2019s what the boys in blue favour).\u00a0<\/p>\n
These will let you:\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n- Adjust the length of the lead to suit your needs<\/li>\n
- Have two points of connection to your puppy\u2019s harness \u2013 great for balance and safety\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n
- Pop it round your waist for hands free lead walking and training \u2013 so you can practice juggling oranges at the same time, of course.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/li>\n
- Secure it to chair legs for settle training \u2013 ideal for taking your puppy with you to the bar in the afternoons soon.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
To know whether you\u2019ve got the right lead, make sure it has:\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n- A narrow width so that it\u2019s not too heavy for\u00a0them. Don\u2019t want to be training them for pulling on sledges yet.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/li>\n
- A good length \u2013 preferably adjustable with rings so you can change it from short to long.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Check out\u00a0our\u00a0guide on the best dog training leads<\/a>\u00a0for our absolute faves.<\/p>\nShould my puppy wear a harness?<\/h3>\n
We vote yes.<\/p>\n
Harnesses are kinder as they reduce strains on their neck\u00a0and back by dispersing pressure onto a bigger surface area.\u00a0They are a\u00a0crucial part, apart from the lead of course, of puppy lead training, an\u00a0uncomfortable harness, equals an uncomfortable and distracted pup!<\/p>\n
Also, no one likes to see a puppy choking themselves in a\u00a0collar \u2013 so a harness is a great option to avoid this.<\/p>\n
How do I pick a good harness for my puppy?<\/h3>\n
A good harness is one that has no moving parts.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Avoid any that say \u201cno pull\u201d or \u201cstops pulling\u201d \u2013 these
generally work by restricting your dog\u2019s movement, and causing them discomfort\u00a0or pain if they pull, which we don\u2019t want for your puppy.<\/p>\n
Pick one that\u2019s comfortable for your puppy to wear, which\u00a0will vary depending on your puppy\u2019s body shape. But here are our top three
favorites:\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n- Perfect Fit Fleece Lined Harness<\/a><\/li>\n
- Tellington Touch Harness<\/a><\/li>\n
- Ruffwear Front range<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
<\/h2>\n
\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n
Should my puppy wear a collar?<\/h3>\nAlso, yes \u2013 by law, all dogs in the UK must wear a collar and an ID tag with their owner\u2019s name, address and phone number.\n\u00a0\n
Let\u2019s not get anyone in trouble with the coppers.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Treats and treat pouch for puppy lead training?<\/h2>\n
As with any other kind of puppy training, lead walking training is easiest with treats and positive reinforcement. Check out our guide to find out\u00a0how to choose the best treats for your puppy<\/a>.<\/p>\nFood really can-do wonderful things.\n\u00a0\n\nPRO TIP<\/strong>:\u00a0A treat pouch like this one from Mikki<\/a>\u00a0will let you have easy access to rewards for your puppy when you\u2019re training them. This also means you\u2019ll no longer have fish-smelling, sticky hands.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\nShould my puppy wear a collar?<\/h3>\n
\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n
Also yes \u2013 by law, all dogs in the UK must wear a collar and an ID tag with their owners name, address and phone number.<\/p>\n
\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s not get anyone in trouble with the coppers.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n
Treats and treat pouch<\/h3>\n
\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n
As with any other kind of puppy training, lead walking training is easiest with treats and positive reinforcement. Check out our guide to find out how to choose the best treats for your puppy<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n
Food really can do wonderful things.<\/p>\n
\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n
\nPRO TIP: <\/strong>A treat pouch like this one from Mikki<\/a> will let you have easy access to rewards for your puppy when you\u2019re training them. This also means you\u2019ll no longer have fish-smelling, sticky hands.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n
What do I do if my puppy keeps barking during lead training?<\/h3>\n
\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n
Puppies often communicate how they\u2019re feeling through barking. If they bark on a lead, this will probably mean one of two things:<\/p>\n
\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n
\n- Fear: <\/strong>They probably don’t like the scary thing (which could be anything – a rock, or your scary neighbor) and they want it to go away.<\/li>\n
- Excitement: <\/strong>They\u2019re simply really excited, and don\u2019t know what to do with themselves. Except to bark.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n
Work out which one it is by reading their body language, and then:<\/p>\n
\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n
If it\u2019s fear: <\/strong>Let\u2019s change the association of what\u2019s frightening to at least \u2018not scary\u2019 with some training and desensitisation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n
If it\u2019s excitement:<\/strong> I guess it\u2019s better than fear but still; you\u2019ll need to work on teaching your puppy to be calm around the exciting things to avoid ending up with a noisy, frustrated puppy!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n
What do I do if my puppy keeps grabbing and biting at the lead?<\/h3>\n
\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n
Hm, playing tug with the lead might look cute at the start, but it isn\u2019t so fun when the game is never-ending and all you\u2019re trying to do is go for a nice stroll.<\/p>\n
\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n
If your puppy thinks quite highly of playing tug with their lead, here\u2019s what you can do:<\/p>\n
\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n
1. Check that the combination of their lead, collar and harness isn\u2019t hurting them.<\/p>\n
\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n
2. Teach them an alternate behavior. For some puppies, this might be teaching them to hold a toy when we walk so that their mouth has something to do, while others do better with a high rate of reward, so going back to working on the basics of lead training a puppy.<\/p>\n
\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n
Yanking the lead back will only make them feel the game is getting better, so make sure to fight your temptation to do so. We do understand how hard this might be!\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n
Lead training a puppy FAQs<\/h2>\n
\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n
When can you start lead training a puppy?<\/strong><\/p>\nAs soon as they\u2019re home! Start loose lead training a puppy without a collar, harness or lead (when they\u2019re in the full nude) and teach your puppy that walking next to you predicts rewards!<\/p>\n
How to know if you have the right lead for your puppy?<\/strong><\/p>\nSmall breeds of puppies prefer lighter leads with smaller clips, while larger breeds should have a slightly stronger lead for safety. They can be surprisingly strong, those big puppies.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Go for a 2m training lead – they\u2019re ace for switching up the length to what\u2019s right for you and the situation. Too often, I see puppy leads that are too short which make walking stressful and definitely not a walk in the park.<\/p>\n
Can I use a retractable lead?<\/strong><\/p>\nRetractable leads serve a purpose…but that purpose is not loose lead walking, sorry!\u00a0 They can teach puppies to pull, and they\u2019re also quite uncomfortable to hold when lead training your puppy.<\/p>\n
Retractable leads aren\u2019t terrible though – they can be useful when attached to your puppy\u2019s harness if you\u2019re not so keen to let them off lead, or when there are \u2018dogs must be kept on lead\u2019 signs.\u00a0<\/p>\n
How do I stop my dog from pulling on the lead?<\/strong><\/p>\nWell, stop letting them. I know it may sound easier than it seems, but do try to change your direction away from what they want to pull towards. Even if it\u2019s a fish and chips food stall you also want to walk towards.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Instead, follow the loose lead walking guide in this article \u2013 what\u2019s important to keep in mind, is that walking next to you should always be more rewarding than the alternative.<\/p>\n
What to do if my puppy keeps grabbing and biting at the lead?<\/strong><\/p>\nTeach them to do something else, with help from your treats. For example, teach them that walking next to you gets rewarded, or that when they hold a toy while walking gets them a yummy snack too.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Remember to do a quick check for tiredness, pain or over excitement as any of these can cause lead biting too. I also like to bite things when I\u2019m tired.\u00a0<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Are training leads good for dogs?<\/strong><\/p>\nYes. Specifically, a 2m training lead is brilliant because you can do so much with it:\u00a0 alter the length, do hands free walking, and pop it around a chair leg to teach settle training.<\/p>\n
A 5 -10m long training lead is super useful for recall training<\/a> – you\u2019ll probably want to look at those later.<\/p>\nHow long does it take to lead train a puppy?<\/strong><\/p>\nWell, providing you\u2019re able to get them to never pull, teach them to walk nicely next to you from the beginning, and gradually increase the difficulty of locations and distractions, not that long at all. Sounds like a piece of cake when I put it like that…but it might not be.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Of course, hiccups and mistakes will happen along the way, but that\u2019s more than okay. All that matters is to stay consistent and patient – that\u2019s when the best results come about!<\/p>\n
What is the best dog training lead?<\/strong><\/p>\nThe best dog training lead is one that\u2019s going to be:<\/p>\n
\n- Comfortable in your hand<\/li>\n
- Size adjustable<\/li>\n
- Not too heavy to attach to your puppy \u2013 comfort is key!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
And yes, we\u2019re sure you can find bedazzled training leads that fit the criteria above.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n
We hope our puppy lead training article is of great help to you and your pup\u00a0 \u2013 the days of walks in the park that actually <\/em>feel like walks in the park are just a few days of practice ahead!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n
For more detailed lead walking exercises and games, check out the Zigzag app – there\u2019s plenty more to see.<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t forget to find out when you can start taking your pup out into the big wide world! Read our guide on when you can take a puppy out safely<\/a>, next.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\tA guide to puppy lead training in 5 easy steps<\/h2>\nStep 1: Train naked!\u00a0<\/h3>\n
By \u2018naked\u2019, we mean your puppy, not you. Please.<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t worry about the lead, harness or the collar just yet.<\/p>\n
First, you\u2019re going to start with puppy lead training inside the house by\u00a0teaching them that somewhere next to you is the right place to be.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
PS:\u00a0<\/strong>I tend\u00a0to train them to stay on my left side \u2013 obedience style. Old habits die hard,\u00a0and this is how I learned to train dogs in the olden days! If you\u2019d rather walk\u00a0your puppy on the right, that\u2019s completely fine.\u00a0<\/p>\n Have some treats in your left hand, and your puppy on the\u00a0left side of you. Pop them on your puppy\u2019s nose.<\/p>\n Now, slowly walk forward a couple of steps with your puppy\u2019s\u00a0nose sniffing the treats in your hand. Are they following the treats? What a\u00a0good dog!<\/p>\n Do this a few times to make sure they get the point of Once they have the hang of this, keep walking and bring your\u00a0treat hand up to your waist as you\u2019re moving forward.\u00a0Your puppy should follow you \u2013 reward them with your \u2018good\u2019\u00a0marker and give them a treat.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n PRO TIPS:<\/i><\/strong><\/p>\n Time to gear them up. As you put the harness and collar on,\u00a0you\u2019ll want to use treats \u2013 the harness\/collar combo can feel funny to them at\u00a0the start, so we want to teach our puppy that wearing them will mean that good\u00a0things will happen, rather than discomfort.<\/p>\n By now, you\u2019ve hopefully done handling exercises outlined in\u00a0some of our other articles or in the Zigzag app so your puppy is used to having\u00a0the harness taken on and off and it being no biggie.\u00a0<\/p>\n Once you have your puppy\u2019s harness and collar on do the same\u00a0exercise as in Step 1: Walking around your house with the harness and collar\u00a0on, rewarding them for close following.<\/p>\n We\u2019re not going to take them outside just yet. At this stage\u00a0of puppy lead training it\u2019s best if they learn to walk nicely indoors, in the\u00a0yard and in places where there are as little distractions as possible before\u00a0you try it outside.\u00a0<\/p>\n Just imagine what a bird flying by can do to their concentration.<\/p>\n PRO TIP:<\/b>\u00a0If they haven\u2019t had their full vaccinations Here\u2019s how you get working with the lead:<\/p>\n Attach the lead to the harness and practice indoors and in\u00a0your yard, rewarding your puppy for walking next to you.<\/p>\n Try and do a few more steps between treats.\u00a0Make sure there\u2019s no tension in the lead.<\/p>\n PRO TIPS:<\/b><\/p>\n The day has come!<\/p>\n Before getting all excited and attempting a walk to the park\u00a0straight away, let\u2019s start with taking your puppy outside for a few short and\u00a0simple lead walking training sessions.<\/p>\n You can repeat Step 3 from above:<\/p>\n Create a reward zone by treating your puppy for being next\u00a0to you.<\/p>\n Lure your puppy a few steps and reward them with a Bring your hand up higher (around your hip or waist height)\u00a0and reward your puppy for walking next to you \u2013 they\u2019ll be looking right up at\u00a0the treat to begin with, that\u2019s great!<\/p>\n Do more steps for one treat as your puppy learns the ropes.\u00a0<\/p>\n PRO TIPS:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n It\u2019s very likely that you\u2019ll want to take your puppy on When discovering new places, there are endless distractions\u00a0that can make it difficult for your puppy to focus; but don\u2019t worry, it will be\u00a0possible. One day, you\u2019ll take them on walking holidays in The Lakes like To prepare for walking in new places, you\u2019re going to need:<\/p>\n a) A puppy who has some idea that walking next to us b) Some high value treats to teach our puppy that engaging\u00a0with us instead of everything else is worth their while. You\u2019re not bribing\u00a0them, it\u2019s all part of training.<\/p>\n c) Your mind on the job! Let\u2019s avoid\u00a0you<\/em>\u00a0getting PRO TIP: <\/b>Our goal is to increase the number of steps between treats so our puppy learns to wait for treats until they’ve walked a bit further – don’t rush this part, but keep it in mind once your puppy’s got the hang of things.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Puppy Lead Training: Troubleshooting<\/p>\n Ah yes, there will be whoopsies along the way.<\/p>\n STOP!<\/p>\n Puppies pull because they think it\u2019s going to get them where How do I teach this?<\/strong><\/p>\n If your puppy pulls on the lead, just stop walking\u00a0immediately. Avoid the temptation to yank, check or pull back \u2013 just stop and\u00a0wait.\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p>\n If your puppy looks round at you, give them some verbal\u00a0praise, take a few steps backwards and gesture them to come with you. Then,\u00a0you\u2019ll need to either:<\/p>\n a) Change direction and walk away from what your puppy\u00a0desperately wants to get to, and make a note of what it is in your head so you\u00a0can train for that distraction later. Some of us could benefit from this for\u00a0food shopping.<\/p>\n b) Keep them looking up at you and being rewarded for\u00a0walking on a nice loose lead towards the thing they want to get to. Unless it\u2019s\u00a0fast moving traffic.<\/p>\n The option you choose will depend on what your puppy wants\u00a0to go towards \u2013 like we said, not so great to walk towards moving cars.\u00a0<\/p>\n It happens quite a lot, it\u2019s not just you! Puppies sit down\u00a0on a walk for a few reasons:<\/p>\n We can understand how it might be tempting to pull or drag\u00a0them along the floor if they\u2019re not walking, but please don\u2019t do this. It will\u00a0make them associate lead walking with a bad experience, and make them much more\u00a0apprehensive about walking again.\u00a0<\/p>\n GOOD TO KNOW<\/b>:\u00a0Dogs are always sizing situations up \u2013\u00a0asking themselves whether this \u2018thing\u2019 is an opportunity or a threat. It\u2019s an\u00a0essential survival skill \u2013 but for puppies who don\u2019t know how the world works,\u00a0they\u2019ll often sit down while they figure things out. Kind of like a fight or\u00a0flight situation in humans\u2026except for them sometimes it\u2019s to freeze, other\u00a0times it\u2019s just them sat there thinking like a small Yoda.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Walk forward just a step and wait \u2013 keep the lead loose, no\u00a0pressure on the harness.<\/a><\/p>\n When your puppy decides to walk again, give them lots of\u00a0verbal praise and treats while carrying on walking.<\/p>\n PRO TIP:\u00a0<\/i><\/b>In fact, make sure to\u00a0reward them (both verbally and with treats) when you\u2019re in motion \u2013 if we Keep up the practice with puppy lead training at home so\u00a0they don\u2019t lose the good habit of walking next to you.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Give it time! As your puppy\u2019s confidence with the outside\u00a0world grows, they\u2019ll feel much better about walking. It will come, we promise.<\/p>\n Before getting started with your puppy lead training These will let you:\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n To know whether you\u2019ve got the right lead, make sure it has:\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Check out\u00a0our\u00a0guide on the best dog training leads<\/a>\u00a0for our absolute faves.<\/p>\n We vote yes.<\/p>\n Harnesses are kinder as they reduce strains on their neck\u00a0and back by dispersing pressure onto a bigger surface area.\u00a0They are a\u00a0crucial part, apart from the lead of course, of puppy lead training, an\u00a0uncomfortable harness, equals an uncomfortable and distracted pup!<\/p>\n Also, no one likes to see a puppy choking themselves in a\u00a0collar \u2013 so a harness is a great option to avoid this.<\/p>\n A good harness is one that has no moving parts.\u00a0<\/p>\n Avoid any that say \u201cno pull\u201d or \u201cstops pulling\u201d \u2013 these Pick one that\u2019s comfortable for your puppy to wear, which\u00a0will vary depending on your puppy\u2019s body shape. But here are our top three \n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n Let\u2019s not get anyone in trouble with the coppers.\u00a0<\/p>\n As with any other kind of puppy training, lead walking training is easiest with treats and positive reinforcement. Check out our guide to find out\u00a0how to choose the best treats for your puppy<\/a>.<\/p>\nFood really can-do wonderful things.\n\u00a0\n PRO TIP<\/strong>:\u00a0A treat pouch like this one from Mikki<\/a>\u00a0will let you have easy access to rewards for your puppy when you\u2019re training them. This also means you\u2019ll no longer have fish-smelling, sticky hands.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n \n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n Also yes \u2013 by law, all dogs in the UK must wear a collar and an ID tag with their owners name, address and phone number.<\/p>\n \n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n Let\u2019s not get anyone in trouble with the coppers.\u00a0<\/p>\n \n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n \n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n As with any other kind of puppy training, lead walking training is easiest with treats and positive reinforcement. Check out our guide to find out how to choose the best treats for your puppy<\/a>.<\/p>\n \n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n Food really can do wonderful things.<\/p>\n \n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n PRO TIP: <\/strong>A treat pouch like this one from Mikki<\/a> will let you have easy access to rewards for your puppy when you\u2019re training them. This also means you\u2019ll no longer have fish-smelling, sticky hands.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n \n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n \n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n \n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n Puppies often communicate how they\u2019re feeling through barking. If they bark on a lead, this will probably mean one of two things:<\/p>\n \n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n \n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n Work out which one it is by reading their body language, and then:<\/p>\n \n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n If it\u2019s fear: <\/strong>Let\u2019s change the association of what\u2019s frightening to at least \u2018not scary\u2019 with some training and desensitisation.<\/p>\n \n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n If it\u2019s excitement:<\/strong> I guess it\u2019s better than fear but still; you\u2019ll need to work on teaching your puppy to be calm around the exciting things to avoid ending up with a noisy, frustrated puppy!<\/p>\n \n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n \n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n Hm, playing tug with the lead might look cute at the start, but it isn\u2019t so fun when the game is never-ending and all you\u2019re trying to do is go for a nice stroll.<\/p>\n \n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n If your puppy thinks quite highly of playing tug with their lead, here\u2019s what you can do:<\/p>\n \n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n 1. Check that the combination of their lead, collar and harness isn\u2019t hurting them.<\/p>\n \n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n 2. Teach them an alternate behavior. For some puppies, this might be teaching them to hold a toy when we walk so that their mouth has something to do, while others do better with a high rate of reward, so going back to working on the basics of lead training a puppy.<\/p>\n \n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n Yanking the lead back will only make them feel the game is getting better, so make sure to fight your temptation to do so. We do understand how hard this might be!\u00a0<\/p>\n \n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n \n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n When can you start lead training a puppy?<\/strong><\/p>\n As soon as they\u2019re home! Start loose lead training a puppy without a collar, harness or lead (when they\u2019re in the full nude) and teach your puppy that walking next to you predicts rewards!<\/p>\n How to know if you have the right lead for your puppy?<\/strong><\/p>\n Small breeds of puppies prefer lighter leads with smaller clips, while larger breeds should have a slightly stronger lead for safety. They can be surprisingly strong, those big puppies.\u00a0<\/p>\n Go for a 2m training lead – they\u2019re ace for switching up the length to what\u2019s right for you and the situation. Too often, I see puppy leads that are too short which make walking stressful and definitely not a walk in the park.<\/p>\n Can I use a retractable lead?<\/strong><\/p>\n Retractable leads serve a purpose…but that purpose is not loose lead walking, sorry!\u00a0 They can teach puppies to pull, and they\u2019re also quite uncomfortable to hold when lead training your puppy.<\/p>\n Retractable leads aren\u2019t terrible though – they can be useful when attached to your puppy\u2019s harness if you\u2019re not so keen to let them off lead, or when there are \u2018dogs must be kept on lead\u2019 signs.\u00a0<\/p>\n How do I stop my dog from pulling on the lead?<\/strong><\/p>\n Well, stop letting them. I know it may sound easier than it seems, but do try to change your direction away from what they want to pull towards. Even if it\u2019s a fish and chips food stall you also want to walk towards.\u00a0<\/p>\n Instead, follow the loose lead walking guide in this article \u2013 what\u2019s important to keep in mind, is that walking next to you should always be more rewarding than the alternative.<\/p>\n What to do if my puppy keeps grabbing and biting at the lead?<\/strong><\/p>\n Teach them to do something else, with help from your treats. For example, teach them that walking next to you gets rewarded, or that when they hold a toy while walking gets them a yummy snack too.\u00a0<\/p>\n Remember to do a quick check for tiredness, pain or over excitement as any of these can cause lead biting too. I also like to bite things when I\u2019m tired.\u00a0<\/p>\n Are training leads good for dogs?<\/strong><\/p>\n Yes. Specifically, a 2m training lead is brilliant because you can do so much with it:\u00a0 alter the length, do hands free walking, and pop it around a chair leg to teach settle training.<\/p>\n A 5 -10m long training lead is super useful for recall training<\/a> – you\u2019ll probably want to look at those later.<\/p>\n How long does it take to lead train a puppy?<\/strong><\/p>\n Well, providing you\u2019re able to get them to never pull, teach them to walk nicely next to you from the beginning, and gradually increase the difficulty of locations and distractions, not that long at all. Sounds like a piece of cake when I put it like that…but it might not be.\u00a0<\/p>\n Of course, hiccups and mistakes will happen along the way, but that\u2019s more than okay. All that matters is to stay consistent and patient – that\u2019s when the best results come about!<\/p>\n What is the best dog training lead?<\/strong><\/p>\n The best dog training lead is one that\u2019s going to be:<\/p>\n And yes, we\u2019re sure you can find bedazzled training leads that fit the criteria above.\u00a0<\/p>\n \n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n We hope our puppy lead training article is of great help to you and your pup\u00a0 \u2013 the days of walks in the park that actually <\/em>feel like walks in the park are just a few days of practice ahead!<\/p>\n \n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n For more detailed lead walking exercises and games, check out the Zigzag app – there\u2019s plenty more to see.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t forget to find out when you can start taking your pup out into the big wide world! Read our guide on when you can take a puppy out safely<\/a>, next.<\/p>\n \n\n\n<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
following the food in your hand and walking with you.<\/p>\n\n
Step 2: Get your puppy dressed!<\/h3>\n
\n
yet, we\u2019ve got good news. You can still start lead training a puppy indoors so\u00a0they start getting the gist of everything, and be unstoppable (in the best way possible) once they\u2019re able to step outside.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\nStep 3 \u2013 Attaching the lead<\/h3>\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/p>\nStep 4 \u2013 Start puppy lead training outside<\/h3>\n
treat.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n
\n
\n
\n
Step 5: Spice it up and change locations.<\/h3>\n
walks to a lot more places than up and down your street.\u00a0<\/p>\n
you\u2019ve always wanted.\u00a0<\/p>\n
predicts rewards,\u00a0and has practiced that
behavior in easy locations first.<\/i><\/strong><\/p>\n
distracted with other things, so best put away your phone. If you\u2019re\u00a0really\u00a0<\/b><\/em>keen on\u00a0having it, then better put some tunes on \u2013 Walk This Way by Run DMC should get\u00a0you in the right mood.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n
What should I do if my puppy pulls on the lead?<\/h3>\n
they want to go faster, so we want to teach them that what happens is actually\u00a0the opposite \u2013 they\u2019ll be going nowhere.\u00a0<\/p>\nWhat should I do if my puppy sits down and won\u2019t walk?<\/h3>\n
\n
If your puppy is worried
about the situation they\u2019re in:<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n
If your puppy doesn\u2019t want to walk, here\u2019s what you can do:<\/h3>\n
\n
always stop and reward them, they can learn that stopping (instead of walking)\u00a0gets <\/i>them rewards. Which is, indeed, the opposite of our\u00a0mission.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\nLet\u2019s talk about puppy lead training equipment:<\/h2>\n
What lead should I get for my puppy?<\/h3>\n
program, we recommend you get a double ended dog training lead (sometimes\u00a0called a police style lead \u2013 as it\u2019s what the boys in blue favour).\u00a0<\/p>\n\n
\n
Should my puppy wear a harness?<\/h3>\n
How do I pick a good harness for my puppy?<\/h3>\n
generally work by restricting your dog\u2019s movement, and causing them discomfort\u00a0or pain if they pull, which we don\u2019t want for your puppy.<\/p>\n
favorites:\u00a0<\/p>\n\n
<\/h2>\nShould my puppy wear a collar?<\/h3>\nAlso, yes \u2013 by law, all dogs in the UK must wear a collar and an ID tag with their owner\u2019s name, address and phone number.\n\u00a0\n
Treats and treat pouch for puppy lead training?<\/h2>\n
\n
Should my puppy wear a collar?<\/h3>\n
Treats and treat pouch<\/h3>\n
\n
<\/figure>\nWhat do I do if my puppy keeps barking during lead training?<\/h3>\n
\n
What do I do if my puppy keeps grabbing and biting at the lead?<\/h3>\n
Lead training a puppy FAQs<\/h2>\n
<\/p>\n\n