Dog Collar and Lead Training

Training your new puppy to accept the collar and lead

Dog collar and lead training is a must for every dog. Even the best trained dog should never be taken outside the home or yard without a sturdy collar and leash.  Walking on a collar and lead is an important skill that every dog must learn. Even if your dog is trained  to go off lead, accidents and distractions do happen, and a collar, with proper identification attached, is the best way to be sure you will get your beloved companion back.

Before you can properly train your new puppy to accept a leash, he or she must first learn to willingly accept wearing a collar.  Begin by picking out a collar that fits the dog properly.  Measure the puppy's neck, and opt for a collar size accordingly.  After the collar has been put on the puppy, simply let him or her get used to it.  It is not unusual for a puppy to try to pull on the collar, whine, roll or squirm when first introduced to a collar. 

If the pup does that, merely ignore the puppy and let him or her effectively get used to the collar.  It is an error to either punish the dog for playing with the collar or to encourage the behavior.  Distracting the puppy often helps, and playing with a favorite toy, or eating some favorite treats, can help the puppy quickly forget that he or she is donning this strange piece of device

Once the dog has learned to willingly accept the collar, try adding the leash.  Hook the leash to the collar and simply sit and watch the puppy.  Obviously, this should only be done either in the house, or in a confined outdoor area.  The pup should be permitted to pull the leash around on its own, but of course the owner should keep a close eye on the puppy to ensure that the leash does not become snagged or hung up on anything.

On the onset, the leash should only be left on for a couple of minutes at a time.  It is a good idea to attach the leash at mealtimes, playtime and other positive times in the life of the puppy.  That way the pup will start to associate the leash with good things and look forward to it.  If the puppy shows a high degree of fear of the leash, it is a good idea to lay it next to the food bowl for a moment to let him get used to it slowly.  Finally, he will come to realize that the leash is nothing to be afraid of.

After the pup is at ease with walking around the house donning the leash, it is time for you to pick up the end of the leash for a few minutes.  You should not try to walk the puppy on the leash; simply hold the end of the leash and follow the puppy around as he or she walks around.  You should try to steer clear of situations where the leash becomes taut and any pulling or straining on the leash should be avoided.  It is fine for the pup to sit down.  Try a few games with the collar and lead.  For example, back up and persuade the puppy to walk toward you.  Don't drags the puppy forward; simply encourages him to come to you.  If he does, praise him profusely and reward him with a food treat or toy.  You should always try hard to make all the time spent on the leash as enjoyable as doable.

With dog collar and lead training as in other thing, practice makes perfect. It is imperative to offer the puppy plenty of practice in getting used to walking on the leash in the home.  It is excellent to do plenty of work in the home, since it is a secure environment with few distractions.  After the puppy is at ease walking indoors on a leash, it is time to start going outside, beginning of course in a small, enclosed area like a fenced yard.  After the puppy has learned walking calmly outdoors on a leash, it is time to visit some places where there are more distractions.  You may want to start with a place like a neighbor's yard.  Walking your new puppy about the neighborhood is a good way to introduce your neighbors to the new puppy, while giving the puppy valuable experience in avoiding distractions and concentrating on his leash instruction.

Puppies now and then develop bad habits with their leashes, such as biting or chewing on the leash.  To depress this type of behavior, try applying a little bit of bitter apple, sauce or similar substance (just make sure the substance you use is not toxic to dogs).  This tactic more often than not convinces puppies that chewing the leash is a bad proposal.