HOW TO TRAIN A DOG TO WALK ON A LEASH
If you have a puppy or an adult who has never been leash trained, begin with short, positive sessions. For most sports, dogs are taught to walk on the handler’s left side, but if you don’t plan to compete and prefer to have your dog on your right, that’s your choice. It is a good idea, though, to teach your dog to stay on one side so that he doesn’t trip you as he runs back and forth.
Begin by capturing your dog’s correct behavior on leash. Even if he’s a whirling dervish or major-league puller, there will be times when he stops the craziness enough to let the leash go slack. He may even turn to look at you (probably to find out why you’re plodding along).
Lure him beside you with a treat. When he takes a few steps in the right place, praise and reward him. Repeat until he stays beside you, slowly increasing the time between treats until he no longer needs to be rewarded. If his weaving or circling is wild enough to pose a risk, shorten your leash so that he has to stay on one side of you, and reward him when he does.
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