Collar and Lead Training a New Puppy

Posted by Deakster on October 28, 2008

Putting a collar and a lead on your new puppy is a must if you want your pet to stay safe, especially when you go strolling.  Even a properly trained dog is prone to accidents if he has no collar or lead.   Collars and leads also provide the necessary identification of your dog in case he goes missing somewhere.

A collar is a primer for a leash. When choosing a collar, look for one that fits your puppy’s size comfortably. Allow some time for your dog to feel the collar until he is comfortable wearing it around his neck. Do not mind your puppy’s restlessness at the onset since he is just reacting to this new thing.

While your puppy is getting used to the collar, just ignore his behavior. Do not punish your dog because of his behavior, whatever this may be. What you should do is distract your puppy’s mind off the collar by giving him treats or playing with him. If he is feeling easy with the collar already, start introducing the leash.

Attach the leash to the collar and see how your dog reacts. Like a collar, allow your puppy to have a feel of it first. It is better to watch your puppy the first time you hook the leash to the collar so it will not get catch on anything. Make sure that your dog is also safe from the leash that can strangle or hurt him given your puppy’s playfulness. Play with your puppy while the leash is on for your pet to know that a leash is nothing to fear.

Since the leash is new, let your dog go the way he wants to go and you should only follow while you hold on to the end of the leash. Let the puppy walk you and not the other way around during the beginning of the training period. Make sure that you do not hurt the dog by tugging the leash. Encourage him with treats to walk toward you. When he does, reward the positive attitude with food or toy. This is positive reinforcement.

Practice your dog on a leash every day, starting around your home or neighborhood to ensure safety first. Your puppy must be familiar with a few distractions first before you spend the training in other places away from home for your pet to get accustomed and react comfortably with people and other animals.

If your pup develops nasty habits in response to the leash, like chewing or biting, drop a few spicy sauces on the collar so your puppy will stop gnawing.