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Home » Expert Dog Training Articles » Walking Your Puppy or Dog

Walking Your Puppy or Dog

03/05/2014 By ross Leave a Comment

barking-dogPulling on the lead.

From your dogs perspective.

I have to drag him to the park every day and he gets heavier and heaver. He shouts and carries on all the time. I am obviously not going quickly enough.

He puts this horrible chain round my neck and it gets tighter and tighter, I don’t mind telling you sometimes I feel I am going to choke to death, A chain lead is no help he keeps  banging that on my ear, I am so desperate to get  to the park so he will calm down.

I really don’t think I can keep this up much longer but he must be desperate to get there the way he shouts, sometimes he yells and screams, goodness know what people must think. I feel ashamed to be out with him some times.

He never stops until we get to the park and then he shuts up. He’s as happy as anything round the park so what’s a dog supposed to do,  I’ll just have to keep trying to get him there quicker every day.

Some Tips on Walking Your Dog

If you allow your dog to pull on the lead, he will believe that is how to get you moving quickly to the place he wants to go.

Never allow him to put tension on the lead, stop, say nothing, bring him back to the side of you praise and set off. You will need a lot of patience but it is worth it.

Alternatively each time your dog gets to the end of the lead, about turn smartly and go the other way, so that he is behind you.

Please do not use chain collars or leads on your dog. The chain collar will damage his throat and can pull on the vertebra. If you were to shave the fur from around your dog’s neck  you would see the bruising this type of collar causes.

The chain lead is noisy banging on your dog’s ear. Most dogs are really sound sensitive and a chain lead will just make your dog try harder to move away from you. I use a soft padded webbing lead, kind to my hands and silent on the dog.

There are lots of different types of collars and leads. I prefer a static harness for safety.

You must remember that whatever your dog is wearing when out, he must have a collar on with a tag giving  your name address and phone number on, I also have my mobile number on my dog’s collars, if they are lost I will be out looking for them.

It is illegal to be out in any public place without this information on your dog’s collar.

Tips For Walking Your New Puppy

Pulling on the lead  is a very frequent problem I am asked about, but dogs who do not want to walk out  on a lead are very common too.

New puppy owners are amazed that their puppy does not want to go for a walk.

When I tell them that this problem is very normal  in young puppies, they are  surprised.

The problem is usually   caused because pups  are not exposed to the outside world until they are about fourteen weeks old, after vaccinations, Taking puppy out into the big wide world can be a very frightening experience. The puppy will normally lie down once outside the gate and pull back on the lead. The worst thing an owner can do is to try and drag the puppy along.

Puppies need to know that the outside world is an exciting  place to be, if they associate  harsh pulling at the neck they will become more afraid.

Start by taking pup to your gate or just outside your door and let him settle down, don’t smother him with handling  if you need to stroke do this calmly and slowly, a titbit every now and again if your pup will take one.

Stay close to home and safety until your puppy begins to relax and then try a step out on to the pavement, never force the pup, and never try too hard to encourage, this can  worry a puppy take it calmly and quietly.

When puppy  relaxes on the pavement outside your home and begins to show interest in things that are happing around him, pick him up and walk two or three yards away from your home, put puppy down and walk back home.

Never ever put pressure on your puppy to walk, most puppies will want to walk back home to their safety area, if pup doesn’t want to move  you have rushed the  training, go back to the beginning.

Repeat this taking the puppy in and out of the house, out of the gate pick up and walk two to three yards first in one direction and then in the other, always walk back home unless the pup wants to stay out.

Continue extending the distance from home, always picking him up and walking away, putting down and walking back, do this from different  directions first go left then right and then from across the road,

When your puppy has the confidence to walk a few yards himself  you can  extend the area. If you have a park within walking distance,  take him by car and walk home.

If you have any problems walking your puppy or adult dog I am happy to give free advise. give me a call or send an email.

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