Common Mistakes People Make When Training Puppies On A Leash
Posted on: 26 July 2016
There are a few mistakes people make when training puppies to be obedient when on a leash or harness. Here are some examples of these mistakes including what you can do to correct the mistakes and end up with a trained puppy in a quicker amount of time.
Using Choke Collars
This is just a bad idea for a puppy. You'll make the dog angry, and in many cases, this will end up with the opposite result of what you want. Either the dog will become more aggressive or else it will be subduing and the puppy will act depressed and fearful around you.
Yanking and Pulling on the Neck
It's better to use a harness than a collar. This way, you can pull gently without causing discomfort to the puppy. It's much better to start with the harness so that the dog can learn leash manners before you move on to using a regular collar. The harness will allow you a modicum of control without teaching the puppy fear or giving it too much discomfort.
Letting Puppies Walk on Either Side
It doesn't matter which side you choose. You can choose whichever side is more comfortable for you. Most people choose the left side. But after you've chosen a side, you need to stick with it. Otherwise, you'll be encouraging your puppy to run circles around you, causing you to trip.
Rewarding Pulling
If you just let a puppy go wherever it wants, then you'll be rewarding its pulling. The puppy doesn't understand the dangers of the world the way that you do. It won't understand how dangerous it is to run into the street or across a park unattended due to other dogs or people. It's also true that the puppy won't understand the danger that getting separated from you poses.
It's not like it will necessarily know or want to know how to fend for itself. So, you need to teach it to stop when you stop. You don't need to yank or pull, you just need to remain immobile. You should communicate to your puppy that you won't continue on until the pulling stops. You can even start walking in the opposite direction slowly, which should help encourage the puppy to listen to you.
Overall, the important thing is to train puppies with a harness using a gentle but firm manner. You'll be glad you did in the long run.
For more information, contact professionals like Anytime Pet Products.
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