Contributed by Angie Lewis, Alaska Animal Advocates
Walking a well-behaved dog is a true pleasure when she has good leash manners. When those manners are missing, it can, at the least, be embarrassing and at worst be very dangerous – for both dog and human.
Using treats to encourage appropriate behavior is a very positive strategy. Before you panic about how much weight your dog might gain – remember that you are in charge of the treat bag. You can purchase treat bags at any pet supply store. Break treats into tiny pieces, so that they will last. A tasty morsel, not a full meal. As your puppy gets older, you can give less treats. Also, use verbal reinforcement.
Talk to your dog, using consistent terminology: Soon your dog will begin to understand what you expect from her. Place a leash, collar/harness on your dog while inside your house. Let your pup wear these in the house for a short time so that she knows what it feels like. If she protests, provide some treats. Make your puppy come to you and have her sit in front of you. Remember that puppies have a short attention span, so keep your sessions short, and end them when your puppy is still eager to do more, not when he’s mentally exhausted.
Practice inside: Now that your puppy understands how to come to you, practice walking a few steps in a room with little distraction. Feeling and seeing the leash around her will be enough of a challenge. Offer treats and praise as your puppy gets used to coming to you, as described above, with a leash on.
Take it outside: When you feel that your puppy is ready, take her outside in a fenced-in area or use a long rope to restrain her. There will be new challenges with this step because all the sounds, smells and sights your puppy encounters will be intriguing and new to her. Be patient and keep the first walks short. While you’re on a walk, if your puppy looks as if she’s about to lunge toward something or is about to get distracted , make a cue sound and move a few steps away. Then reward her with a treat for following you. Make a higher-pitched sound and act excited. You have to be more exciting than the many fascinating things around you.
Problems will arise: As puppies get older, they are more aware of their surroundings and distractions are more problematic. When your puppy pulls, do not yank at her, but rather stand as still as a tree. Refuse to move until she comes back to you. Never pull or yank on the leash. There are leashes and collars that discourage these behaviors. Talk to a veterinarian or pet supply staff member that can offer a wealth of knowledge. If your dog lunges after another dog, or a bicycle, try to get her attention before she tries to go after the temptation. Redirection works really well. Let part of your dog’s walk be a time to check out her surroundings. Enjoy your walks - it is one of the best bonding experiences.