Who is going for a walk with whom?
Some dogs pull their owner behind them like a husky pulls a sled.
The magic word is walking on a leash.
Zernien - The ProHunde trade association for professional dog training, behavioral advice, services e.
V. unites dog trainers, dog schools and dog walkers with the aim of improving dog ownership and professional care.
Being on the leash is just as important for the professionals as it is for every dog owner.
In dog training, there are different approaches to teach the dog to walk properly on a leash.
Dog training and walking on a leash: So that walking doesn't become a struggle
When the little puppy takes its first clumsy steps in its new home, the world is still pink for the new dog owner.
Even if the first problems with the leash appear after a few days or weeks, the offspring is usually still so small that the human at the other end of the leash can easily cope with it.
However, the larger the four-legged friend becomes, the more obvious the difficulties become.
A dog that weighs 30 kilograms fully in the collar and leash not only damages itself, but also its people due to the constant tensile stress.
Hand, elbow and shoulder problems can arise.
It is therefore important to address the issue of walking on a leash at an early stage.
Leash training in dog training: exercises for puppies
The younger the puppy, the shorter the walk.
The basic rule is that a puppy or young dog should never be on a leash for more than five minutes per month.
Whenever possible, he should run free.
Being on a leash with such a curious little dog is not easy.
However, one thing must be taken into account: If the dog pulls, you can't go any further.
Only when the train stops does the walk continue.
In the best case, the puppy learns early on that pulling will not get him to his goal.
However, this basic exercise does not work for every puppy.
For many dogs, targeted dog training to be able to walk on a leash is later necessary.
Positive dog training: Leash leadership, methods & dog school
Modern training methods rely on positive reinforcement, praise and guidelines that are easy for the dog to understand.
Dog schools use different approaches.
Some of the most popular leash training methods include:
Food: The dog follows a previously shown reward or the hand with the treat and therefore remains next to its human.
Change of direction: If the dog runs in front of the people, you change direction in order to get back in front of the dog.
The dog follows again.
Stand still: As soon as a train comes on the leash or the dog overtakes the human, you stop.
If the dog is standing too, you can continue.
Blocking: Overtaking is blocked so that the dog learns to always walk diagonally behind the human.
Absolute consistency as well as fairness and calmness in training are decisive for all methods.
A good dog school pays attention to a positive approach to learning and dog-friendly interaction with the four-legged friends.
Dog training to be on a leash: Tips for everyday life
Many of these methods are feasible in dog training for walking on a leash, but not practical for everyday use - until the dog has learned to walk properly on the leash.
The following tips can help you bridge this time:
Harness and collar: The leash is attached to the collar during training and to the harness in everyday life.
Leash on the harness means that pulling is allowed.
Double Leash: Some harnesses have a ring on the chest in addition to the ring on the back.
If the leash is attached there, the dog can only pull badly and often walks better on the leash.
Many trainers offer individual lessons on site to practice walking the dog on a leash in everyday life.
