Leash Training
Your dog pulls on the leash when you're out for a walk, your hand and arm hurt, you jerk the leash to make the dog understand it shouldn't pull, two seconds later the dog is pulling again and you feel the frustration building up, and you continue like this wondering why it doesn't listen. Phew! Do you recognize yourself?
Training Your Dog to Walk Nicely on a Leash
Leash training can be a sensitive topic, and a dog that walks nicely by your side with the leash loose is something both you and the dog need to practice to become proficient at - this applies to both of you! After all, there are two of you involved in this little power struggle, one at each end, and it's time to start seeing the leash as something that guides your dog. Dogs don't automatically understand that resistance in the collar or harness means they should slow down or stop. This is something we must teach them. On the contrary, dogs often function like those little toy cars you pull backward to make them drive forward - if the dog feels resistance in the collar or harness, their natural reaction is usually to try to get "through" the resistance, and therefore pull even harder. Here are some tips on how you can train your dog to walk nicely on a leash in a pleasant way, and remember, start early with your puppy!
Before You Begin Leash Training Your Dog, Make Sure You Have the Following Equipment:
A comfortable harness or collar - here you can choose from our large selection and find a harness or collar that fits your dog perfectly. The collar or harness should not chafe, tighten or pull. A longer nylon or leather leash usually works best, and avoid retractable leashes during training; you want the dog to be close to you, not three meters ahead or to the side. With a retractable leash, the puppy may also have trouble understanding how far it can actually go - sometimes it's five meters, other times just one meter. You're always welcome in our stores to try out the right equipment!
The right mindset - Before you begin leash training outdoors, make sure you've created the right conditions to make the walk easier. If your dog is stressed, noisy, or scared, there's a high risk that leash training won't go smoothly. Let the dog search for treats (food calms) or do some contact exercises to prepare you for the interaction in leash training. This also applies to your own mindset - harsh words, jerking the leash, swearing, and anything else unpleasant have no place in leash training or in any other situation with your dog, for that matter. If you're grumpy, irritated, or in a bad mood, you should avoid training with your dog, since your dog will notice this. Train when both you and your dog are in a good mood - then you have good conditions for a pleasant time.
And remember, put away your phone and earbuds; now full focus is on you and your relationship!
How Do I Get My Dog to Walk Nicely on a Leash?
Here are some tips on how to proceed:
Reward desired behavior - In this case, you want the leash to be loose, so make sure to reward the dog when the leash is loose, not when the dog is pulling, and absolutely not when the dog starts pulling. What do we mean by reward? It depends entirely on what the dog perceives as a reward. Do you have a food-motivated dog, a picky dog, a dog that doesn't like toys, or a dog that loves balls? You know your dog best, so take advantage of that (if you don't know, you can experiment). Make sure to have a bag of favorite treats, favorite toy, or your most fun tricks ready, so you can reward your dog and show that you're the most fun thing that's happened in a very long time. It should be fun to be near you! Here you'll find our selection of treats and toys.
If the dog pulls - If the dog starts pulling on the leash, which will most likely happen, what should you do then? Stand completely still. Don't move a millimeter, no matter how strong your dog is.
Be consistent - If you let the dog pull where it wants at this point, it will be heavily rewarded, and this is the last thing we want, because it will try and repeat the behavior every time. Again, be consistent and stand firm.
Ignore unwanted behavior - Wait until the leash becomes loose (make sure to pack plenty of patience for this) and then start walking in the direction you want (not where the dog wants).
Reward, reward, reward when the dog does it right! - It's definitely easier to start training on this when the dog is a puppy and doesn't weigh 30 kg.
Attention and obedience - Take advantage of every opportunity when you cross roads, walk over streams, open and close gates - stop, ask the dog to wait, you go ahead and check the situation, make sure it's safe, you're the one who should keep watch, not the dog. Here you're sending signals to your dog that you're the one responsible for their safety and that it's safe and fun to be near you. When it's safe, call your dog, and you can continue the walk. By doing this, the dog will become more attentive and obedient and start to change its view of you (you seem fantastic anyway) - it's exciting and safe at the same time to be near you!
Pace, breaks, and variation - What's the dog's usual pace? Try to follow it, shorten or lengthen your steps, but don't run. This way you increase the chances of successful training even further.
Build the relationship with your dog - Going for a walk with you should be fun! Do you usually just walk and walk, often the same route? Be varied, stop, be fun, have a good time, search for treats in tall grass somewhere, deviate from the usual path, sit on a bench and soak in the atmosphere. Help your dog - if a leaf gets stuck in its fur during the walk that bothers the dog, you're quickly there to remove it. The walk shouldn't just mean full speed or going from one pee spot to another. It can also mean a cozy cuddle session, looking for treats, or why not seize the chance to win the prize for "Owner of the Year" by "finding" the favorite toy in the middle of the forest in front of your dog's eyes - wow! This will strengthen your relationship and make the dog see you in a different light - as a leader who hasn't taken leadership but has actually earned it. Here we can actually learn a lot from our dogs; they live in the moment, while we often live in the past or future or in a very stressful present. Take time to stop and enjoy the moment with your dog!
Eye contact - Does the dog prefer to walk with its nose down, have full control of the dog 300 meters away, or totally ignore you when you try to make contact with it? Then it might be time to practice eye contact. Reward quickly as soon as the dog seeks contact with you - if it turns and looks you in the eyes, reward. When the dog seeks contact with you, turn around and let the dog walk around you and seek contact, reward. Pretty quickly the dog will understand that exciting things happen and that it gets rewarded when it seeks contact with its owner. This is fun and feels good!
What happens when you jerk the leash, get angry at your dog, and have harsh words for it? The dog will try to get away from the unpleasantness and pulls on the leash. The dog also learns that it's unpleasant to be near you, and that it hurts, which makes it pull on the leash. The relationship between you deteriorates - it's not pleasant to be near someone who scolds you and treats you badly. It's with the owner that the dog should be able to feel safe and cared for. The dog usually also learns what's unpleasant, but not what you want it to do instead, because you haven't explained it.
This relationship with your dog is built on dominance, "you shall do as I say, or else...". Another approach (supported by science) is to build the relationship on leadership, "if you choose to follow me, I'll make sure you're well taken care of". In the first approach, one has taken the right, while in the second, one has earned it. Which approach to your dog do you choose?
Dog That Pulls on the Leash
Do you have a dog that pulls on the leash? If your dog pulls on the leash, you should stand completely still and wait until the leash becomes loose. Reward your dog when it stops pulling, and continue walking in the direction you've planned, not where the dog wants to go.
If Your Dog Refuses to Walk
There are several reasons why a dog may refuse to go for a walk, and it's often related to stress. It could be because the dog doesn't feel safe in the surroundings or that there are strange sounds like traffic or many people. As a dog owner, you must show the dog that it's safe as long as you're there, and that you show the way forward. Start with short walks so the dog doesn't become overwhelmed, and don't force the dog to go for a walk if it doesn't want to.
If your dog previously enjoyed going for walks but suddenly refuses to go, it may be wise to check if the dog has sores on its paws or other pains that require veterinary treatment. In winter, the dog may refuse to walk if it's freezing and the cold ground hurts its paws - make sure the paws are warm and protect them with dog boots.
Puppy Leash Training
The puppy doesn't understand at first that it's connected to the human via the leash. For the puppy, it's just a strange cord that creates unexpected pressure against the body. That feeling can make the puppy try to escape the pressure, either by pulling harder or by sitting down in pure amazement. Since the puppy isn't used to walking on a leash, you need to start training early.
When the dog has learned to walk on a leash without pulling, your walks will be fantastic. A dog that constantly pulls on the leash easily gets muscle pain from all the exertion. It's also not safe for others to be around a dog you don't have control over when you're out among people. Therefore, you should start leash training right now. But how do you do it?
When can a puppy start going for walks? Going for walks, or going out, with the puppy is important regardless of the puppy's age. A dog likes to go out to explore its environment and be stimulated, while also needing to do its business. But remember that a small puppy can't, and shouldn't, walk as far as an adult dog.
Teaching the Puppy to Walk on a Leash - Here's How!
It's a great achievement when the dog can walk nicely on a leash. This requires a lot of patience and self-control from you, but a consistent effort will really pay off, and you'll be able to enjoy walks together.
Step 1: Start leash training indoors
Always start leash training indoors - and without a leash! First encourage the puppy to stay close to you by rewarding it with treats. Let the dog move freely in the room and give it treats and praise when it stays close to you. Most dogs quickly learn that it pays to stay close to the owner. When the puppy has been beside you for a while, take a step and call it to you. Usually, the puppy will naturally follow along. Reward immediately and repeat the exercise. Remember to take breaks now and then.
When the dog spontaneously responds to your movements by following you, you can increase the number of steps and pace. For example, one slow step and reward, three quick steps and reward, then two, five, and so on. Then the dog must be attentive since it can't predict exactly when the reward will come.
Step 2: Walk at heel indoors
When the puppy has learned to walk beside you indoors for several steps without a leash, you can attach it to a harness or a collar that doesn't tighten. Then start walking and call the puppy, just as you did without a leash. If the puppy starts pulling on the leash away from you, wait until it stops pulling and looks at you. Release the leash at the same moment and reward the puppy with a treat. Then immediately call the puppy, take one or a couple of steps, and reward when the puppy follows you.
Step 3: Leash training outdoors in a familiar place
When the puppy walks nicely on a leash indoors, it's time to go out to the garden and train. Find a place that's familiar to the puppy and as peaceful as possible, with few distractions. Keep the exercises short and quick in the beginning, as the puppy's concentration ability is quite limited.
Training outdoors is completely new for the puppy. Even though the puppy can walk nicely inside at home, you must always make sure to make exercises in a new setting a bit easier. Start by rewarding the puppy for staying close to you, and continue the exercise the same way as indoors. Such training provides frequent rewards, which makes the puppy learn faster. Too high expectations can lead to frustration for both the puppy and you.
Walking with a Puppy That Isn't Fully Leash Trained
Most puppies must walk on a leash even before training is completely finished, since we don't want them to run away. It's important to remember that the puppy should never be allowed to move forward when it's pulling on the leash. If the dog runs in all directions with a tight leash, stop and wait until it stops pulling and looks at you. Then you can release the leash, reward the puppy, and call it. Walk quickly and reward the puppy again when it stays close to you and doesn't pull to the side. You can use a fairly long leash for bathroom breaks, so the dog can't easily pull on it, and the training becomes more consistent.
How Long Should I Walk with the Puppy?
How long you walk with the puppy depends largely on the puppy's age and breed. A rule of thumb is to keep walks as many minutes as the puppy is old in weeks, that is, 4-5 minutes per month of age. In addition, the puppy should not be subjected to intense physical exertion such as jumping, running, or many stairs, to minimize damage to joints and skeleton, as they're still growing.
My Puppy Comes When I Call It, But I Can't Attach the Leash - What Should I Do?
If you need to have the puppy on a leash, try to do it without calling it. Just walk beside it, and when it's sniffing the ground or looking around, attach the leash calmly. Give it a treat immediately when you've attached the leash. If this trick doesn't work, call your dog (if it can come when you call) and lay out treats on the ground around you. While the dog is sniffing and eating them, attach the leash in a calm manner. You can also combine a word with the activity, for example say "leash" (while attaching the leash) and give the dog a treat immediately afterward. When this is repeated, the puppy will learn that "leash" means treat! This will make it easier to attach the leash, and you avoid unwanted games.
Can My Puppy Greet Other Dogs When on a Leash?
If you as a dog owner want to let your dog greet someone else's dog, you must always ask for permission. Every dog has its own personality, and not all dogs necessarily like other dogs. You also don't know if the other dog has had bad experiences with dog encounters and therefore may be insecure or scared. Many times, owners of sick dogs, bitches in heat, or older dogs also want to avoid encounters. If the other dog owner thinks it's okay for the dogs to greet each other, they can be allowed to sniff each other and play. Remember, however, that if you let your dog greet all dogs, it may expect to greet everyone and anyone. This can lead to the dog reacting every time you pass another dog or person and wants to greet and play. The most important thing is to teach your puppy to be able to pass someone without barking or pulling on the leash, rather than the dog getting to greet everyone.
Can I Let My Puppy Run Loose?
In densely populated areas, you should keep your dog on a leash. Even outside the city, you should be careful about where you let the dog run loose. A calm open space far from roads, or a quiet forest path, tend to be safe places for the dog to run loose. Between April 1st and August 20th, there's a leash law in Norway.
Tips for those who let their puppy run loose:
If the puppy walks away from you, don't go after it. Instead, call the puppy in a happy way, and when it looks at you, move quickly away from it. Then the little puppy will run after you. Praise it thoroughly and reward it with treats when it comes to you. It's important to teach the puppy that it should follow you, not the other way around.
Never run after a puppy running freely, unless it's an acute emergency!
Change direction suddenly without saying anything to the puppy - this way it learns to keep an eye on you - otherwise it might think you want to play!
Hide occasionally behind a tree or rock and let the puppy search for you. Don't hide in such a difficult place that the puppy becomes worried. Reward it with positive praise and a treat when it finds you.
How to Handle It If Your Puppy Runs Away:
It happens that eager puppies run away - it's of course scary and stressful. Most come back within a few hours.
Contact DyreID.no and inform them that the dog is missing. Make sure your information is updated so you can be contacted if someone finds the dog.
Call the police and report the puppy as missing.
Talk to neighbors and passersby. Hang up flyers where you're looking for the dog. Advertise for the dog in the local newspaper and on the internet, for example in Facebook groups, bulletin boards, etc.
If you feel that leash training is overwhelming, make sure to get help from a dog trainer who works with positive reinforcement. You want to have a pleasant relationship and pleasant moments together. We wish you good luck, and don't hesitate to contact us or visit the store for more advice!