If you have gotten a brand new puppy and want to make sure that it is going to succeed, you need to be sure that you take the time to train your puppy to walk on a leash without pulling. If your puppy pulls a lot, he or she will not be easy to walk. This might discourage people from going on walks with him or her, resulting in your puppy not getting as much exercise as he or she needs. Your puppy also might hurt him or herself when he or she pulls. Here are some tips for getting your puppy to walk well on a leash.

1. Let Your Puppy Get Used to the Collar and the Leash

For a day or two before your puppy's first walk, allow him or her to get used to wearing the leash and the collar. Do this for an hour or so each day leading up to the first walk. Give your puppy treats during this time so that your dog associates being on a leash with food and learns to expect pleasure from the experience.

2. Don't Move When Your Puppy Starts Pulling

When your puppy starts pulling on the leash, you need to make sure that you stop moving. Don't allow your puppy to go any further than the length of the leash but also don't tug on the leash. Simply wait until your puppy is done pulling and comes back to you. Then, start walking again. Stand still whenever your puppy starts tugging. Your puppy will eventually get bored with the environment.

3. Choose a Signal

You want to get your dog used to responding to a particular signal. This signal should not be your dog's name or any other commonly used word or sound. Instead, it should be something that your dog will likely only hear in conjunction with coming over to you. For example, associate clicking your tongue with your dog coming to you by spending time clicking your tongue, having your dog respond, and then rewarding that response with a treat. Once you have this behavior established, you will find it much easier to get your dog's attention while you are walking him or her. Make sure that you keep treats in your pocket the first few walks in order to continue to reinforce this behavior.

For more information, talk to a company that specializes in puppy training.

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