Does your dog constantly pull on the leash? Does he always want to head somewhere new, and you still aren’t sure where? Then it’s time for slip leash training. Vely will provide tips you’ll want to follow to help your dog channel their energy and not get distracted by their surroundings.
Vely is a dog mom to our Ambassadors, Wilson and Astrid. She provides training tips to her followers on Instagram, which have helped many dog parents. Her dogs have been trained to be athletes and performers through her positive reinforcement technique. We asked her to share a few tips on leash training for beginners.
START WITH A NO DISTRACTION ZONE
Leash training your dog can be a lot of fun, but it’s important to start in a no distraction environment. This means you should start by training your dog in a quiet location like inside or outside the house. Once your dog is comfortable being around you and other people in a no distraction environment, you can begin training them to walk on a leash. Always start with daily walks and gradually work your way up to longer walks and adventures outside. Make sure to reward your dog for good behavior during training with treats and affection!
LEASH-TRAINING METHOD: USING A SLIP LEAD
I like to leash train my dogs using a slip lead to teach leash pressure. This way, I can give the dog the full leash, letting them get to the very end and pull. As soon as they do that, you stop. I wait for them to release the tension and sometimes they will walk back to you to see why you stopped walking. As soon as they do that, you mark the behavior with a clicker or the word “yes” and offer a reward. This way, they associate the slack leash or release of the pressure with something desirable, like getting a treat.
It’s important to keep close control of them at all times. When they start to pull, stop walking and then change directions. This will confuse them and they will eventually figure out that they need to start following you.
BE ENTHUSIASTIC – A PERSONAL STORY
Being enthusiastic has also proven to motivate the dog. I’ll tell you a recent story. We took our dog Korben to the park to train and he wouldn’t take his kibble for the reward. He always does when we train at home. So, I knew he was having sensory overload which caused him to have too much anxiety to eat. My husband Dan was getting frustrated and I had to remind him you can’t be mad at him for it. So, I took Korbens food and took Korben from Dan and started talking to him in an excited voice and running around back and forth until he stopped paying attention to what was around him and started paying attention to me. I said “yes” and gave him the kibble and he took it. That was all it took to snap him out of it. I told Dan you’ve got to start sounding more enthusiastic to distract him from the environment. He did it and it worked! So, we were able to continue our training session.
For more training tips, follow Vely, Wilson and Astrid on Instagram @Mr.Wilson_ToyAussie
Learn more about Mountain Shiba Ambassadors Wilson and Astrid
