In the long history of people and dogs, the leash and leash walking are relatively new inventions designed for convenience and safety. Leash training methods are necessary for older puppies — though humans walk in straight lines, restricted, linear walks are unnatural to puppies, who prefer to meander and explore.
Your puppy will pull on the leash in an effort to increase the meandering. You will pull back, increasing the restricting. This combination of pulling away and pulling back puts pressure on your puppy’s collar and she’ll start to choke and feel very, very anxious.
Walks should bring about the calm you experience when walking hand-in-hand with someone you care about. It is a learned habit: Getting it right takes some practice and the right leash and training restraint.
The teaching lead
As your puppy matures, she’ll want to hang with you when you’re home. Simply dismantling the gates to allow her to follow you isn’t the answer, because a young puppy gets overwhelmed with too much freedom, even inside the house. Although many gadgets can help you highlight your puppy’s cooperation, the sooner you move beyond the confines of the kitchen, the better.
One quick and easy system to give you control over your pup while giving her freedom to stay with you is keeping her on a lead. You can use a teaching lead, which is like a cross between a belt and leash and can be worn or easily attached to immovable objects to encourage your puppy to “Stay.”
Seat belt safety lead (SBSL)
A seat belt safety lead can be used in the car or left secured to your puppy’s collar for quick control. Letting your puppy ride in your lap or hang her body halfway out the window when you drive may seem fun, but it’s really a bad idea. You should confine your puppy while driving. It’s safer for you, your puppy, and other motorists.
You can put your puppy in a crate in the back seat or you can secure your puppy with an SBSL. The handle of the lead, which attaches through the seat belt itself, protects puppies in the same way a seat belt protects people.
Retractable leashes
Retractable leashes are fun when used in the right setting, such as meandering on a beach or in open field. The longer, the better. Initially, this leash is great for exercising. Your puppy can run like mad while you stand there reading the morning newspaper. When you progress to off-leash work, the retractable leash is a staple.
Don’t use a retractable leash near roads or heavily populated areas. Its high-tech design takes getting used to, and even a seasoned pro can lose hold of the slack. If you’re out with other people, watch their legs. If a person gets sandwiched between you and your prancing puppy, he’s in for a rope burn.
