Lisa Gold asked:

You just brought a new puppy home and you think “I should be training my puppy.” Is there a book called Puppy Leash Training Made Simple, you wonder? After all, you know you’ve heard somewhere that leash training is where the puppy training starts.

It is best to teach puppy leash training as soon as you get the puppy, since larger breed dogs will be dragging you down the street when they get bigger and will be harder to train. I know this from past experience.

Some puppies will like the leash because they learn it means they get to go outside and play. Some will **** it and pull hard trying to escape. The key is to make it a positive, rewarding experience. Sometimes it helps to use the leash as a trigger for going outside, with treats involved after you’ve attached the leash and then again when they come inside after going ***.

Some puppies want to chew on the leash. Of course, chewing is a natural instinct for dogs. Substitute a chew toy when he starts this problem or he will be constantly trying to strain around to chew on the leash when it is attached. It’s a bad habit, plus it looks really silly when you’re walking him.

Once your pup has mastered puppy leash training, the next training steps of sit, stay and heel become easier to teach as you will use the leash as a training aide. The puppy training leash is your tool for further training so it’s important to start there.

Remember, most animals learn through consistency in commands in addition to rewards when they do the right thing. Puppy leash training takes a lot of patience on your part. If your puppy is properly trained, you will want to take him out for walks more often. Pleasant walks make for great bonding experiences with your dog and it’s good exercise for the both of you.