Leash Training a Puppy in 4 Steps

Puppies have a lot to learn and a short amount of time to learn it. One thing all puppies must learn to do is how to walk on a leash. Unfortunately, walking on a leash feels unnatural to puppies who want to play and run around on their own. Luckily, all puppies can be trained how to walk on a leash. Leash skills are incredibly important for puppies and their pet parents. Being able to walk nicely without pulling can help you build a happy, healthy relationship with your pet.

We’ve all seen dogs who can walk properly on a leash and those who seem to walk their owners. Fortunately, leash training a puppy can help prevent pulling, lunging, and a refusal to walk. If you're interested in learning how to train a puppy to walk on a leash, this article will discuss everything you need to know about leash training. Whether you want to find out when to start training your pup or helpful tips, we've got you covered.

• When to Start Leash Training a Puppy
• How to Leash Train a Puppy
• Puppy Leash Training Tips
• Training Puppy on Leash: Frequently Asked Questions
• Final Notes

When to Start Leash Training a Puppy

Puppies can begin getting accustomed to wearing a leash as soon as you bring them home. Most puppies can leave their mothers and come home with you at around eight or nine weeks. This is good news because puppies can learn faster than older dogs, making training a smoother process. The earlier you start house training, teaching basic dog commands, and socializing your puppy, the faster they’ll be able to learn. 

Leash training is essential for all dogs and their pet parents. Many municipalities have leash laws, which means your dog must be on a leash in most public spaces. Additionally, your puppy should get used to leashes since they’ll need them at the vet’s office, groomers, pet stores, and parks. Of course, some parks allow for off-leash play, but your dog should still be comfortable wearing and walking with a leash.

Leash training also allows you to have stress-free walks. If your dog is stressed on walks because of their leash, they’ll pull, bark, lunge, and may even snap at other people and dogs. Leash aggression is common in dogs that haven’t been appropriately trained, and it can make walking unpleasant for both of you. 

Additionally, leash training your puppy can be a building block for other types of training to promote healthy relationships between your dog and others. Walking on a leash teaches dogs discipline and cooperation. It can also prevent dogs from getting hurt. If your dog pulls on a leash, you can trip over them, or they can hurt themselves trying to run towards another dog they want to greet. If your dog is limping during your walk, it’s best to take them home to rest. Proper training can help prevent avoidable injuries for you and them. 

How to Leash Train a Puppy

Leash training a puppy takes time. Don’t expect your new dog to walk nicely on a leash the first time they do it. Instead, be ready to practice patience with them. If your puppy has never walked on a leash, they might be confused by it, so it’s best to start slowly. To get started, here are a few steps that can help you leash train your puppy.

Step 1: Pick the right harness, collar, and leash

Finding the right harness, collar, and leash is necessary when teaching your puppy how to walk on a leash. Your dog’s harness should be tight enough to hold them but not too tight that it’s uncomfortable. If your dog is wearing a collar, the collar should also not choke them. It’s typically best to start training your puppy to walk on a leash with a harness since many puppies are prone to pulling, which can choke them if you attach the leash to a collar. There are many different types of harnesses and collars available, including:

• Head collars: Head collars go over your puppy’s mouth, like a muzzle, and control the head.¹ These collars are ideal for controlling your dog’s head to prevent pulling on walks. Additionally, they can help reactive dogs who suffer from anxiety-related aggression because they allow the owner to redirect the dog’s attention easily. 
• Front & back attachment harnesses: Harnesses are ideal for preventing pain or injury from pulling. However, harnesses don’t necessarily prevent pulling; they simply give the owner a little bit more control. On the other hand, front attachment harnesses are designed to deter pulling, but many dogs can still pull.¹ 
• Flat collars: Flat collars are some of the most common collars for dogs because they’re the easiest to use, and your dog can comfortably wear one all day. However, collars can choke your dog if they pull.

Aversive training collars are also available. However, choke and prong collars aren’t recommended because they can harm your dog and affect the relationship you share with them. Here are examples of collars to avoid:

• Choke collars: Also called training collars, choke collars are used to teach a dog to stop pulling by squeezing their throat. Choke collars can be dangerous and can cause neck injury if misused.¹
• Prong collars: Prong collars are similar to choke collars in that they’re difficult to use correctly and can cause discomfort and even injury to dogs who pull on walks.¹ Prong collars physically hurt dogs, which is never recommended and can cause anxiety and other behavioral issues. Moreover, your dog can associate walks and leashes with negative experiences, which can cause stress-related reactivity towards you, other people, and other animals on walks.

There are also many different types of leashes available to purchase, with the most common being 6-ft leashes and retractable leashes. When training your puppy, it’s typically best to get a non-retractable leash to give you more control over their actions. Additionally, regular leashes can be held tighter, so your dog will never be able to pull the leash out of your hand accidentally. Retractable leashes can also encourage pulling and cause owners to lose control of their pets while on walks. 

Step 2: Introduce the leash 

Introducing the leash to your puppy is key. You want your dog to associate their leash with a positive experience and reduce any fear or anxiety they have. You can start to introduce your dog to their walking supplies, including harness, collar, and leash, as soon as you bring them home. Let your dog wear their harness or collar around the home to get used to the feeling. 

Once the collar and harness are properly on your dog, reward your dog for good behavior. You can also attach the leash and reward your dog again. Every time you put the collar, harness, or leash on your dog, reward them so that they associate their walking tools with food and a positive experience. 

Step 3: Practice walking inside 

Now that your dog is comfortable wearing a harness, collar, and leash, you can start training them inside. Training your dog to walk inside will help them learn how to walk on a leash without the distractions of the outdoors. As your dog walks on their leash, praise them and give them treats.² You can also start to teach them how to walk close to your side instead of in front or behind you. 

Step 4: Take what you’ve learned and head outside

After a few days of getting used to walking inside, your dog is ready to go outside. When walking your dog outside on a leash, don’t expect them to do as well as they did indoors. Bringing your dog outside for training can take them from an A student to a D student because of all the fun distractions, such as the smell of grass, other people, and the sight of potential canine friends. 

Start with short training sessions outside to not overwhelm your dog.² They can only learn so much in a single session. Instead, consider walking your dog up and down the same stretch of sidewalk to get them used to the area. Always reward good behavior; if your dog starts walking next to you, praise them and give them a treat. 

If your dog becomes overly excited and starts to bark, jump, or lunge, get their attention and have them follow you for a few seconds before giving them a treat.² Remember, dogs can only learn for so long, so it’s best to only spend a few minutes outside at a time and give them time to rest. 

Have patience with your puppy; learning how to walk on a leash can be difficult for them because they’re used to romping around inside. If your dog has difficulty learning how to walk on a leash, never yell at them or punish them. Instead, reward good behavior with treats and praise to help them understand what behavior is acceptable. 

Puppy Leash Training Tips

Leash training takes time, effort, and a lot of patience from pet parents. Here are a few leash training tips to help you on your journey. 

Don’t yank your dog if they begin to pull

When dogs pull on a leash, it’s tempting to yank them back. However, pulling on your dog can frustrate them because they don’t know what they’re doing wrong. If they’re wearing a collar, yanking on their leash can also hurt them. Instead, try standing still when your dog begins to pull.² Standing still will prevent your dog from being able to pull you while also showing them that they aren’t the leader of the walk. When your dog walks back to you, you can resume the walk.²

You may have to stand there for a while since many dogs can be stubborn and choose to ignore you or sniff the nearby grass. If your dog isn’t coming back to you, try to see if you can get their attention by calling their name and having them come to you. Even if your dog doesn’t yet know all the basic dog commands, you can still help them learn their name and how to come when called while working on leash training. 

Be proactive

Always be protective and introduce new experiences to your dog slowly. If your dog lunges or barks at someone on a walk, try to redirect their attention back to you as soon as possible while increasing the distance between your dog and the thing he barked at.² 

Remember, dogs can be wary of new people and animals, so never let your dog walk up to a stranger on a walk. Instead, watch your dog so you can see if they’re exhibiting any signs of anxiety or stress that might make them lunge. 

Tire your dog before the walk

Puppies have plenty of energy that can keep them distracted while learning how to walk on a leash. Tiring your dog out can help them focus on the training instead of all the sights, sounds, and smells outside. Additionally, leash reactivity can occur when dogs don’t get enough mental stimulation or physical exercise.³

You can help your pet remain calm on walks by burning some of their excess energy before walks through treat-dispensing toys, long exercise sessions, or running around the backyard.

Remain patient

Puppies need time to learn about new experiences, people, places, and other animals. Don’t expect your dog to walk properly on a leash right away. Instead, be patient and never scold or punish them for bad behavior. Make sure to reward any good behavior to help your dog learn faster. 

Get professional help

Many dogs have leash and fear-based aggression that can make them bark, growl, and lunge at people and animals on walks. If this is the case, it’s a good idea to get help. If you’ve tried everything and walking your dog is stressful because of their behavior, consult a vet behaviorist or trainer who can work with you and your dog to teach them how to walk on a leash. 

Training Puppy on Leash: Frequently Asked Questions

Is leash training beneficial for puppies?

Yes, leash training can lay the foundation for other types of training to help your dog learn faster. Additionally, teaching your dog to walk on a leash can strengthen your bond. 

Can I start leash training my puppy at 8 weeks?

Yes, many puppies begin leash training at 8 weeks after being brought home. The earlier you start training your puppy, the faster they’ll learn. 

Should I let my puppy sniff during leash training?

Yes, sniffing should be allowed on walks during training. Sniffing provides mental stimulation and can help your new dog learn about their environment. 

Final Notes

Leash training a puppy takes time and effort; no puppy can be trained in a single day. However, with patience and daily training sessions, your puppy will learn how to walk on a leash nicely. Unfortunately, some dogs have difficulty walking on a leash and may become aggressive. Dogs with anxiety or those that have been abused may lunge at strangers and other animals on walks. If your dog is aggressive on walks, talk to a vet behaviorist as soon as possible. 

A Dutch-affiliated vet can help diagnose and treat your dog’s underlying anxiety, which may be the cause of stressful walks. With proper treatment and behavior modification, you can help your dog manage their fears of people or other animals to make walks a more enjoyable experience. The best part is that Dutch offers telemedicine for pets, which can help anxious dogs avoid uncomfortable trips to the vet.