Following: On the Leash
Getting your puppy to follow you, on and off the leash, requires a lot of time and patience, but the degree of control you will achieve over your puppy, especially when you are outdoors walking among strangers, will amply reward all the effort and perseverance you put in now.
Your puppy must learn that if he pulls, you will always stand still and no forward progress will be made, but that if the leash is loose he will continue on his walk, which is what he wants. If you haven’t got time to leash train properly because you are in a hurry to get somewhere, try using a harness instead of a collar. This will help your puppy to learn that pulling on a harness is fine, but pulling on a collar doesn’t work because it makes you stop and stand still.
Step 1
With your puppy on a loose leash, show him that you have a treat in your hand, while keeping the clicker handy, too. Call his name and take two, three, or four steps at a time, and click-and-treat whenever the puppy is walking near you. Keep your hand close to your body; avoid swinging it or holding it too high, which will only encourage the puppy to jump up.
Step 2
Your puppy should be following you. When necessary, encourage him to walk in the right direction by talking to him and tapping your leg. If he pulls ahead, stand still, regain his attention, and change direction.
Step 3
Once he is following close to you again, click and treat. You could also click while you are still moving and the pup is close to you, and then stop before you treat, if this is easier for you.
Step 4
With time and patience, rewards, and praise, your pup will soon be walking comfortably on the leash.
Back to "Basic Training"FOLLOWING: ON THE LEASH
Even though your puppy will follow on the leash more easily if he is first taught off the leash, leash training still requires consistency, time, and patience. Pressure invites counter-pressure, so if you keep pulling in one direction, your puppy will simply pull in the opposite direction, and before too long you’ll both be in a gridlock. The obvious solution is always to make sure that the leash is loose. To do this, speak in a “happy” voice to encourage your pup to follow you, and initially use the clicker, treats, and praise when the leash is loose. If he pulls, stand still, get his attention, and then set off again with the leash loose. Your puppy should learn that when he pulls and the leash is tight, he will not get anywhere at all, but if the leash stays loose, he’ll keep walking. As he gets the idea, you can phase out the rewards, and use only praise.