You have acquired fluffy pet. While he is very small, he looks into your eyes and tries to please you in everything. But time is running quickly, your baby is growing up, like people, his character will begin to deteriorate adolescence. And having become an adult and realizing that he does not have a leader, he can try to command himself. To prevent this from happening, you need to start training as early as possible. Today we will talk about how to teach your dog the “near” command. This is one of the components of the mandatory training course that every dog must undergo, regardless of breed.
At what age should you start training?
The earlier the better. Since it may not be possible to teach a dog the “near” command quickly, experts recommend starting from the very first day, as soon as the puppy crosses the threshold of your home. The foundation for this is an atmosphere of unconditional acceptance and love. You don’t scold a child because he doesn’t know how to go to the potty or hold a spoon, do you? Your puppy also learns everything gradually, and the more you love, praise and support him, the more successful the learning process will be. Already in the first days of adaptation, you can affectionately call the baby - “come to me”, “near” - and praise when the puppy does everything correctly.
What happens if the dog does not receive the necessary knowledge
Have you ever seen an owner on the street who is skipping, trying to hold back a leash that is stretched to the limit? This is an example of the owner not knowing how to teach the dog the “here” command. Accustomed to walking as it pleases, the dog does not consider it necessary to take into account the owner or the rules. traffic, other pedestrians, which is bad in urban conditions. Therefore, it is impossible to delay training; the general course of training should take place at a young age, so that all norms of behavior are internalized as dogmas. Any dog trainer will tell you how to teach a dog the “near” command, and we will talk about this today.
Let's start classes
Be sure to use the “nearby” command at home. Gradually the puppy will begin to understand what is required of him. After the adaptation is completed and your doctor has given you permission to go outside, you need to begin accustoming him to a collar and leash. And only when the puppy is completely accustomed to these attributes can the training be continued. Since it is impossible to teach a dog the “near” command without training, use every walk for training. To do this, take the leash and start moving by giving the appropriate command. If the puppy walks obediently, then actively praise him. If it rests and pulls to the side, gently repeat the command.
Duration of training
Now you know the team is “nearby”. Do not forget that you cannot force a puppy to work for a long time. Usually the training is continued until the first success. Even if the puppy only walked 5 steps nearby, it doesn’t matter. Praise, give a treat and, stepping to the side, give the command “walk”. After the break, you can repeat it by calling the puppy with the command “come.”
Making the lesson more difficult
The next question is usually "how to teach a dog the 'heel' command without a leash?" To do this, you need to wait and not As soon as the puppy begins to walk on command calmly, without jerking to the sides, begin to loosen the leash. Every day, give your pet more and more freedom until the leash is completely hanging. Usually, when the leash is loosened, the dog begins to violate the command. To do this, the owner must pull it in time (not too hard), thus indicating punishment. After this, the command is given again and the movement continues.
As you learn, you can complicate the task, walk not only in a straight line, abruptly change the direction of movement, invite other people with dogs to the site. Lessons will be especially effective when you for a long time walk straight and then smoothly move to the side. If the dog moves straight ahead by inertia, correct it with the help of a leash; if it turns behind you, then praise it.
When can you start off-leash training?
It's up to you and your pet. There are breeds that are more and less capable of learning. But as soon as the dog begins to flawlessly perform all tasks with a slack leash, you can let him go and work only with voice commands. From now on, start walking along quiet streets without a leash, using it only on central avenues with busy traffic. These are almost all the recommendations on how to teach a dog the “near” command at home. As you can see, you don’t even need the services of a professional handler or dog handler to master this command. All you need is time and daily fixation of the quote.
Gross mistakes
Take them into account, since you can teach your dog the “near” command, with or without a leash, only by avoiding them. If the dog deviates from the intended course, you need to give the command again, and then jerk the leash, and not vice versa, as most people do. Especially in the first stages of training, you should not change the direction and speed of movement very often. It's better to choose for movement big circle. You cannot lead your dog on a fully taut leash. If she doesn’t listen at all, you need to choose the most successful few steps, praise her and let her go for a walk. After a break, try again.
Don't repeat the command too often. If your dog changes course slightly, gently correct him with the leash. Only in case gross violation the command is given again. It is very important to give the command in a calm, soft tone. Strict pronunciation and shouting can lead to the dog beginning to perceive the command as punishment. And finally, don't force things. Start walking without a leash only when the skill is fully developed.
19.06.2018
Getting used to a leash is one of the most important steps in raising a dog, because even the smallest and most domestic pets occasionally go for a walk, where they have to be limited in their attempts to escape or meet other people.
If this question is also very relevant for you, take a couple of minutes to read our material, from which you will learn how to teach a dog to walk on a leash.
In general, before we begin, it is worth noting that there are two situations in life:
- I need to train my puppy to use a leash,
- I need to train an adult (over 1 year old) dog.
All of the following is approximately equally true for both cases, so we strongly recommend that you familiarize yourself with the following rules for both owners of puppies and adult dogs.
Getting used to the collar
In the first case, the only thing the right way There will be simple stops to train the puppy to walk next to you. As soon as your pet starts to rush forward and pull on the leash, stop. Don’t tug or pull in response, just stand up, showing that with such behavior you will not go anywhere further. As soon as he stops, realizing the futility of his attempts, call your pet and give him a treat, and then continue the walk together. Practice shows that this way dogs quickly understand what is required of them.
When doing the opposite behavior, proceed in the same way - do not drag the animal along with you. Just stand up and calmly call the lying pet to you, luring it with a treat if necessary. When he approaches, take a few steps together and only then give him the sausage or cheese.
Do these steps every time your ward gets out of control, so that it is easier for him to learn the sequence of further actions and ultimately understand what exactly the owner wants from him.
Important clarification for owners of adult dogs
If you need to learn to walk on a leash adult dog, then you should be prepared for difficulties. As we have already said, the general “outline” of behavior is completely similar to puppy training, but in this case it is recommended to pay attention Special attention regularity and relationships during the walk.
First, try to walk your dog on a leash as often as possible, up to several times a day. This will allow you to develop a habit much faster, which is much more difficult for adult animals than for puppies.
Secondly, show that you are in charge on the walk: do not let the dog pull you along with you, try to walk a little ahead, as if showing that you are the one choosing the path. The same applies to " controversial situations" If your pet reacts aggressively to other dogs or wants to play with them, stand up and sternly, but without shouting, call him to continue the walk. As a result, the pet will appreciate your dominance and calmness and will follow your example.
And in conclusion, let's give one more important advice: First walks on a leash will be equally stressful for both a puppy and an adult animal, so try to give your pet maximum attention. Instead of looking at your phone and nervously dragging your dog along, pulling it away from every obstacle, pet, praise and treat it. Only this way, walking on a leash and the leash itself will be a reason for joy for your dog, and not a reason to hide in the farthest corner.
Accustoming to a collar and leash are the basic basics of education that are relevant in childhood. Some dogs have never seen a collar in their life, much less a leash. How to accustom a dog to a leash if it is no longer a puppy, but an adult animal that previously lived on the street, in a shelter, kept in a chain or enclosure.
Naturally, all pets disapprove of restrictions on their will, but most dogs put up with temporary inconveniences - training, walks in crowded places. Do you have a dog living in your house who panics at the sight of ammunition? There may be several reasons for this:
- Long-term chain housing develops the dog’s “everyday bondage” reflex. This is a psychological trauma in which the animal is afraid not only of the leash, but also of the collar.
- Long or forced wearing of a muzzle develops a sharply negative attitude of the pet towards any equipment.
- The dog was beaten with a leash - a common mistake when raising animals. You can’t hit four-legged animals at all, but hitting with a leash is a special case. A leash is the pet’s property, its means of contact with the owner, and here pain comes from such a positive object! If you don't know the dog's background and are having trouble putting the leash on, grab the ends of the leash and slap the loop across your palm. The dog will sit down, lower its ears, or run away if it is afraid of him.
- The collar is tightened too tightly or the collar is chosen incorrectly - in the first case, the dog experiences severe suffocation when pulling on the leash, in the second, it is injured.
- The dog is allowed to play with the leash or bite it while walking.
Read also: What and how to feed a Jack Russell Terrier: a healthy diet for a puppy and an adult dog
Note! Under the fastened collar, 2 fingers should fit freely at any angle.
Getting the dog used to the collar
Before you take the leash, you need to make sure that the pupil feels comfortable in the collar. Does your pet hide under the sofa at the sight of a collar? – choose suitable method or use them one by one:
- Replace the collar with a light nylon harness and do not remove it after a walk.
- Rub the ammunition with dog hair (combed).
- Change the collar to a lighter one. It is advisable to choose an accessory together with your pet, so that the dog can smell and inspect the collar in advance.
- Use a wide ribbon instead of a collar and leash.
- Hanging a medallion on a collar or light ribbon gives the dog a sense of importance.
- With the help of treats, teach the dog to stick its head into the collar on its own and reward the pet every time the accessory is put on.
As soon as the collar is put on, your task is to play and distract the pet. If your ward becomes worried or tries to remove the collar, obey, quietly, calmly, without emotion. Start with small intervals of 1-10 minutes, over time, you can try wearing the collar during feeding and sleeping.
Teaching an adult dog to walk on a leash
No, we are not talking about the Near command, but about the calm behavior of the pet despite the restriction of freedom. It is not difficult to train your dog to walk on a leash; the main thing is to make it clear that the accessory is not dangerous. Use a long canvas leash or thin rope; the dog should be able to move far away from you without the “resistance” of the collar.
Read also: How and what to feed an adult German Shepherd. Details about proper nutrition
In the first stages, walk your dog in familiar territory and be sure to buy an address capsule or medallion with your contact information. Attach the leash to the collar, but do not hold it, let it drag along the ground. Periodically pick up the leash, but do not attach any importance to it; as soon as the pet becomes alert, return the “ugly rope” to the ground.
Note! The “training leash” tactic is recognized throughout the world. A long elastic rope is always and everywhere attached to the dog’s collar, which, if necessary, can be stepped on, limiting the dog’s movement.
At the next stage, you will not be walking your pet, but he will be walking you. literally. Follow your dog everywhere and do not be distracted, do not allow tension on the leash, the pet should feel free. Always show the leash when calling your pet for a walk, this will reinforce positive conditioned reflex– the owner took this strange rope, which means we can run and play.
As soon as you notice that the pupil is wagging his tail when he sees the equipment for a walk, take the next step, namely, teach your pet not to pull on the leash. Get ready, it will take you at least a month to develop a reflex according to a loyal training scheme. So, you fastened the dog and went for a walk, the leash was pulled - you stood in place. Wait for the pet to turn its head, asking: “Well! We are going?". Show the pupil a tasty treat, call him over, praise him, distract him and continue walking, changing direction a little.
For every turn of the head, when the pet walks correctly, the dog should receive approval and hear: “Good!” If your pet has pulled on the leash and basically won’t turn around, wait silently, imagine that you are playing “reverse staring contest” and you are bound to win. The ward, at any cost, must understand that on a leash he goes where he is allowed, while the “hated rope” should not become taut.
A dog that unquestioningly obeys every command of its owner, does not react to stimuli during walks, is not only a pet, but also a true friend - the dream of every person who gets a puppy. At the same time, teaching your pet to walk nearby without a leash is quite simple, but before that it is necessary to develop a stable reflex in the dog to the command “Near!”, which is practiced on a leash.
This command refers to the basic skills included in the general course. By neglecting to teach the puppy to move nearby, the owner not only exposes his pet to danger (by reacting to a cat, dog or passing cars, he can escape from the owner’s hands, disappear from sight in a few minutes or get serious injury), but also risks turning every walk into a serious test for your nerves. Not team trained"Near!" The dog is practically uncontrollable. Such a pet will constantly snatch the leash from the owner’s hands and walk the owner, and not vice versa. In addition, training the team “Near!” even on a leash helps develop obedience in general.
Attention!
It is worth noting that the training of the team “Nearby!” Both on-leash and off-leash training should be done in areas where you normally exercise your puppy. The environment should be familiar to the dog, and the amount of stimuli should be minimal.
You also need to remember that training should be stopped completely when the puppy is tired: practicing commands should be a joy for both the owner and the pet: without feeling the desire to train, your four-legged friend simply will not assimilate the necessary material.
Stages of training
A novice trainer should know that constant repetition commands “Near!” will not bring the desired success. The voice command is only given in the following cases:
- before starting the movement;
- before stopping;
- before changing direction;
- before changing speed.
In all other cases, the dog's behavior is corrected with a leash. Teaching the command “Near!” without a leash is organized as follows:
- Give the command “Near!” and start moving. If your dog follows the instructions, loosen the leash and then place it on your dog's back. After waiting 10 seconds, give the command “ ”, stop and praise your pet.
- After sitting for 10 seconds, continue moving. Repeat the command “Here!”, but do not lift the leash. After 5-10 meters, stop, sit the dog down and repeat the action described in the previous paragraph. It is not necessary to reward your puppy with a treat; alternate it with emotional praise.
- While practicing the command “Near!” without a leash, do not forget to change the trajectory and speed of movement. The main thing is to do this consistently, not forgetting to reward your pet’s success.
After just a few lessons using this scheme, you will notice the progress of your four-legged friend. Don't forget that while you're moving, you can get your dog's attention by patting your thigh. Soon such a sound will be firmly associated with the need to move at the owner’s feet, not lagging behind or ahead of him.
Each training session should not take more than 7-10 minutes: after this, the puppy’s attention must be switched to active games or practicing other commands.
As soon as the dog learns to accompany you without a leash in the usual conditions of the training area, use stimuli: invite another dog trainer with your pet to training or change the place for training. By complicating the conditions for executing a command, you will help your puppy master self-control and learn unquestioning obedience.
No matter the size of your four-legged friend, training in well-mannered behavior and walking on a leash is one of the most important rules good manners. A simple device will prevent accidents (collisions with vehicles, fights with yard dogs), allow you to take walks within the city, use public transport, control unwanted actions of the pet.
Training with early age, knowledge of training tricks, patience and a competent approach are the key to successful training.
Read in this article
At what age should a dog be taught to use a leash?
Experienced amateur dog breeders and professional dog handlers strongly recommend that owners accustom their puppy to a leash after the pet has become accustomed to a collar or harness. Your baby should be put on his first gear at the age of no later than 1.5 months. When the puppy gets used to the presence of a leather strap around its neck and calmly reacts to manipulations with it, you can proceed to the next stage - attaching a leash to the collar.
Young animals have an active psyche and often gladly accept innovations from the owner. A puppy aged 1.5 - 2 months can be more easily trained to wear equipment. However, this process does not always go smoothly.
Some animals negatively perceive a foreign object on their neck, get scared, refuse to go, resist, get nervous, and try to chew through the thing they don’t need. In this case, the owner should be patient and master training skills.
Rules of conduct for the owner during training
In order for the training process to be productive, the owner must follow certain rules during training sessions with the pet. Dog handlers in this situation give the following recommendations:
- Training should be carried out in a familiar environment for the animal. The puppy must be allowed to sniff an object that is new to him, but playing with it and biting it is strictly prohibited. The first training is best done in an apartment or in a closed courtyard area where the pet lives.
- Training should take place in a calm environment relaxed atmosphere. The presence of unauthorized persons is not recommended. To prevent the puppy from being distracted, you should limit the number of household members during the lesson.
- The best time for training is 2 - 3 hours after feeding, so that the treats used during the training process are interesting to the puppy.
- Hyperactive animals often have difficulty responding to even simple training techniques. In this case, dog trainers recommend conducting training sessions after a long walk, when the pet’s energy is not so active.
- The owner should be patient and prepare for the fact that the process of training even a young animal to walk on a leash will take more than one day. Depending on the temperament of the ward, the frequency of classes, and the persistence of the owner, the training process lasts from one week to a month.
- The effectiveness of training largely depends on the consistency of the owner. During training, it is necessary to achieve obedience and correct execution teams, do not move on to the next stage until the previous one is mastered.
- During a training session, it is strictly forbidden to shout at the puppy, much less punish the animal with a leash. Negative emotions will develop fear, mistrust, and anger in the pet towards both the owner and the equipment, and will complicate further training.
- Training should not be tedious for a young animal. The puppy gets tired after 10 - 15 minutes, so training should be short.
- The choice of equipment is of no small importance for productive training. The collar should not put pressure on the puppy's neck. It is best to use light and soft harnesses and leather accessories.
Ammunition should not have foreign odor, distracting the animal from its activities. At first, you should get a short leash no more than 2 meters. This length allows the pet to get used to the innovation and helps the owner control and correct its behavior. Retractable structures (roulettes) are not suitable for training.
Patience, consistency, affection and a friendly attitude of the owner towards the ward are the key to effectively teaching the puppy the basics of education and the intricacies of dog etiquette in public places.
How to teach walking on a leash and collar
Proper behavior on a leash can be taught to a dog at any age. The easiest way to raise a puppy. Training adult requires more time, patience, has its own nuances and tricks.
Puppy
After the puppy learns to ignore the collar, the owner should begin teaching him to walk on a leash. In the first couple of days experienced dog handlers It is advised to only fasten the leash to a harness or collar. The puppy needs to be called, stroked on the head, and the equipment discreetly fastened on. After several such repetitions, the animal will calmly relate to this manipulation. When the puppy gets used to the sound of the carabiner being fastened, training can continue.
Experienced dog handlers often resort to training leash tactics. For this purpose, a rope no more than 2 meters long is attached to the collar.
The lesson should be conducted outdoors and safe place so that the pet cannot hurt itself or run away. The puppy is given freedom - the training leash drags along the ground. This technique allows the dog to get used to the accessory and allows the owner to control unwanted behavior and limit movement by stepping on the free end of the rope.
Once your puppy gets used to the training device, he will not be afraid of the leash.
Positive dynamics in learning must be reinforced with treats. If the puppy does not understand at first what is required of him, he should return to training from the previous stage. Under no circumstances should you shout at the dog or sharply pull the leash. This behavior will reduce positive motivation and prolong the adaptation time.
If the puppy refuses to walk on a leash, sits down or lies down, you should not force or pull him. It is necessary to caress, encourage, and distract the pet from its equipment with the help of affection and play. By switching his attention to entertainment, a new toy, the puppy will stop perceiving the leash as something alien and scary.
Having overcome the fear of a foreign object, the baby can be taught to walk with it. You can entice your pet with you using treats or a favorite toy. Many puppies understand well that they need to follow their owner if during training they take a bowl of food and carry it in front of the animal. This method is effective if training is carried out before feeding.
If the puppy, on the contrary, tries to run ahead and pulls on the leash, the following tactics should be used. As soon as the animal pulls on the leash, you must stop immediately. You cannot pull the puppy. You need to wait until he approaches, and only in this case continue moving. This should be done every time the pet pulls on the leash.
To prevent a young animal from getting tired, training should not exceed 5 minutes for each month of age. If the dog is 2 months old, then training should not last more than 10 minutes.
Adult dog
There are often situations when there is a need to train an adult animal to a leash (long stay in an enclosure, nursery, etc.). Training techniques in this case are somewhat different from leash training a puppy.
Training an adult dog should begin with a long leash of at least 5 - 8 meters.
For classes, you must choose an open area. When the dog gets used to walking on a long, loosely hanging leash and is no longer afraid of it, the length can be shortened.
As a rule, an adult animal reluctantly follows the owner, lags behind and refuses to follow. short leash. In this case, dog handlers recommend attracting the pet’s attention with a treat, luring and enticing the animal along with you. Delicious piece You should keep the dog in your field of vision and make sure that when getting there, the pet does not run ahead or block the road.
The duration of classes with an adult dog should not exceed 20 - 30 minutes. At the slightest sign of overwork and inattention, the training should be stopped and the dog distracted by playing.
To learn how to train a puppy or adult dog to use a leash, watch this video:
What to do so that the dog does not pull and walks next to you
Having accustomed your pet to a leash, the next stage in training is to practice the skill of walking nearby. This command is especially relevant for large four-legged friends. You can teach your dog not to pull on the leash using a long device.
The owner must understand that if he pulls the animal, the resistance on his part will only increase. Therefore, as soon as the dog pulls on the leash during a walk, you must immediately pull it back with a short jerk and immediately release the tension by reducing the length. As soon as the dog loosens the leash, the jerking immediately stops.
At the moment when the dog walks freely on its own (without jerking) and does not pull the owner, it should be encouraged, called and treated with a treat.
An adult animal can be trained to walk on a loose leash using a “strict” collar. Its design has spikes and with a short jerk causes discomfort at the pet's. After the skill of freely following the owner has been practiced with a “strict” collar, it should be secured with ordinary ammunition.
During training, you should change the length of the leash and introduce novelty into the training sessions - alternate the environment, location, practice turning after the owner, conduct classes at different paces. Training can be considered complete if the developed skill is the norm of behavior for the pet.
How to organize walks without a leash
Walking without a leash should be started only after your four-legged friend has learned to walk freely on it without the slightest tension. By this time, the dog should know and carry out the commands “Come to me” and “Nearby” on demand.
At first, distracted by new objects, including strangers and dogs, the animal loses contact with its owner and becomes disobedient. Under no circumstances should you punish a dog for inattention and fascination with a new subject or object. The owner can attract attention and thereby attract the animal with a favorite toy, an invitation to interesting game, the sound of a clicker, etc. Each approach to a call or command should evoke only positive emotions in the dog.
Walks without equipment should be carried out in a calm and familiar environment for the pet. When the dog gets used to it, to complicate the task, you can ask your partner to distract its attention and at the same time ensure that the “Come to me” command is carried out flawlessly.
In order for a dog to approach its owner without fear and caution, you cannot immediately put it on a leash. The animal should be praised, given a treat, played with and given the opportunity to independently explore the area. The dog should not have the association that the command “Come to me” means the end of an interesting walk.
Accustoming your four-legged pet to a collar and leash is the basics of dog education. The owner should be patient and use some techniques and tricks during the training process to quickly and easily accustom the dog to wearing equipment. Only a positive stimulus, constant contact with the animal, consistency and regularity of training will develop the correct behavioral reactions in it.
Walk with well-mannered dog– not only pleasure, but also safety for both the dog and the owner.
Useful video
To learn how to train a dog to walk without a leash, watch this video:
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