How long will it take for my puppy to walk properly on leash?

Question

How long will it take for my puppy to walk properly on leash?

How long will it take for my puppy to walk properly on leash?

i train with this method on my 5 month old pitbull/lab mix.

every time my puppy pulls, I turn 180 degrees on the spot and wait for her to follow me the other way. Every time she pulls, I turn on my heels and walk the other way.

I have done this for 2 days now (I know, not a long time). My puppy just doesn't seem to get it.

Answer 1

that's a great technique.  But it may take time.  You should notice he's pulling a little less on walks, even though not altogether stopping. he may be too young still to understand.  I have a lab who still pulls time to time (such as when we're approaching her favorite trail, the dog park, or the creek by my apt)

Answer 2

The important thing to remember, especially with puppies, is to be PATIENT and CONSISTENT.  A five-month old puppy is mentally equivalent to a twelve-year-old--you weren't expected to read novels when you were twelve (unless you were a genius), so why should you expect a puppy to stop pulling on the leash at five months?  I'd say it'll take a couple more months for her to start thinking like an adult dog.

Dogs need time to learn just as much as humans do--you're just getting impatient.  However, you're also doing everything right so far.  Keep doing that, and when she's an adult she'll know that pulling on the leash won't get her anywhere.

Answer 3

Well, most dogs pull but probably the easiest way to do it would be to show your dominance over her. (check on dog breed info) but anywhere you go, in your house and out you have to make your dog walk behind you and show that you are the leader. So, you leave first and enter first, and you eat your meals first. It all has to do with who shows they are the leader.

Answer 4

I trained a puppy younger than yours to walk on a leash in 3 15 minute walks.

It depends on how you are training the puppy as to how long it will take.  If you really are worried, take your dog to a trainer.

With my dog I would make a sharp AH sound anytime he got ahead of me, and he now walks perfectly at my side without any problems, on and off leash.

With the puppy I was training, I used a slip leash, and just let him get used to the leash.  I also walked him with my dog so that he could see how he should behave.  You might be asking too much too soon if you want him to walk perfectly at your side at his age.  I'd be more focused on getting him to just walk on a leash.

I've seen the method that you are using used, but for a puppy, they don't really have the attention span for that.  They don't think like an adult dog, and realize that they aren't going to get anywhere.

I would recommend that you try making a sharp noise ( like an AH) when your puppy gets ahead of you (every time she gets ahead of you).  I've found sound more effective to training a puppy than anything else.

BTW:  if you use treats, the puppy will start cutting you off and trying to get ahead of you, so DON'T use treats.

ADDITION:  It took me about 2 miles in walks to train 3 dogs who had never been on leash before, to walk properly.  Two of them were 6 months old, and one was 3-4 months old.  SO my answer to how long, at least 2 miles worth of walking, but again it depends on your methods.

Answer 5

There are a number of methods of getting your dog to walk better on a leash. One of which is a halter. It goes around their snout sort of like a muzzle but is very thin and whenever the dog starts to pull it gently pulls their snout down making it virtually impossible to pull.

Answer 6

I think turning around is a bad way to train your puppy. Although some people think it is a good idea. I think it confuses the puppy when all of a sudden you are walking the other way. It might begin to think it is a game and have even more unruly leash-walking skills. Try, making your puppy walk next to you (works best on left). This can be performed by giving your puppy a quick tug, on the leash to guide it back to where it should be. Do not pull, just quick jerk and then leave the leash loose again. The puppy will not work immediately work, but I think after about 1-2 weeks you will see progress in your puppies walking behavior.