What age do *you* think is the best to start leash training?

Question

I have always trained my pups as soon as they come to me...I foster and rehabilitate dogs...most of them don't know diddly squat, about the leash, or the basics!!

So, what is the *proper* age to train a dog?

Answer 1

I believe leash training is an important part of a puppy's socialization. We put collars on all of our puppies at 4-5 weeks old, just for a short time a day, to start to get them used to the collars. By 8 weeks, when they go to their new homes, they're already used to collars.

At 8 weeks, we take puppies everywhere - the park, the pet store, around the neighborhood, everywhere for general socialization. All of this is done on a collar and leash. When they're used to the collar, it makes it a lot easier to leash train them. Plus, with all sorts of fun things to see, they hardly notice that they have one on them.  

Answer 2

I did just like you , as soon as I got them!!  

Answer 3

I bred a litter of american bulldogs and i was lead training them at about 10 weeks old.

I didnt take them on vigorous walks, just short walks but you can get they out very early so long as you dont mind people pouring themselves all over your pups lol.

The longer you leave it the more difficult it is, I had all my pups leash trained for their new owners and its good for their temperaments to get out early and socialize, Just be careful when they go threw there fear period which is around 3 or 4 months old in which you need to be careful not to damage there temperaments as they are becoming accustomed to the world at this age and learning what to be scared off.

Answer 4

i'd say as soon as they walk into your house. We actually started (not really intentionally) but as soon as my dog came off the truck we walked her around and she went to the bathroom and then we said sit and put her into a sit position for a picture. Then we went from there.

So as soon as your get the pooch.  

Answer 5

As soon as you bring them home the training should start.  Not formal training unless the dog's at least 4 months old, but casual, everyday training starts immediately. In fact a responsible breeder will have already started the training long before your puppy is ever ready to go to his/her new home.

Answer 6

Around 12 weeks-shortly after you've taken them in.

I prefer to start training IMMEDIATELY....I don't want to be undoing any mistakes of letting certain behaviors go without redirection.

Leash training should start immediately, and actual walks should be done as soon as the puppy's inoculations have been completed.

Answer 7

I think it's best to get a puppy used to a collar and a leash right when you get them. That way, when you take them out to potty and such, they're not fearful and trying to slip out of the collar or biting at the leash.

If you're talking about training them to heel and walk on a leash without pulling or getting in front of you too much, I would say wait a month or two after you get them. Since puppies have short attention spans, it may be harder to teach them to walk beside you, especially when everything in the world is new to them. They're probably tempted to run up to new people, animals, etc. and it breaks the purpose of training the puppy to heel. It's probably more important to introduce a pup to new situations and encourage it to go up to strange things rather than teaching a puppy to heel by your side at a young age.

There really is no "proper" age to train a dog, though. Obedience and potty training, on the other hand, I believe should be begun as soon as you get the puppy.

Answer 8

When you get them.

Usually my pups have been on a leash at least once before they leave here.

When I got Pepper she was 11 weeks old, I just slipped the lead on and away we went.  That's my usual procedure, I don't see what's so difficult about leash breaking a puppy.

Answer 9

I agree, 4 to 7 months. But if you don't train them by the age of 1 year. It will be harder for them to learn.

:)

Good for you! I love doggies :D

Answer 10

I got my newest puppy at about 8 weeks from a shelter-- and my house is the 5th place she's lived at! A few days after I got her, she got a second set of vaccinations, and I took her for short walks. She is 12 weeks, and already knows how to sit and wait. Sometimes she does the re-call, we are working on it!

Answer 11

As soon as it walks through your front door.

Answer 12

As soon as you get one, it can start.  Just make sure they have the shots b4 you start taking them out in public places.  Never too young to start learing.  I had my pup sitting and laying down by 12 weeks.

Answer 13

As soon as you bring them home. They are sponges at that age. :)

Answer 14

as soon as you take them for walks? i think.

mine:

http://ca.answers.yahoo.com/question/ind...

Answer 15

Between 5-7 months

Answer 16

I am not sure what age is "best" but i start getting puppies use to the leash as soon as i get them (unless they are under 5 weeks then i will wait until they are 5-6 weeks). I don't start walking them on a leash until they are 8-9 weeks, i just let them get use to the feeling of a leash by wearing it a couple times a day. If i get an adult dog i start training them to walk properly on a leash right away unless they are scared of the leash then i let them get use to it before walking them. Ive fostered many dogs and this is how i always trained them to walk on a leash.

Basic training for puppys (sit,stay,come and down) i start at 10-12 weeks.

If its a dog 6 months or older i start basic training right after i get them use to a leash.

Answer 17

the puppy should be socialized and started the basics at the breeders home. Leash training should be started, asap, and with leash training the puppy should be socialized with the leash as soon as it gets to the home. (leaving a short leash on supervised in the home)

Basics should be taught early, started at 8 weeks.

The breeder should of started at their home and then shown the new owners how to continue the training as they are ready to go home.  

Answer 18

I WOULD SAY TRAIN THEM WHEN THEY ARE ABOUT 7-9 MONTHS OLD. MY NEIGHBOR DID IT AT 8 MONTHS AND HIS DOG IS GOOD.IT ALSO DEPENDS ON IF THEY ARE A SMALL DOG OR BIG DOG-BABY DOG OR ADULT DOG-AND THEY'RE PERSONALITY.THATS PRETTY MUCH IT.HOPE THIS HELPS

Answer 19

As soon as you get the pup. they absorb alot more things when they are at their youngest~

Answer 20

I'm not sure what age is "best", but with me I started my boys at around 4 months old. They really didn't get the whole concept until a couple months later but at least it was introduced to them at an early age. It took Blizzrd about 3 months to fully walk on a leash and Dinky pretty much got the hang of it right away.

Answer 21

We started our labs as soon as they got home. That is what our vet told us to do, at that age (7-12 weeks) is when they can fully grasp the concepts and learn.  

Answer 22

As soon as you get them.  I would say when they're 8-10 weeks old, if it's possible.

Answer 23

I train them as soon as I get them.  At first I have the leash on them in the house and call the puppy to me, or take them outside in the fenced yard, and have the puppy drag the leash, but follow me.  I think that around 4 and 5-months-old they will do better with walks.  I read that the first month you are supposed to walk them in your yard so if they get lost, they will know where they live.  My current puppy hated the maroon leash, and the pink one, but loves to go for a walk with the blue one.  Sometimes puppies are just puppies.

Answer 24

As young as possible!  

Even 2 week old puppies benefit from having yarn "collars" around their necks, replaced as they grow.  The feeling of a collar will be well imprinted once they are old enough to walk.  

At around 5 weeks old, allowing the litter to play together but having a couple of the puppies drag light lines will teach them many things.  The other puppies will play tug with the leashes and amazingly, after not very long, the leashed pups will begin to follow along, not resisting the tugs.

Puppies who are allowed to drag lines or even leather tabs will quickly become acclimated to having something trailing them, dangling from their collars and everything else that goes on with a line.

I also work with young puppies by holding their leash (reeling them in very lightly) and calling them to me excitedly (since most all puppies automatically have a fabulous recall) and rewarding them with a treat or affection.  They will begin to associate that tension on the leash means to go *toward* their handler, not away from.

As they get a bit older and more coordinated, we can start more leash work as far as walking nicely, changing directions and not reinforcing pulling at all.  Basically, if they never get anywhere by pulling, they will learn to instead keep slack in the leash, look to the handler or come back to the handler.  Bad habits prevented early. ;)

Answer 25

8 weeks, or as soon as the dog comes into your possession.

I started collar/leash training my dog at 6 weeks, when I got her as a stray. She was comfortable with the leash after about 2 days.