Leash Training Made Easy: How to Train Your Dog Exemplarily with Playful Leash Training and Respond Skillfully in Every Situation – Including the Best Exercises & Tips E-Book

Sebastian Wiesner

• Herausgeber: ONIX Media
• Kategorie: Lebensstil
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 169

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2025

Beschreibung

When you go for a walk, is your dog more likely to lead you through the park than the other way around? Does your four-legged friend recoil at the mere sight of the leash? And does recall after off-leash use only work after the tenth attempt? You're not alone with these problems—and luckily, not forever either. With the right training, leash training becomes child's play, and this guide shows you how! From puppy training and the long leash to exercises with older dogs and true leash professionals, you will develop the skills for uncomplicated and relaxed outings together, including off-leash sessions, step by step. Tried-and-tested expert tips offer easy solutions to typical problems, and thanks to playful, creative training ideas, there's plenty of time for fun. No training experience yet? No problem! With these simple and precise instructions and a little patience, even new dog parents can achieve great results and build a valuable, reliable bond with their pet.

Leseprobe

Leash training made easy

How to train your dog with playful leash training in an exemplary manner and react skillfully in every situation

Sebastian Wiesner

All advice in this book has been carefully considered and checked by the author and the publisher. However, no guarantee can be given. The author and publisher therefore accept no liability for any personal injury, property damage or financial loss.

Leash training made easyCopyright © 2023 Sebastian Wiesnerwww.edition-lunerion.de

All rights reserved, in particular the right to reproduce and distribute the translation. No part of this work may be reproduced in any form (by photocopy, microfilm or any other method) or stored, processed, duplicated or distributed using electronic systems without the written permission of the publisher.

For questions and suggestions:[email protected] 2023

Contents

Foreword

On the leash, get set, go!

Creating the basis for training

The bond between dog and human as a basis

Attracting the dog's attention

Clear signals, clear results

Training principles

The "Will to Please"

Test: Which dog is right for me?

Why is leash walking a challenge?

Reshape: Go to print instead of against it

Attention and reward

Avoid common mistakes

Leash training with the young dog

Basic information about puppies

Start leash training in a safe home

Get to know the principles of printing

Make eye contact

Attention on and off the lead

The invisible ribbon - the towline

Why use a drag line?

What to look out for in a drag line?

Tips for the drag line

Getting the dog used to the drag line

The recall and the drag line

The drag line and the hunting instinct

After the towline

Leash training with older dogs

Training with adult dogs

Attention and cooperation

Establish voice and visual signals

Problems and solutions

The dog pulls uncontrollably

My dog doesn't pay attention to me

My dog determines the route

My dog reacts in panic to the leash

My dog changes pages without being asked the pages

Leash training for advanced learners

Behavior in road traffic

Meeting other dogs

Walking several dogs together

Creative training and fun

Overcoming obstacles

"On foot" - but without a leash

Training in the forest

Agility exercises

Bonus: Treat recipes with baking mats

Carrot and turkey treats

Oatmeal hack cookies

Herbal liver sausage treats

Dandelion treats

Kefir-banana treats

Cinnamon and apple treats

Cheese and cornmeal treats

Salami and cheese treats

At the end

Foreword

With a dog on a lead, it's all about one thing: who follows and who leads? There are many different ways to teach your dog to walk on a loose lead. You have probably already tried a few of them - and have sometimes been more successful and sometimes less. Success depends on various factors: How often do you practice, how consistent are you, what type of dog and character do you have and what kind of person are you? How much time do you have for training and what is the environment like?

Try out which technique suits you and your dog. This book will show you how to achieve your goal with positive reinforcement and teamwork. Consequences yes - but no punishments.

It is primarily about body language work, because this is the training that your dog understands and can use most intuitively. Body language signals, which dogs also use in a modified form among themselves, are the best way to get your dog to follow you and orient itself towards you. The aim should be that you have to look at your dog less - because he keeps an eye on you and your signals. If you walk faster, your dog will do the same. If you stop, your dog will stop too. The advantages of this are silent communication, which is largely non-verbal. And you have an attentive dog that stays with you (at least mentally) even when distracted and pays attention to you. The lead is just a safeguard and you don't actually need it to have any influence on your dog. This also makes it possible to run free safely: if your dog feels connected to you anyway, there is no need for a physical leash.

Whether you are successful with this training with your dog depends on you and your team partner. For some dogs it will be quicker, other dogs will take longer - ambitious hunters, for example, will not be as impressed by the lead as an already rather calm companion. Either way, you and your four-legged friend will benefit from the training - you will get to know each other better and communicate better with each other.

And now have fun exercising and trying it out!

On the leash, get set, go!

Before you start training, you first need to lay some groundwork. The most time-consuming preparation probably lies with your dog: he is probably already looking forward to going out when you pick up the lead and harness or collar. Ask yourself the question at the beginning: What exactly is my dog looking forward to?

Does he want to spend time with you, is a buddy already waiting outside, is his bladder just pressing really hard or is it the mice in the field that he can already hear squeaking? Often it is not necessarily our presence that makes the dog so ecstatic, but external factors. And this is the core problem with most dogs, which is why they pull: Although the leash and the human are physically present , they are more of a disruptive factor for the dog's walk. That's why many people often find it difficult to put the leash on after a walk. The lead often means that the fun is now over.

In order to tackle this core problem, it is first important that you create a basis with your dog so that you can start training at all. This book will teach you the basics of how your dog will learn to enjoy working with you. Your dog will learn that the lead is not the spoilsport, but that this is where the party really gets going and that walking on a loose lead is worthwhile.

Your dog will focus more and more on you and with the different, creative exercises in this book you will become more and more exciting for him - it's not about finding the perfect template for training. Every dog is different and has different preferences. Go on a discovery tour with this book and your dog and get to know yourself and your four-legged friend better. Expand your horizons and those of your dog with new games and hobbies.

The aim is for your dog to feel good when he sees you with the lead in your hand and to enjoy discovering and experiencing things together with you. This will also make running free more and more relaxed and your dog won't roll his eyes when you call him away from the rabbit hole in an excited voice for the hundredth time - which probably won't work anyway. The consequence of this is that, in case of doubt, your dog will no longer be able to run free at all and will therefore not be able to pursue his canine curiosity and nature.

True to the motto "Set boundaries, give freedom", it is part of a dog's life in our society to abide by certain rules.

In this book, you will find out how you can teach your dog these rules in a species-appropriate way and what it means for a dog to live with people. Making walks more exciting, lovingly setting boundaries and guiding your dog through scary situations - all of this will promote your relationship and make you a strong team. To be able to tackle all this and end up with a happy and busy dog on a loose leash, you need one thing above all: a good training foundation.

Creating the basis for training

The basis for dog training that is to be crowned with laurels is a good relationship between dog and owner. Such a good relationship is built on two pillars: Respect and trust. Your dog should therefore have respect for you - physically and emotionally. For example, he should not harass you, i.e. he should not bump into you, jump on you or push you away. These behaviors are not only rude to humans, dogs also overstep their boundaries with each other and would reprimand each other in such cases.

On the other hand, you should also show your dog respect. Exercise him appropriately, pay attention to his needs and leave him alone when your four-legged friend wants you to.

You will gain your dog's trust if you give him the feeling that you can lead him safely through life and the world. Show him that you already know what you are doing and will always lead the way with confidence - your dog just has to follow. This also means that you must not argue with your animal best friend: Your way is the right way and there are no buts about it. Of course, you should be careful not to overtax your dog. Be firm, but not intimidating or disrespectful. This way you can be sure that you will quickly develop a good bond with your four-legged friend - the basis for everything else.

The bond between dog and human as a basis

Proper leash handling is not just about your dog walking relaxed on a loose leash - that is the end result of a journey. Because pulling on the lead is a symptom whose cause needs to be found. It's about taking the lead from the dog and guiding him through the world with confidence. However, a dog will only let you take the lead without restriction if you are consistent in everyday life and are taken seriously by your four-legged friend. Make the decisions and don't let your dog influence them too much: playtime is playtime when you say so - and not when Bello gets the ball out of the crate and puts it at your feet. When the doorbell rings, your dog is not the one to greet the visitor loudly and with lots of jumping. Instead, he should take a back seat and wait to see what you do.

Dogs love us unconditionally. However, you first have to earn this love. It often takes longer, especially with shelter dogs with an unclear past, for them to really open up and trust you. A dog follows us like a shadow - if it makes sense for him to do so. Such a strong bond and this trust should be consolidated and built on again and again. This doesn't happen immediately, but takes time and knowledge.

A few simple exercises can help you to increase the bond with your dog and thus also trust.

Playing together forges a bond

Playing together strengthens the bond with your dog. When you play, you spend a lot of time together intensively, with one thing above all: having fun. When playing, the dog experiences great things that he associates with you. He will remember these positive associations.

If you don't play with your dog, he will look for his own activities that he enjoys. He will soon realize that it is also quite fun without his human. Your dog will try to go his own way much more often - because he will associate this with the fun and joy that he should actually associate with playing together. If you don't yet know which games your dog likes, just try out a few things - for example:

Retrieve

Chasing each other

Tugging games

Search games

The only important thing is that they should play together. If a ball flies, this is only a joint action if the dog actively brings the ball back to you or starts a game of chase with you. If your dog runs off with the ball and chews on it calmly, this is not a joint game. It is best to simply start without toys and play together. Your hands can become a catch. Dogs play with each other with their mouths open and wild facial expressions. You can simply use your hand to imitate the mouth. Pretend your hand is a mouth and simply imitate your dog's movements.

Dogs play with quick, jerky and short movements. They chase each other and sneak up on each other. Use these play methods and give yourself and your dog a good workout. You can let your dog get away with much more than in everyday life. During play, your dog will growl, jump at you and use its mouth. If you forbid your dog to do too much, it will quickly stop being fun. Nevertheless, be sensitive and pay attention to your dog's body language. If he gets too excited or the game threatens to tip over, interrupt the action briefly. However, continue playing! Dogs do the same with each other.

Hunting games

Many dogs love to chase each other. Give it a try! Ask your dog to run off with you. Then start chasing him or let him chase you. Just make sure that you take turns so that the chase remains a game.

Wrestling

Get down on the floor in front of your dog and imitate his playing movements: pat the floor with your hands, get into a low front position and see what your dog does. Does he want to play with his muzzle? Then use your hands as explained above. Or is he bumping into you, perhaps with his rear end? Then join in. Get involved!

Tugging

You've probably seen this before: Your dog has found something great (be it a stick, cuddly toy or sock) and runs around demonstratively in front of his fellow dogs. At some point, one of them gets in, grabs the other end of the prey and a game of tug-of-war begins. This is great fun for most dogs - even with you! It's best to take a rope or a soft toy and encourage your dog to play with it. You can drag it across the floor, play with it yourself and enjoy it, or throw it back and forth to get your dog's attention. If he starts to tug at it, join in. And it doesn't matter who wins!

Rules provide security

So that your dog can live with you without worries and ulterior motives, he needs rules in everyday life. The fewer questions he has to ask, the more secure he will be. They must be predictable for your dog, so that he can trust you and feel safe with you. They should be a point of orientation. Rituals and clear structures help here:

Assign your dog a fixed place where it should stay when you tell it to - and where it can also retreat to. Just as you demand that he stays there, you must also accept that this place belongs only to your dog. He should be able to rest here, and reliably so. A regular daily routine is also part of the rules:

● Is there food before, during or after the walk?

● When should your dog walk next to you?

● Where can he get loose, where can he sniff and where can he just run from A to B?

● When can he get on your sofa?

Such ritualized actions and routines allow your four-legged friend to relax and feel safe.

A respectful approach

Respect is the most important part of your relationship with your dog. Be affectionate and respond to his needs. This includes finding the right balance between action and rest for your individual dog. A Border Collie will demand a lot more partying than a pug. This also includes finding the right amount of exercise for your dog. Pay attention to the breed-specific characteristics of your four-legged friend. A Labrador will probably enjoy fetching much more than a Dachshund. A husky will be much happier to run miles with you than a sprint-loving greyhound. Once you have found the right hobby for your dog, find the right balance. After all, a dog needs plenty of rest between exercise phases in order to process what it has experienced and reduce stress hormones. Do not over- or underchallenge him!

Learning to understand your dog

In order to be able to show your dog proper rules and respect, you must first learn to understand him. Dogs communicate constantly and can't fool us. They are an open book - you just have to be able to read it.

Dogs speak primarily with their bodies. Ears, face, tail, posture ... your dog uses all these things to show you how he is feeling. If you spend a lot of time with your four-legged friend and observe exactly how dogs behave towards each other, you will quickly get to know your pet very well. This way you can avoid talking past each other. If you understand your dog well, communication in everyday life and training will be much easier. Your dog trusts you because you already know what he means and you react as he expects. Train your senses and focus on your dog's body language - and also on the body language of other dogs. In this way, you can avoid encounters with "He just wants to play" or "He's not doing anything" dogs and protect your dog from these usually unpleasant dog encounters. A typical example of misunderstanding dogs is tail wagging. Imagine the following situation:

You are walking your dog and another dog owner comes towards you. The dog coming towards you fixates on your dog, has a stiff posture, all four paws are firmly on the ground, it barks and its tail swings slowly back and forth. Is he happy about the other dog? No. This four-legged friend is threatening your dog and an encounter would not end well. It is best to give such a dog-human team a wide berth and increase the distance between you and them. Tail wagging alone is not an indicator of a friendly dog. It is only a sign of excitement. Threatening dogs, happy dogs or even chasing dogs wag their tails. Therefore, look at the whole animal to avoid misunderstandings.

Your dog's appeasement signals

Calming signals" are very important for your dog. It uses them to calm itself and the other person. Dogs use these signals especially when they are unsettled or feel uncomfortable. If you try to play with your dog or stroke him and he shows these signals, you should leave him alone.

● Turn your head away and lower your gaze

● Sniffing the floor

● Yawn

● Scratching

● Slow movements

● Lick your nose

Submissive or dominant

A submissive dog that feels threatened and wants to avoid a conflict will behave submissively. You can see this when your dog makes himself smaller - he crouches down, hunches over or even lies on his back.

In contrast, a dominant dog stands tall, leans forward and seeks direct eye contact. The tail is often stretched steeply upwards.

The growl

A growling dog is aggressive - right? In fact, dogs growl much more often than you might think. Some sound like a hellhound even when playing, even when playing with you. However, a growl can also be triggered by discomfort, fear or even pain.

Overview: Learning to understand your dog

Eyes

Large pupils and a generally gentle expression in the eyes indicate a relaxed and friendly dog. In contrast, a fixed gaze and fixed and contracted pupils should be interpreted as a threat. In addition, the position of the eyebrows reinforces the dog's expression.

Head position

In principle, dogs signal peacefulness by averting their eyes, whereas direct eye contact can be interpreted as self-assurance and, depending on the context, also as confrontation. When dogs tilt their head to the side questioningly, they are also unsure and are probing the current situation.

Ears

Depending on the breed, playing with the ears is a little more difficult to interpret. Dogs with pronounced drooping ears cannot prick them like a German shepherd, for example. For this reason, we have to look very carefully at what signal our dog is trying to give us with its ears. Basically, ears that are laid flat backwards signal submission or fear, whereas ears that are pointed forwards show attention and security.