Leash training is an essential skill for puppies, setting the foundation for safe and enjoyable walks throughout their lives. In honor of National Puppy Week, which we celebrated over the weekend, we want to share puppy leash-training tips from the CT Shoreline’s best dog walkers – us!!! Because we’ve helped hundreds of families leash-train their pups, we’re sharing all we know about leashing training, including vaccine considerations, safety tips, our top products, and positive reinforcement techniques that will ensure training remains fun for the whole family!
Start Early but Safely
The ideal age to begin leash training is around 10 weeks old, though you can start as early as 7–8 weeks if your puppy is receptive to learning new cues and skills at that time. Most puppies are curious and eager to bond with their owners; therefore, any kind of training is welcome at this stage in their lives.
Before venturing outside, however, ensure your puppy has received all core vaccinations, including their final booster and rabies shot at 16 weeks. Until then, practice leash training indoors or in a secure backyard to minimize exposure to harmful pathogens.
Choose the Right Equipment
Selecting the proper gear is crucial for your puppy’s comfort and safety. First, opt for a flat collar on which to display ID tags – just in case of loss or an accident. Make sure your collar is tight enough – you should only be able to fit one finger between the collar and the puppy’s neck. Anything looser can become a strangulation hazard and may slip off, defeating the purpose of having display tags on your puppy to begin with.
Consider a harness designed for small puppies to attach to the leash. Harnesses prevent strain on your puppy’s delicate and developing neck, which collars attached to leashes can cause injuries. Pair your harness with a lightweight leash that allows some freedom while keeping control. Read below for our favorite dog walking products!
Use Positive Reinforcement
Positive reinforcement is the most effective method for leash training puppies. Reward your puppy with treats, praise, or toys whenever they exhibit desired behaviors, such as walking beside you or responding to verbal cues and instructions. Initially, reward frequently—every step or two—to encourage good habits. Gradually reduce rewards as your puppy becomes more proficient but continue to offer occasional reinforcement to maintain their enthusiasm.
When choosing treats, start with small treats that can be chewed quickly. Avoid dry treats that can cause a choking or aspiration hazard. Tiny bits of cheese or hot dog are a great option because they get gobbled up and maintain training momentum. Remember to make the bits small to avoid choking, aspiration, etc.
Practice Short Sessions
Puppies tend to have short attention spans and tire easily. For this reason, keep leash training sessions brief—around 5–10 minutes at a time—and focus on making them fun and engaging. Incorporate breaks for playtime to keep your puppy motivated. As they grow older and stronger, gradually increase the duration of walks while monitoring their energy levels.
End sessions on a positive note – always with a reward, verbal acknowledgment, or snuggle session so that they are motivated to pick up where you left off next time you’re ready to train together.
Prioritize Safety
Safety should always come first during leash training. Following are our top safety rules at Shoreline Happy Paws:
- Avoid areas with heavy traffic and unfamiliar dogs
- Follow your vet’s recommendations on socialization until your puppy is fully vaccinated.
- Stay alert – avoid distractions by keeping your phone away and your headphones at a lower volume
Use a loose leash to prevent pulling and teach your puppy to stay by your side using treats to reward them for walking close to you. If your puppy pulls or lunges, stop moving and wait for them to return to position before continuing. Another option is to change directions if your puppy pulls too hard. Only attempt stops or changes in direction when your puppy is wearing a collar because these abrupt stops and movements can injure their necks and spines.
Leash training is not only about teaching your puppy to walk politely but also about exposing them to the environment, building trust, and strengthening your bond. By starting early, using positive reinforcement, and prioritizing safety, you’ll set your furry friend up for a lifetime of enjoyable outdoor adventures. Happy training!
Leash-Training Tips from the CT Shoreline’s Best Dog Walkers
First and foremost, we know that leash-training puppies takes time and patience. Next, it takes the right equipment. For this purpose, we love the Freedom Harness and TinyHorse leashes. Why? Because the Freedom No-Pull Harness helps keep puppies (and older dogs) from pulling us around the Connecticut Shoreline. And, TinyHorse leashes are easy to use, wash, and practically last forever. They also make the task of walking multiple dogs easy, which is why our team of professional dog walkers use these leashes almost exclusively.
The Best Dog Walking & Hiking Company in the CT Shoreline
If you are looking for the best pet care in our area, we are accepting new dog walking, dog hiking, and cat sitting clients! New Shoreline Happy Paws clients can create an account. We will be in touch to further discuss your needs and set you, your family, and your cat(s) up for success. Existing clients may book services by logging in to your client profile.
We serve the following areas of the Connecticut Shoreline:
- Old Saybrook
- Essex, Ivoryton & Centerbrook
- Deep River
- Chester
- Westbrook
- Clinton
- Old Lyme
- East Lyme
- Niantic
Certain Parts and Certain Service Hours in:
- Lyme and Madison
- Waterford, New London, Groton
- Uncasville, Gales Ferry, Mystic, Noank
