Re: Leash training

In Reply to: Leash training
Category:   General Training
Posted by:  Gail Peszynski
Posted on:  June 28, 2002 at 13:08:07

: We have a 1 year old Jack Russell that is very well behaved in almost all areas, she has been to puppy and intermediate training classes yet we cannot get her to walk like a normal dog on a leash. She runs and pulls so hard that she makes herself choke, wheez, and sometimes vomit. We've tried a regular leash, retractable leash, harnas, and a halti...the leashes don't make a difference and the harnas and the halti she's able to get out of! We would love to take her for walks as she loves it so much, any suggestions?

Response:

Dear Gail,

Any terrier who has been trained to "sit, down, wait, stay" can walk properly on a leash regardless of whether it is wearing a collar or a harness. The trick is to use the commands your terrier already obeys before, during and after the walks:

(1) "Sit" while attaching the lead to her collar/harness.
(2) "Wait" until you go out the door first.
(3) "Sit" (or "down") and "stay" the second she begins to pull.

Reverse the direction of the walk every time she pulls. Yes, you will barely get more then a few feet each way at first but once your terrier understands that you control when and where she walks, she will stop pulling YOU on the walk...understand?

(4) "Wait" until you enter the house first.
(5) "Sit" while taking off the lead.

Quietly praise her each time she obeys a command and keep the initial training sessions short. Reward your terrier for sitting while you remove her leash at the end of every session with both praise and a favorite game or chew toy.

Be consistent with the training...your little one will learn quickly if she knows what to expect EVERY time you take her for a walk.