One of the many fun things you’ll get to experience with a new puppy, is taking them out on a walk. Watching them explore the world, discover new sights, smells and sounds and interact with other dogs and people is always a joy.
Wondering when you can start taking your puppy out on walks? Or how to train them to walk on a leash? You’re in the right place. Here, we’ll be sharing our top tips on leash training so you can feel confident on taking your pup out into the big wide world for the first time.
A puppy can go for their first walk 1-2 weeks after completing their vaccination course. It’s very important to wait until they are fully vaccinated to protect them from dangerous diseases that can be picked up from other dogs and contaminated objects, such as parvovirus (parvo), which is highly contagious and can be devastating to young puppies, distemper, hepatitis, parainfluenza and more.
In the meantime, they can be taken out into a safe and secure garden to start their toilet training, allowing them to explore and begin learning how to walk on a leash.
When it comes to choosing the best leash for your puppy, you’ll want to take into account their size, breed and temperament. The ideal leash length for a puppy is between 1.5 and 2 metres long, as this offers plenty of freedom of movement while still being able to keep them in control. Nylon leashes are also often preferable as they are durable, lightweight and easy to clean.
It’s recommended to avoid using retractable leashes as this makes controlling your puppy more difficult and can be a safety concern if your puppy is near a busy road or an unfriendly older dog. If your puppy has bundles of energy, you may also find that a retractable leash is yanked from your hand if they were to suddenly run.
A puppy’s first walk should be very short, around 10-15 minutes long, so as not to overwhelm or overexert them. Since a puppy’s joints are still developing, taking them on a long walk can cause unnecessary strain. As they age month by month, you can gradually increase the walking time by 5 minutes, so a 6-month-old puppy will be able to handle walks up to 30 minutes.
Walks can be both exciting and scary for a new puppy. While it provides excellent mental stimulation and physical exercise, you’ll need to ensure every walk is a positive experience with plenty of praise to help build their confidence. You should also keep a close eye on your puppy to watch for any signs of tiredness and discomfort, such as panting, getting slower or lying down, in which case end the walk and carry them back to the car or home to let them rest their weary legs.
Now you know when a puppy can go on a walk, the type of leash to get and how long the walk should be, it’s time to get into the training! Here, we’ve got 7 of our top tips for successfully introducing the leash and teaching your puppy how to walk successfully while using one.
The first step is getting your puppy used to wearing a collar or harness. Introduce these items early by letting the puppy wear them for short periods of time around the house. You’ll want your puppy to associate a collar or harness with something fun, so, while they’re wearing it, offer plenty of play time, praise and treats.
Reward-based training is the most effective and humane way to teach your puppy and is highly recommended by dog owners and experts alike. This style of training involves using praise, a favourite toy or puppy teats to reward your dog with when they display positive behaviour, such as not pulling on the leash, walking close to you and coming back to you when asked, which then encourages them to repeat this behaviour in the future.
If your puppy does something they shouldn’t, they should be ignored, rather than shouted at. Reward-based training offers a fun, positive and loving environment that will help not only build the relationship between you and your puppy but also quickly teach them what’s right and wrong.
While getting your puppy used to wearing a collar or harness, it may also be a good idea to practice walking them on the leash inside the house or around the garden. Before attaching the leash, allow the puppy to give it a good sniff and explore it first. Again, use treats and praise when the puppy successfully walks on the leash or comes back to you. Make sure you also stay calm and be patient as your puppy gets used to the new experience.
It’s inevitable that your puppy will pull on their leash initially. Leash pulling is a very common behaviour as they learn their boundaries and limits. Using a loose-leash walking method will help prevent the puppy from pulling and teach them how to walk properly. The method involves rewarding your puppy every few paces when they walk without pulling. If they start to pull, simply stop walking and wait until they have stopped and returned to your side. This teaches them that pulling equals no walking and not pulling equals a fun walk with tasty treats.
If your puppy is prone to pulling on the leash, it may be best to use a harness rather than a collar so they are easier to control and don’t end up hurting themselves.
Before taking your puppy out for their first walk, it’s important to teach them some basic commands. This will help to prevent any potential risks, such as picking up dangerous items like rubbish or a toxic plant. It also helps to build your own confidence during their first few walks, knowing that your puppy will listen and perform these commands.
Some commands to teach include:
Recall is vital for keeping your puppy safe, as it means teaching them to come back whenever they’re called. In a busy park full of other dogs, bikes, joggers, children and other exciting distractions, teaching them recall will put your mind at ease that they know when to come back. It also gives you the option to enjoy some walks off the leash when the puppy is older.
For recall training, the following methods are both fun and effective:
As with any type of dog training, consistency is key. Repetition, rewards and patience are all you need for a well-trained dog. If your consistent training slips, you may find your puppy regresses.
It’s also important to remember that while your puppy may be confident in their training at home, where it’s relatively calm, the outside world brings some unpredictable distractions. To help tackle this, read our puppy socialisation guide for things you can do before their first walk to ensure your puppy grows into a well-adjusted dog.
To give your puppy the best start in life, our range of puppy food has been specially designed to support your puppy as they grow into happy, healthy dogs.
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