This is the word that will usually get your pet bounding around the room,jumping up and down and even trying to open the door or picking up the lead. One of my dogs used to start even if I used part of the word –“war”! He would jump to attention and stare straight at me eager to hear the rest of the word that meant he was going out into the world of new and exciting smells,meeting other dog and other humans,chasing a ball,toy or whatever,run until he’s exhausted.
Isn’t it great to see him so excited? Don’t tease though!
But before you get him all worked up,make sue you have the three essentials:
- Lead/leash
- Collar (you need something to attach the lead to –though some systems have lead and leash in one
- Pop-scoop &bags
You might also like take treats and something to throw for him to chase.
So,what sort of lead do you use? There are so many it’s impossible to say which is best.
There are leather leads,rope leads,nylon leads even cotton leads. There are choke leads,retractable leads,leads for walking more than one dog and even leads for more than one person to walk on dog! A few examples can be seen below.
If your dog is aggressive (or rampant) you may need to keep him on the lead all the time,in which case a retractable one is a good idea,although they are not really suitable for bigger dogs. Having said that,if your dog is aggressive you should consider some professional training. There’s plenty of information to be found on the internet or bookstores or you can usually find a trainer quite locally. Walking in town you will find the short leads more convenient. My first priority though is to have a lead that is comfortable to hold,even if my dog decides he needs to pull. There is nothing worse than a lead (especially the nylon leads) that cuts into your hand when you try to bring your dog to heal,or pull him away from other dogs or people. Obviously the lead needs to be well constructed so that you and your pet don’t suddenly become disconnected when he catches a fleeting glimpse of a cat across the road and is unable to repress his natural urge to give chase. Of course,in the ideal world you will have trained your dog to complete obedience where he responds correctly to your every command and you won’t need a lead. But we all know that a dog has instincts and unless you are more aware than he is (unlikely) by the time you realise he has spotted something,he is already moving and,no matter how good the training,your commands take time to be recognised and processed,time during which he may already be in the path of a vehicle!
If you don’t have a choker or slip lead you will also need a collar. Although I use the term “collar”they are not always things that go around the neck. Just like with leads there are numerous varieties. There are nylon collars,leather collars,chain collars,pinch collars,anti-barking collars and studded collars. Then there are harnesses,the lupi (seen on the dog below) and the controversial shock collar –although this is a “training”collar rather than one used to attach a lead to for walking.
I like the lupi as it constricts the chest rather then the neck when the dog pulls and,from experience I know it is very effective.
When walking your dog on the leash,you do not want him pulling all the time and this should be discouraged from the get-go. There are numerous videos on YouTube which will demonstrate how to train your dog to walk beside you without pulling. In fact there are probably as many training methods as there are leashes and collars! Personally I am a proponent of reward and praise driven training. Show your dog a treat and hold it where you want him to walk,i.e. at your side. Have a few small treats in your hand,or handy,and let him have one after he has walked at your side for a while. Slowly increase the length of time before he gets his reward and soon he will be walking at your side as if it is the most natural thing in the world without the need for treats –but give him some anyway.
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