Q&A for How to Leash Train a Puppy

Reward your puppy with treats and praise whenever he starts to walk. It may also help to let your puppy choose where he wants to walk (within reason) rather than trying to control the destination.

No. It's a better idea to reward your puppy with a treat whenever they're walking well. This will encourage better behavior.

It's great to get puppy out and walking as soon as they are protected by their vaccine protocol. The age at which this occurs depends on the vaccine brand and the individual protocol, and can vary hugely from 10 weeks to 16 weeks.

My personal preference is for a harness, although many people will disagree. A puppy pulling on a collar may choke themself and still pull - they don't seem to make the connection between pulling and not being able to breathe!

You can start from as young as 8 weeks by getting the puppy used to wearing a collar for periods of time. Teach leash walking as a fun game, anywhere from 10-12 weeks onwards, depending on the individual pup - but just don't expect too much too soon.

Above all, make sure training is fun for the puppy. Use an excited tone of voice to engage its interest, and praise or small treats to encourage the dog when it does well.

You don't need to use the harness during potty time, only during walks. You should keep the collar on at all times.

Hold the leash close by the collar and walk. Be sure to reward good behavior.

A puppy chewing the leash is completely normal. They want to play with everything! But clicker training works wonders. Every time the pup walks normally, click and treat. If the pup chews the leash, you stop walking, no click, no treat.

Yes! Harnesses are way better than collars. They are safer and less likely to slip over your dog's head. You can also train them just as well in a harness.

The general advice is that a puppy should not wear a collar until they are 16 weeks old.

Try holding the treat in your hand as you walk. If that does not work, try using a misting spray on her to get her to get up. Also try using a squeak toy. She might be sick or in heat. See a vet if my suggestions do not work.

With a firm voice (not yelling), say "No bite." If you are playing and it happens, stop the activity. Consistently doing this will teach them that biting is not OK. You can also put your thumb in the pup's mouth and hold their tongue down with soft pressure so as not to harm. Firmly say "No," or "No bite." The pup will squirm and wiggle, but hold on for a few seconds so they will connect this action with biting. Remember, this is how puppies explore their world, much like human babies put everything in their mouths, puppies chew and bite. Do not hit or yell at your puppy, as this will make them more aggressive.

Use the same treat/click method. If you want to train the dog to go outside and on puppy pads, put some grass on the pads and encourage them to go there. Once your dog understands not to pull, and to go when there's grass, your dog will enjoy going on walks.

They collar is too heavy for some dogs to wear around their necks.

Just about 16 weeks old. Don't put a leash on a dog younger than that, as they could choke.

Get in front of him/her. Say "no" firmly, but don't shout. Stand still. Give him/her a treat if they stop barking. Do this consistently and you should be able to train them not to bark.

Just like human babies learn by mouthing, so do puppies. It is a normal behavior, and not intended as an angry bite. When the puppy bites, quickly say “ouch!” If the puppy continues, then simply turn your back and end the play. Never ever use punishment for any behavior with a dog of any age. Dogs learn by positive reinforcement. Reward good behavior and let your puppy know how pleased you are. Your dog wants to make you happy and they will continue the good behavior. Really, the best “punishment “ is ending the activity. You don’t need to say anything or act mad. Simply turn away and end the fun. Enjoy your puppy, because just like with babies, they grow up too quickly.

A puppy chewing the leash is completely normal. They want to play with everything! But clicker training works wonders. Every time the pup walks normally, click and treat. If the pup chews the leash, you stop walking, and give no treat.

Start with associating the collar with good things. Show the collar to your puppy and treat them. Then if they start showing interest in the collar treat the puppy again. If the puppy tries biting you then simply stand say 'no' calmly, but firmly and turn around and ignore the dog for 30 seconds. Then start again from the beginning and train the dog in short 3 minute intervals that the collar is a good thing. It can also help to put the collar on the dog whilst the dog is eating one of their meals. That way the dog will associate the collar with food. Take your time with this training; each dog learns at its own pace and you should not rush or be impatient with key training.

Rub a thin line of washing up liquid on both sides of the lower part of the lead. This will taste so unpleasant that the dog will stop chewing it.

It is always helpful to be very consistent. Consider using a training professional to address bad behaviors, as you said they are still young! In my experience I have always used the Colorado Dog Academy for my training. I've had 6 medium to large dogs and each one responds amazingly to firm, yet comfortable voices that tell them to "heel" (or fuss if you train them in German, the German language seems to trigger my dogs to listen and understand what I am requesting without other family members or roommates confusing them.) Sometimes training a dog takes a professional since they are indeed that; professionals!

It could take quite a bit of time. One of my favorite strategies is to walk with your puppy one way, and then when he starts pulling immediately turn and walk the opposite way. When he pulls that way, turn back, eventually, your dog will start to get it, and go from there.

Bitter apple may help. It’s a liquid, usually spray, most dogs don’t like. Otherwise, try to keep the pup distracted from the leash with treats and activities. This is something they will eventually grow out of.

Get a short leash. Or cut an old one. Let the pup run around with the short leash, supervised. Pick up the leash and call them to you and treat occasionally.

Stop changing things so often. The pup will never get desensitized to the harness. At this point you will likely have to introduce the harness with treats. Don’t even put it on them. Then lay it on their back and treat. When they are used to that, put it around their head and treat. Take it off, repeat. And gradually put the harness on more and more. Flooding is not recommended. That would be just putting the harness in and leave it on until they calm down. This can, but not always, lead to anxiety issues.

Leash train with just the puppy first. Maybe start in your house/apartment and then go on some short walks outside. When the puppy is trained not to pull, not to be distracted by other dogs and animals, then you can start taking your older doggy on walks with you and the puppy. Make sure to train your pup not to bother your other dog and make sure to reward him when he does what is wanted!

A miniature Goldendoodle is wonderful as a therapy pet. They are gentle and very intuitive.