Off Leash Dog Training Begins at an Early Age
Many people wish their dog was trained to obey commands even when off the leash. The problem is that most people don’t understand off leash dog training and believe that it is a miracle that can occur overnight with the right sort of training. If you start early, you can teach your dog good habits when it is young and most susceptible to training. The best part is if you show your puppy love and respect from the very beginning you will end up with a well trained and well behaved dog. Here are some dog training tips on how to self train your pooch.
The first step is to ensure you take appropriate means when you begin training your dog, because you want to be able to rein in your pet if there is an emergency or similar situation. The best thing to do is start with an exceptionally long leash, preferably at least ten or twelve feet; this will allow to you to let the dog roam free and still be able to catch him if necessary. The goal isn’t to hold the leash, but just let the dog drag it along with him. You want to start in familiar areas at first and before you let go of the leash, lead your dog around and let them sniff until they are content and no longer curious.
You want to make sure to bring some treats or favorite toys to help with teaching the dog to return when you call them. In the beginning you want to treat and praise the dog on every single return. The important thing is to avoid grabbing the dog or their collar when they return. You don’t want to teach the dog that returning means grabbing their collar or putting them on a leash. Yelling or screaming at the dog to return is just a bad idea. You need to make sure you are always upbeat and positive, so you can associate happy feelings with returning to you.
Off leash dog training is a goal that most want to accomplish. The amount of work involved can make it rough to obtain and needs to be started early. If you put in the work though, you will be rewarded with a loyal and loving animal that is happy and willing to obey commands. Proper training leads to a good natured and well behaved dog, which is a goal we all aspire to with our pets.