How To Leash And Collar Train Your Dog

There are many methods of dog training, and determining the one that works best for you is important for creating a dog that is an obedient, loyal and faithful family member.  All successful methods of dog training work to reinforce the relationship between dog and owner, and the foundation of any successful training program is obtaining the respect of the dog.  Fortunately, dogs are geared by nature to seek out leaders, and to follow the direction of those leaders.

This article focuses on one of the most popular methods of dog training,which is the method of leash and collar training.  You will find other popular styles of training dogs, often called reward training or positive reinforcement.

Both leash and collar training and reward training have been around for a very long time, and they have shown their effectiveness over time.  Training methods that work best can vary from breed to breed and from dog to dog.  Each breed of dog has its own unique qualities, reinforced by hundreds of years of selective breeding..

As you know, personalities of individual dogs vary quite a bit, even within established breeds.  You, as dog owner, know better than anyone which style of dog training will work best, so it is key to work with the trainer that you have selected to achieve your goal of an eager, obedient and friendly, dog.

Leash and collar training is the best way to achieve one of the many types of dog training, especially in situations where the dog must have a high level of dependability.  For instance, dogs that have an essential job to do, such as rescue dogs, police dogs and guard dogs, normally benefit from leash and collar training.

In leash and collar training, varying degrees of force can be used, ranging from slight prompts with the lead to very harsh corrections.  The amount of correction used should be suitable to the situation, since using too much correction, or too little, will be ineffective.

In a collar and leash based dog training program, first the dog is taught a particular behavior, normally with the leash.  After the dog has proven that it understands the command, the leash is then used to correct the dog if it disobeys, or when it makes a mistake.The primary method of controlling and communicating with dog in leash and collar training is the leash.

When using leash and collar training, the dog needs to be trained to trust the owner and accept his or her directions without question.  In order for the dog to be fully trained, the owner must demonstrate the ability to place the dog into a posture or position he or she does not want to take.  This does not mean using force, but it does generally require some level of physical manipulation.  This manipulation is most easily and safely done using the primary method of leash and collar training ,which is the leash.

It is key that every would be dog trainer to understand that the leash is simply a tool.  While the leash is an important tool in this form of training, it is important for the dog trainer to be able to eventually achieve the same results using whatever tools are at hand.

Even when the only tools at hand are the owner’s body and skill, the dog should be willing to obey.  Creating a leader/follower relationship between owner and dog is still very important, and it is important to use the leash as a tool and not a crutch.  A properly trained dog should be willing to obey whether the leash is present or not.