Puppy Pulling Instructions

 

 

* Some owners train puppies as early as six weeks. However, most owners start a puppy around 4 - 6 months old. The following steps are regarded as the fundamentals of training a puppy to pull.

 

* Each step requires approximately 30 minutes to 1 hour per day 3 - 4 days per week, patience, and praise.

 

 

Step #1: Leash Train Puppy - (time: 5 - 10 days)  Hint 1: Walk in front of puppy instead of on the side.  Hint 2: Walk to the end of the leash and call the puppy toward you.  Hint 3: If puppy refuses to walk toward you, gently, but quickly tug leash until puppy responds correctly.

 

Step #2: Familiarize puppy with training area such as a track or other area. - (5 - 10 days)  For example, leash walk puppy down track or a 10 - 15 foot straight walking area. This procedure should be done 10 - 15 times per training session. Hint 1: Always use the same starting position and ending position. Hint 2: Many owners only enter track from the end and only exit the track from the end. This teaches the puppy that there is only one way to enter or exit the track. Hint 3: At this stage many owners carry puppy back to starting position each time, however other owners require puppy to walk back to the starting position. Hint 4: Many owners train their dogs in sets. For example, 15 leash walks down the track or other area would be done in 3 sets of 5 walks with 5-minute rest periods after each set. Hint 5: If puppy does not perform the 5th walk appropriately (e.g. refusing to walk or jump off track) correct puppy immediately by quickly tugging down and pulling forward to end of area and then repeat the 5th. Walk until puppy performs satisfactorily. The object is to teach the dog that she/he must perform correctly in order to finish the pull. Hint 6: Many owners use a minimum of commands in a soft, yet firm voice for a puppy, then reserve a louder voice for more advanced dogs. For instance, a one-word command such as "work" or "pull" is said while puppy is walking down track area.

 

Step #3: Familiarize puppy with pulling harness - (5 - 10 days) Do not attach any weight to harness. Repeat step 2 with harness, leash, and collar. Hint 1: Do not start puppy with a harness that is too tight or too short. A tight harness will irritate the puppy and the stick of the short harness will hit the puppy's back legs. Hint 2: Do not leave puppy unattended in harness, as they will chew their way out of it. Hint 3: Many trainers simply play with the dog while she/he is wearing the harness.

 

Step #4: Add a noisy, lightweight object to harness - (5 - 10 days) Repeat step 2 with harness, leash, collar, and noisy object. Hint 1: Noise should be constant and not intermittent. For example, an empty plastic pop bottle with a few rocks inside or a set of keys produce a constant noise, but a toy or other object that only produce noise when wound or otherwise is distracting. The object of noise is to habituate the puppy to the sounds. Hint 2: Object should weigh 3 times less than puppy. For instance, a 20-pound puppy should only pull a 5-pound object. Hint 3: Correction (i.e. quick downward tugs and forward pulls with leash) and praise may be needed more at this stage. Remember to apply immediately when appropriate.

 

Step #5: Allow puppy to pull object without leash attached to collar (10 - 20 days) At starting position, detach leash, back up a few feet and call puppy toward you. Repeat this procedure until puppy starts and completes the full length of the pull independently. Remember that this step is the puppies' first independent pull. Therefore, the owner's relationship with the puppy and puppies' individual personalities are important elements at this stage. Hint 1: Hold leash in hand and stay close enough to puppy in order to quickly re-attach leash and correct puppy if it does not pull. Hint 2: Lay leash in front of puppy in order to remind them of the correction if pull is not completed (many owners drag leash in front of puppy or click the snap of leash as a reminder).

 

Step #6: Add weight to object - (3 - 4 days per week) If a plastic bottle with rocks has been used, you may simply add more rocks, but if other objects (i.e. keys) have been used, it may be necessary to change to another object entirely. The main objective is more weight. In addition to this change, another decision must be made at your judgment. It is the amount of weight to add using the puppy's weight, size, and attitude as criteria. For some puppies are very small or very large and/or may have grown twice their size in since training started, therefore a small amount or a larger amount of weight should be added appropriately. Equally important to weight is the attitude of the puppy. For example, a timid puppy may accept a little weight, whereas an aggressive puppy may accept a larger amount of weight. Hint 1: Noise is not as important now but should not be entirely eliminated. Hint 2: A smooth dragging object such as a window weight(s) or a small wheeled cart is successful for many trainers. Hint 3: Some trainers use rules for puppy's drag weight such as the weights must weigh half the weight of the puppy or 75% of the weight of the puppy. Most trainers simply judge the amount according to the puppies ability.

 

Step #7: Start endurance training (3 - 4 days per week) Endurance training is usually started around 6 - 8 months and involves one of two procedures. The first procedure is a continuation of track pulling with increments of weight changed from low to high and then back down to lower weight at end of session. A second procedure is drag weighting the puppy for a specific distance or time. Drag weighting is simply walking with the puppy while she/he pulls a smooth dragging object. Hint 1: Choose a smooth and level area as rocks or gravel may injure a puppy's pads. Hint 2: Most trainers drag weight a distance of a half mile with a puppy (depending on age). Hint 3: Leash does not have to be attached to collar, but it should be taken in case correction is needed.