Ask The Dog Trainer!

Puppy Leash Walking
By Maggie Marshall, ABCDT • Maggie Marshall Dog Training

By starting your puppy off right, you can expect many years of pleasant walks together. EVERY time your puppy is on a leash, it is an opportunity to teach him what you want. If you are unprepared to teach him he will still learn, but it will be to pull you rather than walk nicely by your side.

Start by using the right equipment. I recommend a 4-6 foot leash. The flexi leashes provide constant tension and can actually encourage pulling. Ask for a "sit" and hook the leash to your puppy’s collar or harness. If you move forward and the leash is tight, the puppy is pulling. Continuing to move forward will teach the puppy that pulling is good. It gets him where he wants to go! Don’t reward pulling. Stop immediately. Wait for the puppy to move to where the leash is slack, then move on. Your walks may be somewhat annoying at first, with all this stopping, but keep it up. It’s a small price to pay for years of nice walking to come.

Encourage your puppy to pay attention to you. When the puppy starts getting the message that a loose leash means he gets to move forward, ask him for more. If the leash gets tight, stop and wait. When the puppy looks back at you, immediately start moving and praise the puppy with a “good dog!” Teaching a puppy to walk on a loose leash and to pay attention to you is well worth the effort. Have patience with your puppy and take the time to do this right. A dog that pulls usually becomes a dog that doesn’t get walked, which can only lead to trouble for the dog and for you. Encourage his attention by turning frequently and by practicing sit randomly while on a walk. Turn it into a game by playing “red light, green light” with your puppy. Red light if he pulls, green light when he sits. Have fun!

RESCUED Is My Favorite Breed

Yang's Story

I adopted a cat from the Safe Animal Shelter over 15 years ago, and this year he passed in my lap. I wanted a black cat and he was the last of his litter, his shelter name was Zorro. He was renamed Yang to go with his big sis Yin (a stray).

He was such a great companion, he had an attitude like many cats, but he would tell me when he was ready for bed, or if he wanted to be touched. Yang's favorite snack was Pringles and chip dip or goldfish crackers. He would sleep on our legs to make sure we didn't get to roll over until we got his permission first. The best compliment from friends is that they liked Yang even though they didn't care for cats.

Yang had a younger sister, a 70 lb English Bulldog (also adopted) and he didn't hesitate to let her know that he was not willing to share his couch or his space. Even though he could walk away he would tease her and wait to the last minute to retreat. They in reality were great companions. That bulldog I think misses him to this day.

Yang was a member of a military family, and we always made the effort to have him with us. He traveled from Florida, to Hawaii, Kansas, and Alabama.

Our home in Germany is empty now without him, but we know that in the near future another cat will find a forever family with us.

Debi, Gene & Finnegan Hart
US Army • Bamberg, Germany

Have You Adopted From Safe? Share your love story, email us.