The Leash: Your Most Underrated Training Tool 🐾

Andrea Rigby
Sep 1, 2024
4 min read

When it comes to training your new puppy or dog, there’s one tool that often gets overlooked but is incredibly effective: the leash! Yes, that’s right, the magical, wonderful leash. Simple yet invaluable, a leash isn’t just for walking your dog outside—it’s a powerful communication tool that can transform your training experience, especially during those early days when your dog is still learning the rules of their new home.

Here’s why the leash deserves more credit and how you can use it to set your pup up for success.

Trainer Tip: Keep the Leash On

Leash up! By keeping a leash on your puppy or dog while you are with them, you can:

Steer their decisions: Prevent behaviors like counter-surfing, jumping on guests, or hopping onto off-limits furniture.
Prevent potty accidents: Quickly guide them to the appropriate spot.
Create healthy boundaries: Limit access to areas they’re not ready for yet.

Training doesn’t have to be a struggle. Keeping a leash on your dog allows you to communicate clearly and consistently. Think of it as an old-school landline phone connecting you to your dog, making it easier to teach them what you expect.

The Leash: More Than a Restraint

Let’s say it together: The leash is a training tool. It’s not just for keeping your dog from running off during walks. The leash allows you to:

Provide immediate feedback when your dog is making an inappropriate choice.
Prevent bad habits from forming by stopping unwanted behaviors before they start.
Teach your dog what to do instead of just saying “no” over and over.

Your puppy doesn’t yet understand your words, so your voice alone won’t get the message across. Using a leash gives you a way to physically guide them toward better choices.

Inside vs. Outside Leashes

An excerpt from our Puppy Guide, we recommend keeping three leashes:

Outdoor Leash: A dedicated leash for potty breaks and outside playtime. It’s okay if this one gets a little dirty!
1. Keep in mind this one might be let to drag about the yard while outside with your puppy, so don’t use anything too fancy here.
2. This is typically a longer leash, maybe 8-15 feet, and you may want to snip off the handle.
3. Use this one to let your puppy explore and have a bit more freedom around safely contained areas.
Indoor Leash (or “House Line”): A lightweight leash for indoor use.
1. Consider snipping off the handle of your indoor leash to reduce the risk of the leash getting caught on furniture as your puppy drags it around.
2. A shorter leash will do the trick; consider a 6-foot length.
3. Always supervise your pup when they have a leash on.
Walking Leash: This is the leash you want to use for your walks, vet visits, training field trips in public, etc.
1. We recommend a 4-foot slip leash, but if you want a longer one, don’t go for more than 6 feet. The longer the leash, the less control you have to safely guide your pup.
2. Walks are for being together as a team to safely show your dog around their environment, not time to put distance between you and go off on their own to explore too far from you.
3. Whatever length and style you select, be sure it fits snuggly and securely on your dog to avoid accidentally slipping out of equipment and getting lost or injured. For more information on leashes, see our recommendations here. (link to shop when opened).

Have You Tried Using a Leash Indoors?

This topic is the one that usually gets me a puzzled response during my consultations. It begins with a surprised look, but then, I can almost see the lightbulb go on as I share why using a leash inside is a game-changer. Seriously, it makes all the difference, but it’s so obvious most people don’t even think about using a leash indoors.

An indoor leash allows you to:

Prevent behaviors like jumping on people, chewing on furniture, or running off with your shoe.
Correct behaviors in the moment without creating a chasing game that reinforces bad habits.
Teach your dog what you do want by guiding them gently toward appropriate behaviors.

Your indoor leash is your landline to communicate with your dog. By using a leash indoors, you’re proactively preventing issues that are harder to correct later. Remember, it’s easier to prevent bad habits than to fix them once they’re ingrained.

Safety First

It’s important to use the leash responsibly:

Supervise your dog: Only use the indoor leash when you’re actively with your dog and able to monitor them.
Remove the leash when unattended: Never leave the leash on your dog when they’re alone, crated, or unsupervised.

A Simple, Effective Start

Using a leash indoors is one of the easiest ways to teach your dog what’s expected in their new home. It bridges the communication gap between you and your pup, allowing you to guide their decisions and set them up for success.

Investing in this simple tool and technique now will save you time and frustration down the road. So, next time you’re working with your puppy or new dog, leash up and let the training begin!

Do you need help teaching your puppy leash manners or learning to use the leash as an effective training tool? Give me a shout at andrea@bestlifecanine.com to get on my schedule!

Happy training,