How to train your dog on and off the leash. First, get rid of any retractable wire leash, or anything which expands and contracts. This only instructs the dog to pull against you. The best leash is one that is longer than 10 feet made of nylon with no fancy handle. If you’re a disabled person, a plain, lightweight leash is ideal to handle with your hands and/or mouth if needed. The dog’s collar should not be a choke chain, studded with spikes or anything else which causes the dog discomfort. A puppy or very small dog should be using a harness for his own protection, since small dogs can simply slip out of their collars.

Eventually, you’ll want to train the dog off the leash. This can be done by calling the dog to come to you using a whistle, jinggling automobile keys or even a easy snapping of the fingers. This comes in really handy when you don’t want anyone else to know the dog’s name or command him without your knowledge. You can even train the dog to come to another pet name that only you and the dog know. I have known of Police K9 dogs who were trained to a foreign language to avoid interference by criminals.

You can instruct the dog to come to a treat, or by giving a Littletug to the leash in your direction. You should never be pulling or tugging the dog around. The trick is to make him come willingly, either by love or fear of punishment, but in the end “come” is the most important command of all because it could very well save the dog’s life if a vicious animal or vehicle is approaching. You can teach the dog to alert for these by saying to your assistant dog “dog coming” or “big automobile coming” so he connects the sounds and smells with the object approaching.

When the dog is off the leash, he should be taught to stay close to you or at least in your sight. I trained my dog this way by playing hide and seek. If I disappeared behind a tree, he knows he must come and find me so that we’re in sight of each other. The dog should never be allowed to rush, jump on, or go after other dogs, cats or people. You can startto train the dog this way by asking him to “sit” or “wait/stay” as these approach. It is easy to instruct the dog to stay, since you have control of the lead or leash. Being consistent and working with the dog daily will instill these behaviors instinctually. If the dog pulls or tugs on the leash, simply remind the dog with a little tug back, “no pulling.”

Big dogs like to pull their weight around, but remind the dog you are the boss and do not go any further in a walk or out the door until the dog sits, waits and knows you’re ready to go forward.

The dog is taught to sit by pulling up on the leash, with your hand on their rump, pushing down. Lie down command is done by pulling the leash down from the neck, with your hand on their back pushing down. Always give treats, love and affection for a task well done. In time, the assistant dog will perform well in order to get rewards for the job they do.

Working in a fenced or enclosed area with an untrained dog is best. This way, the dog can only run so far. I have found school yards on Sundays, and off-season tennis courts most helpful. The leash should be long enough to give the dog space, but short enough to have control over the animal.

It is simple to train the dog, if you have the right equipment and environment.