Training Dog to Lead with or without Leash

This is the hardest exercise for obedience training. It's not good to rush, one must have unlimited patience, without thinking ever that he is already an expert.

1. Leading is not synonymous of walking in the park: the dog should walk with his shoulder at the same height as your left knee, and keeping attention to what you do. The latter is obtained by controlling him with the hand's pressure on the leash, and showing him his ball
2. To lead him without dog leash, start leaving this on the floor indifferently, and keep walking and ordering the dog as if nothing has happened. If the dog has a good reaction, after some steps stop, order him to sit down, and then pick up the leash. Repeat it some times more. When a signal of disobedience, doubt or excessive euphoria appears, stop and get the leash immediately. When this happens, do not repeat the exercise till the next day.
3. When the dog is walking calmly at your side, with the leash on the floor, take it away from him.
4. Always have "his" ball in your hands, and show it to him once in a while during training, so the dog will be glad to be next to you feeling playing time is closer. If you can maintain the dog's emotional tension, results can be great.

This command is very important as well as very useful. This order makes the dog staying put (lying, sitting or standing) when the conductor leaves him. Normally dogs dislike this exercise, cause they always want to be next to their owner. This is why time and patience is needed. You can order him wait!, quiet!, etc... Starting with a leash leading, you may reduce the speed to a maximum. Then, extend your arm towards his snout, ordering him wait! (or some other you decided), and start going back slowly (always looking at him). If the dog tries to get up, order him No, wait! with loud voice. The first times this exercise is done, is enough to go two or three steps back. In following lessons, increase the waiting time and separation, till the dog has completely understand the order. Don't ever think this exercises are too difficult and only necessary for working dogs. Wait!, for instance, is one of the most useful exercises for dogs living in the city, cause there are many places they are not allowed, and they will have to wait outside. No matter how well trained is a puppy, don't ever leave him alone on the sidewalk outside the house. For your own good better tie the leash to a post or street lamp. In any case, training is necessary, cause an untrained dog tied in front of a shop, could get nervous and hurt himself, while if he knows the word wait!, he will stay quiet and confident knowing his owner will come back for him.