How To Introduce Your Puppy to a Leash

• Not a substitute for professional veterinary help.

Getting a puppy used to their leash is one of the most important parts of early training. Not only does it help keep pups safe on walks, but it also lowers their risk of leash-related anxiety and behavioral issues later in life.

For new puppies, a leash is just another object with no particular emotion attached to it. That’s why introducing them to it early on, when your pup is receptive to new experiences, is so important. The whole goal, explains CPDT-KA certified dog trainer Sassafras Patterdale, is to help puppies make a positive association with the leash from the start.

In this article, we’ll cover step-by-step instructions for introducing a puppy to a leash, plus tips for troubleshooting common issues.

Pro-tip: Getting your puppy used to a leash is just one part of socialization. To discover what all your pup should learn in their formative months, reach out to a puppy trainer near you for a comprehensive training plan. 

How To Introduce a Puppy to a Leash

Before you start, your puppy should already be comfortable with you putting on and touching their collar or harness (whichever one you plan to use for walks). Once you’ve mastered this part of desensitization, the leash is next!

You’ll also need lots of tasty training treats, as you’ll be using a high rate of reinforcement—the number of times you deliver a reward within a designated period of time. If you’re worried about exceeding your pup’s recommended treat intake, set aside a portion of their meal and use their kibble for training instead.

Step 1: Build a positive association with the leash

The first step is to introduce your puppy to the leash and pair it with good things (leash = treats). To start:

• Stand with the leash behind your back and call your puppy over.
• Calmly pull the leash out from behind you and present it to your puppy.
• When your puppy looks at the leash, mark the moment with a clicker or a “yes!” and give them a treat.
• Put the leash behind your back, and start again.

Projected timeline: Repeat this step for 1-2 days, or until your puppy is interested when the leash appears.

Step 2: Practice attaching the leash

Now that your puppy thinks that the leash is pretty cool when you’re holding it, help them form a positive association with attaching it to their collar or harness. To do this:

• Stand with the leash in your hand, and wait until your puppy is calmly in front of you. (Ideally, they’ll offer you an auto sit or a down, though a calm stand can work here, too.) Reward your puppy with a treat for their calm behavior.
• Next, gently attach the leash to their collar or harness. Immediately reward with another treat and praise your puppy.
• Wait a few seconds, then reward your puppy again for remaining calm with the leash attached.
• Finally, give another treat before unclipping the leash and starting again. (Make sure to end each session while your puppy is successful!)

Projected timeline: Work on this step until your puppy can remain calm while you attach and unclip the leash. Shoot for 5-7 days, but this may take many repetitions.

Step 3: Add duration and movement

Next, you’ll want to build duration and a little movement to help your puppy get used to wearing the leash. You can do this by:

• Adding more time before you unclip the leash. Just make sure to reward your puppy while they’re still calm—before they start biting or pulling the leash.
• Taking mini “walks” for a few minutes at a time. Start inside the house and then try outside your door in short bursts. Drop treats beside you, so your puppy stays next to you without pulling ahead or dragging behind.

Projected timeline: Work on this step for 2-3 weeks until your puppy is ready for longer walks.

A note on training timelines

Patterdale acknowledges that the time it takes to introduce a leash can vary depending on your dog and your particular home environment. “If you’re living in an apartment, for example, you may not be able to wait as long to take your puppy out on a leash, versus if you have a fenced yard,” they explain.

The most important thing is to ensure that wearing the leash is a stress-free experience. “As you go outside where there are more distractions, keep the rate of reinforcement with treats, toys, and praise high so that being on a leash is seen as rewarding,” Patterdale adds.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

What if my puppy sees the leash and gets the zoomies?

If your puppy gets overly excited when you get out the leash, remove it until they’ve settled down. Wait for them to offer a preferred behavior, like a sit or a down. Then, reward the calm behavior before attaching the leash.

If you notice a pattern of your puppy getting overly excited before you go outside, practice putting on (and taking off) the leash at the door. These repetitions can help reduce over-arousal before heading outdoors.

How do I stop my puppy from biting the leash?

Many puppies can’t resist the fun of chomping on their leash, especially if they’re teething. The best way to prevent your puppy from biting the leash is to get ahead of the behavior and increase your rate of reinforcement.

For example, if your puppy tends to bite the leash when you put it on them, drop a few treats on the ground to redirect them before you attach it. Then praise them and reward them once the leash is on, continuing to deliver treats for having the leash on and not biting it.

If your puppy bites the leash before you can get ahead of it, then redirect them by playing the name game, using a hand target, or scattering treats from the leash. Add a bit of movement, keeping their head away from the leash and increasing the rate of reinforcement before they can bite again, then unclipping it when they’re successful.

What if my puppy runs away from the leash?

If your puppy runs away from the leash and acts frightened, you’ll want to break things down and give them more agency. Set the leash on the floor and reward your puppy for looking at it, orienting their body toward it, sniffing it, or interacting with it in any way.

Once your puppy is comfortable with approaching the leash on the ground, practice picking it up and presenting it to them, rewarding heavily along the way, before attempting to clip it on them.