These days, it seems like everyone owns a pet. It’s not really your imagination, though — many studies report that over half of all Americans own a household pet. Dogs still hold the title for most commonly found household pet, while cats continue to come in second place. If you’ve recently brought a dog home to your family, you might be starting to train them. Many dogs who were formerly strays do not have any training, so teaching them to walk on a leash or listen to simple commands will take up much of your first year with them. Here are some tips on how to train your new dog to walk on a leash! Find a Collar and Leash That’s Comfortable for Them All dogs need collars, and that includes a quality leash to go with it. However, that collar and leash should be comfortable for your dog to wear, especially since they’ll be wearing their collar 24/7 and their leash for a few hours out of each day. Our dog collar and leash sets fit all different sizes and have the most supreme comfort for dogs of any size, shape or breed. This is essential for all dogs since they won’t want to leash train if they don’t feel comfortable. Focus on Small Commands First Train your dog to respond to small commands first, such as “come” or “heel.” While the leash will serve as an additional tool during your walks, your dog should be trained to consider your tone of voice and the commands you say as their primary guide for their behavior. If you aren’t comfortable training your dog by yourself, you can contact a local trainer and speak with them about working with you to train your dog. Find a Fenced-In Area to Train While it might be tempting to just start taking your dog on a walk, you should consider some of the safety risks that comes with. If your dog pulls too hard on their leash and ends up running away, you could lose them for who knows how long. Of course, if your pet is equipped with our Tile for pets, then you’ll have a much easier time finding them. But, you can avoid the whole thing in the first place by training them to walk on their leash in a fenced-in area! If your backyard isn’t fenced, then you should take your dog to a dog park or ask a friend if you can use their backyard. Stick to a Schedule Your dog needs consistency to train successfully. Set up a schedule for you to train your dog to walk on a leash. No matter how often you choose to train, just make sure you stick with it. This makes it more likely for your dog to focus and successfully complete their training. While you might not think it makes a big impact, your dog functions best when there’s a schedule they can stick to. Get Prepared Make sure you prepare for your dog’s training! Order one of our silicone pet tags and include your pet’s name, your contact information and any additional medical or info you think anyone would need to know. You can find out more about what to put on dog tags to ensure your pup can safely complete their training, but you should also make sure to get them microchipped! If your dog is already microchipped, make sure the information is updated in the event your dog gets lost. This way, when the vet, animal hospital or organization that finds your dog goes to contact you, they have the most updated information on file. Make sure you have enough treats on hand too! Positive reinforcement is one of the top ways you can train a dog, and having enough of the treats your dog likes is essential to ensure they’re trained properly. Have Fun This is an important learning time for your dog, but it’s also a great bonding experience! Training your pup might seem like a lot of work — and trust us, it is — but it’s also very rewarding! You will notice the change in your dog’s behavior out on walks after they’re trained, and it can lead the way to you taking your dog on camping trips, having them hike with you or even having them go for a night on the town with you once they master walking on a leash around the block.