LOOSE LEASH WALKING! How-to train with silken windhound puppy

My method of teaching loose leash walking, i.e. leash manners, with positive reinforcement training. These are the VERY basics. Featuring Disco, a 5-month-old silken windhound puppy.

[@sketchbookistart7531]

Please keep posting puppy training with her! I think they are super helpful- especially for me with my 4 month old silken puppy!

[@alesiakunz8146]

I really liked this video. You were very clear and concise with your directions. Disco was awesome.

[@vespertinecat]

Thanks for the video! I plan on getting a silken (hopefully to train as a service dog) and while I have training books, it's always nice to have videos like this as visual instruction. Disco is precious, too!

[@Heavilune]

Disco is so pretty!!!

[@elizabethscott4162]

What a wonderful training video…clear, concise, practical instruction. Your pup is gorgeous and obviously intelligent and already loyal. I am hopeful to have a Silken one day.

[@wildmeadow_windhounds9004]

Thank you for the lovely comment. Glad the video was appreciated.

[@briansrecordingarchive6579]

Excellent video.

[@PrinceOfGenovia]

Thank you for the helpful video! My family is considering getting a puppy sometime in the next year, so I am doing my research. I really like the whippets based on their temperament and exercise needs. It seems like the silken windhounds might be similar to the whippets in that respect, but there is not a lot of information about them since they are such a new breed. Are you able to comment on your experience? How much exercise do you think your SW needs daily in terms of minutes/hours? Any observations you can provide are really appreciated - Thanks again!!

[@falcolf]

Disco is distinctly gorgeous! Is her coat brindle or merle? I'm having trouble deciding haha. Pretty pup distraction aside I really appreciate this video and how you teach the lesson so clearly. I want to train my future dog for hiking so good leash skills will be an absolute must! Also, there's just something about a well mannered dog on a leash; I think it really shows that you are a responsible pup parent when your dog leashes nicely.❤

[@wildmeadow_windhounds9004]

Thank you! Glad that you appreciated the video. I hike with my crew frequently. With multiple dogs, it's extra important to me that they have nice leash manners! Disco is brindle, but a particularly flashy brindle. She's registered as an Irish marked fawn brindle. Silken windhounds actually do not come in merle.

[@falcolf]

@@wildmeadow_windhounds9004 Oh! That is so pretty, I had no idea that they didn't come in merle, I guess the merle gene must not have been present in the sheltie stock used in the breed creation. Thank you sooo much for answering my question, I really appreciate it. ❤️

[@WyrdHag]

The only reinforced my dog care about when she meet other dogs, is getting to those dogs. Treats and everything else is simply blocked out from her brain the moment she see another dog, and she'll throw herself towards them while barking madly. How would you use positive reinforcement on that? 🤔

[@wildmeadow_windhounds9004]

I like to teach a "watch me" for reactive dogs. I build a history of high value reinforcement for eye contract, both at a stand still and while walking. I would practice the behavior, get it solid before practicing around other dogs. Once there, work around other dogs at a distance "under threshold"/before your dog is out of control, and gradually over sessions, work the behavior closer and closer to other dogs. If you're on a walk and unexpectedly encounter another dog such that your dog is out of control, create distance. Back up, change directions, whatever you need to do, then ask for the trained behavior (for me it's "watch me"), reward, then move forward when able. Don't give in to a pull, and don't allow a dog to greet/reward itself when it's behaving rudely.

[@wildmeadow_windhounds9004]

A group training session with a positive reinforcement trainer can be really helpful for dogs/puppies that are overexcited around other dogs. The dogs get used to working around other dogs and not being allowed to greet or play.