Dogs and puppies do not take to the leash as naturally as you may think. In the beginning part of leash training your toughest job as a dog owner is to teach your puppy that you are to be the center of attention instead of everything else that's going on around her. This can be quite the challenge because there are so many exciting things moving and making noises that can easily distract your little pup.
Such distractions can include other cats and dogs that are roaming the streets, interesting looking fire hydrants and other vertical objects such as trees and bushes, and of course other people walking back and forth.
All of these distractions are almost irresistible for a new puppy or dog. At first you will want to carry around a squeaky toy or some other object that makes a noise in which your dog will immediately turn his attention to. This will help you compete with the other noises and movements going on outside. As soon as your dog is not paying attention to your commands or your leash, you simply squeeze the toy and it brings him right back to you.
Of course this does not mean that you should prevent your dog from sniffing around a bit or exploring interesting areas. In fact, allowing your dog to sniff the outdoors is an important part of his social conditioning. Have you ever noticed when walking your dog that they absolutely enjoy sniffing were the last dog urinated? Well what is going on inside your dog's mind is that he is taking notes of what type of dog it was, how big or small the dog was, and whether it was male or female. You should allow your dog to do this now and again as it helps him familiarize with other animals.
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