Dog Training - Teaching Your Pet To Stop At Streets

We unfortunately found out the hard way just how important it is to include this little dog training technique in your teaching. What we want to do is teach your pet not to cross the street without any verbal cue from you. It can be done with a little effort and time on your part.

You want to start this dog training by walking about five feet from the street with your pet heeling by your side. Obviously he must first learn how to heel. As you get close to the street, do not give any indication that you are going to stop. The goal is to have your dog automatically stop and sit because he recognizes this as a street, even as you continue to walk past the curb and onto the street.

You'll need to give yourself some leash room for this because you're going to increase your speed as you move into the street. You want to add some distance between you and your pet. The extra leash will keep you from inadvertently jerking your dog onto the street.

If your dog follows you onto the street, turn around and pop the leash and say "No! Back! Street!". Your hands should be over his right ear where all the pops take place. Later you can control him is he starts to enter the street by quickly turning around and saying "Back! Street! Sit!". Practice this as many times as possible. As your pet begins to identify streets on his own, he will likely stop at driveways also.

As you take this dog training further, you will stop even further out into the street, as much as a full car width away from the curb. At this level, you can drop the leash from your hands. But keep it just in front of your feet so you can step on it in case your puppy decides to bolt across the street. You can use a 10 foot leash for this. The longer lead will allow you to more easily step on it if your pup starts to run.

You want your puppy to get used to the idea that you are standing even further into the street and that he can't join you unless you give the command to bring him to your side and sit. If he follows you onto the street, do not react harshly or panic by screaming at him. Remember this is a new exercise and his instinct is to stay at your side. You need to stay calm and turn the mistake into a positive training session

Direct him back to the curb as you say "Back" as you initiate your movement backward with your left foot while your left hand chips the leash to your waist. When his front paws hit the curb say "Street", and when his hind legs hit say "Sit".

Once he is safely back on the curb, step back out onto the street a full car width away from the curb. Because you are adding distance from your pup, he should increase his focus on you. That's what you want. You want to be seen as the leader.

This dog training exercise is not only good for dogs but also for owners. Most dog owners are nervous being in the street with their pet, so they tend to rush across the street. But that sends a bad message to your dog. He's learning that it's OK to blindly rush across. And if he does it with you, he will certainly do it on his own if he gets loose from you.

One last point although it should be obvious. Do not practice this dog training on a busy street. Work on it in a more quiet area.

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