Would you like to teach your puppy to follow you? All puppies have an instinctive desire to follow, and teaching “follow” helps build trust while laying a foundation for other commands like heel and recall. Following is a fun and engaging game for puppies, including breeds like Huskies, Australian Shepherds, and German Shepherds. While it’s ideal to start this exercise before your puppy reaches four months old, it can be practiced with dogs of any age. Below is a guide to help you teach your puppy how to follow.
Supply List:
- A harness or collar (a no-slip martingale collar works best)
- A 50ft long leash (or long line)
- Kibble or your puppy’s favorite treats
Safety:
Since we recommend using a 50ft long line, please be aware of any cars, streets, or other dangers your puppy can reach. Austin has many dog-friendly hiking trails and state parks where you can train your puppy, including Mueller Lake Park and Zilker Park. For those new to Austin, the average day from June to September can reach the 90s, so we recommend finding a shaded area, keeping training short, and bringing plenty of water during the summer months.
Step 1: Making follow into a game
- Attach the long line to your puppy and place them inside your home, backyard, or driveway. Then, start walking away from them.
- Encourage your puppy with enthusiastic praise when it follows. Once it reaches your legs, reward it with a treat, then turn and walk in the opposite direction.
- If your puppy is not following you, try offering them other high-value treats and praise. You can also apply some light pressure on their leash in your direction.
- When your puppy gets to you, reward them with a treat and continue walking in the opposite direction.
Step 2: Practice in public
- Use the same approach as before, but now in a park environment with more distractions. Begin in an open field or a wide-open space. Mueller Lake Park has many large open areas where you can practice this command.
- While your puppy has the long line on, walk away from them.
- Offer enthusiastic praise when your puppy starts following you, and offer some treats when they get to your legs.
- Walk in the opposite direction and repeat the same steps so your puppy continues to follow.
- To encourage them to keep your puppy following you, you can enthusiastically call out their name, run and play with them, and make verbal cues, including kissing noises.
- If your puppy stops following, walk all the way to the end of the long line and call their name. Continue offering praise as they come to you.
If the 50-foot line is too long for a public place with distractions, you can shorten it to a 10-15-foot line that is easier to manage. We recommend practicing this command three times a week for two to three weeks until your puppy starts regularly following you. Then you can then practice this command once a week or every two weeks.
We’re here to help
Are you feeling overwhelmed with teaching your puppy obedience commands and manners?
You can book a free consultation with our Co-Founder, Sean Savage CDBC, CPDT-KA. Sean will offer expert training recommendations while listening to your specific training and behavior goals. Our Austin Obedience and Manners Puppy Training Programs are personalized to meet your needs in the home and wherever you will take your puppy in the greater Austin area.
For more training tips, you can visit Austin’s Puppy Training Blog for informative articles, including “Teaching your Puppy Place” and “How to Puppy Proof your Home.” We also post blogs on our “Austin Dog-Friendly Guide,” including the “Best Local Pet Stores in Austin.”
