For a dog that is not accustomed to a collar and leash, this is the most difficult period of training. Leashworking will teach your dog to pay attention to you. Attention must be obtained before any training can begin. Do the following work outdoors:
Collar placement: Take hold of the slip chain collar by one ring with the right hand. With the left hand, take hold of the other ring at hanging end of chain. Now with the right hand, maneuver the chain so that it drops down through the ring held by the left hand till the rings meet. The right hand is holding the "working" ring. The left hand has hold of the "dead" ring. Place the collar over the dogs' head so that the working ring and its end of the chain goes over the dogs' neck and toward its' right side. The dead ring and its end will be going under the dogs' neck and to its' right. The working ring is the ring with the chain that now slips easily through the dead ring. This working ring is the one the leash is to be attached to.
Attach the 6 foot leash to the working ring. Keep quiet throughout training! We are going to teach the dog to watch you without your having to tell it to watch you. Stand still and let the dog wander off to the end of the leash for a few minutes. Then find a focal point across the yard and walk directly towards it. Do not stop for anything. You have one end of the leash and the dog has the other. It will go where you go, eventually. When you reach your point, stop. Look for another point to head for and go towards it. Continue this work each day for the first week. Make sure there are no obstacles in the way. Whether your dog is used to the leash or not, this will teach it to respect you. It will be trotting after you to keep up and avoid being tripped or dragged about.
The dog will make its own decisions as to how to cope with you. It will find that if it lays on the ground, it will be dragged until it decides to get up and follow. If it runs in front and across you, blocking your way and tripping you, it will find it quite uncomfortable to be walked into or knocked away that it will be far better to carefully watch his owner at the end of the leash but to keep up with him in case he takes a quick turn to the right. Besides, whenever he is in that special place, he gets lots of pets and praise!!!
