Abstract: An animal training device and training methods especially useful for dogs, are described in which an elongated rigid staff, preferably with a cane or crook-shaped handle at one end, is provided with an extensible tensioning means such as a coil spring to which a leash for the animal is attached; the leash being led through one or more guides on the staff, the last guide being spaced above the lower end of the staff. In one training method the upper end of the staff is pivotally attached to a fixed object and the dog is thus tethered by means of the leash, whereby, when the dog lunges away from the fixed object the leash becomes taut tensioning and extending the spring and sharply pivoting the staff so that the lower end thereof non-injuriously contacts and chastens the dog and the retraction of the spring draws the dog gently but firmly back into its previous at rest position. The device may also be used manually to teach the dog to heel or respond to other commands.