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Original poster

How do I teach pup to walk on a lead???

35 replies

izzybiz · 11/01/2010 09:45

Hi it's me again!

I thought I would try Lola on the lead this morning, I want to start taking her out soon and getting her used to the world!

I put it on and carried her outside where she promptly froze! She wouldn't move!

Is it going to be a case of taking her out in the garden and treating when she walks?

Any tips from you doggy experts?

TIA!

OP posts:
Bella32 · 11/01/2010 10:23

Red light/green light is a good method. Described here:

Dog Star Daily

Dog Star Daily is also a very useful and interesting site in its own right.

HTH

Original poster
izzybiz · 11/01/2010 10:35

Thats fantastic thankyou!

OP posts:
Bella32 · 11/01/2010 10:42

Luring is the way forward - with a treat or similar - but you'll soon find pup gets over her initial reluctance and wants to lead you, so it's vital you get the skills in early.

Romanarama · 11/01/2010 12:52

I found some good training vids on Youtube - a woman in Florida called Melanie McLeroy (there was one about walking on a lead), and a young American man who's name I forgot who uses a clicker. I just took my pup out on a lead for the first time today. He was quite good, though clearly found all the traffic a bit overwhelming, so I'll go somewhere quieter next time.

Romanarama · 11/01/2010 13:01

I love that website! Some of it is really amusing, like this:

Say "Walky, Walky, Walkies!" and waggle the dog's leash in front of his nose. Most dogs will go ballistic. Stand still and wait for your dog to calm down and sit. With his walk stalled before starting, your dog will suspect you want him to do something, but as yet he isn't sure what. He will likely offer many creative suggestions, maybe his entire behavior repertoire.

midori1999 · 11/01/2010 13:21

Is your problem that the puppy will not move when on the lead?

If so, I have found the best and easiest way is to use an extending lead and if puppy stops, allow the lead to extend and walk off in front. Puppy will usually keenly follow.

Original poster
izzybiz · 11/01/2010 14:37

Midori- yes! When I put it on she just pulls backwards and tries to chew the lead!

I pput it on again for 5 mins this afternoon in the lounge, thought if I keep putting it on at intervals she will twig that its not scary!

I have started to try some clicker training, she will "sit" for treats now, so maybe ca use that idea with the walking too, any ideas and tips are great!

Ive had a dog before, but she was 7 when I got her so already knew all this stuff, its strange how much you take for granted that a dog will "just know"! Like when I call Lola, she just looks at me as if to say "what?"

OP posts:
midori1999 · 11/01/2010 14:54

Ah, sorry, I haf assumed she was used to the lead. If the collar/lead is worrying her, pop them both on her and leave the lead trailing as she just goes about her business. Give her the odd treat and say 'good girl' and obviously supervise her. She'll soon get used to it.

minimu · 11/01/2010 17:02

I agree with midori attach a lead. If the dog is very unsure I would attach a piece of light rope and leave it trailing. As she gets used to the weight gradually move onto the puppy lead.

If she carries on chewing it you could move to a light chain lead as they don't usually like chewing this but I think once she is out on walks and nice smells around this is not usually a problem.

Other thing is too attach the lead and run away from her calling her in jolly voice she will usually follow.

Just something new for her to get used to. I promise you this problme will not last for long!

I agree about getting a new puppy after having a dog that knew all your ways - it is like they speak a different language

Bella32 · 11/01/2010 19:05

Reminds me of that game - is it in Culture Clash? - where one person has to teach the other person to sit, using only meaningless words (e.g. names of vegetables) and they are not allowed to mirror each other's movements.

dd and ds had hours of fun yesterday shouting 'Rhubarb!' at each other

(For anyone who thinks I have completely lost it, the game seeks to illustrate how confusing it is for a dog when we use commands which - to them - are meaningless.)

Romanarama · 12/01/2010 12:11

I just took my pup for a walk following the advice on the site bella linked to (except making him have a poo first as it didn't seem the right time!). He was so good and really quickly got the hang of sitting down when I stopped. I found the site advice excellent.

I've been a bit worried he's been insufficiently socialised - reading websites saying things like "make sure 6 different people visit your puppy at your house every day from 8 to 12 weeks" has made me very paranoid as he often sees no one but his family, but he was very interested in all passers by and only a tiny bit wary of the cars. He didn't try to jump up at anybody, I'm really pleased.

Though he has snagged my favourite topshop Baxters today, trying to get a mouthful of my leg . I'm afraid I yelled.

midori1999 · 12/01/2010 16:45

Romanarama, we have spent hours sitting by a busy road, outside a supermarket or by the school gates holding puppies in order to socialise them an dget thm used ot different people and cars. I always ask the postman or anyone else coming to the door if they mind saying hello too, so puppies get used to uniforms.

I am quite sure I spend a lot of my life seeming insane to passers by....

minimu · 12/01/2010 16:58

Blimey I must be Billy no mates cos I don't have 6 different people coming to my house every day!!!

Sitting at a train station too is a good idea - gets the puupy used to trains and all sorts of people walking by.I take a magazine and a flask of coffee!

Take him on a bus if possible as well everyone will stop and talk to him.

Walk him through town - if nice sit outside and have a coffee and cake (as you can tell food is vital in all my socialising!)

Do you have a pets at home store near? this is a good shop for walking him around. To get him to avoid all the doggy smells but again people will love to talk to him.

Can you get your kids to wear a variety of hats, crash helmets if you have them. Put an umbrella up etc all this things can freak dogs out but if socialised at an early age they take it all in their stride.

Another one I try to do at an early age is the hair dryer - if introduced to a puppy at an early age can save hours of rubbing dogs dry over the years.

You are doing so well - bugger about your baxters!

Don't be too hard on yourself if you don't manage to do all these things most dogs still manange to grow up well adjusted.

You can spend so much time worrying if you are doing it right and miss out on the fun of puppy days. You sound like a very conscientious owner to me.

Romanarama · 12/01/2010 19:13

That's what I thought about 6 people per day - how many friends do people have?! I'd have to get the same few people to wear disguises!

He's been sledging - that was fun . And I took him on a tram yesterday and to look at a dustcart! Today I whizzed up near a lady with a screaming baby and a pushchair.... I know what you mean about seeming bonkers

Bella32 · 12/01/2010 20:06

LOl - I remember telling some guests that I was really pleased they'd arrived because I could now tick 'Loud, noisy people' off pup's socialisation chart.

Don't think they were impressed

Original poster
izzybiz · 25/01/2010 09:24

I'm back again! She will not move when I take her out on the lead!!

In the garden, she was doing ok, not brill, but ok, as soon as I take her down the steps outside our house she refuses to budge!

She doesn't mind having the lead on, will wander round the house with it trailing, its as soon as I pick it up!

She won't even walk for treats, refuses to take them! She is absolutely terrified

Help me please!

OP posts:
Original poster
izzybiz · 25/01/2010 09:25

Also wondered would a harness be better? Maybe if the strain is away from her neck?

OP posts:
minimu · 25/01/2010 11:07

What is she like if you carry her outside?

Is it fear of the outside or fear of the lead sounds to me like the outside.

Keep walking her on the lead in the garden.

Carry her outside as much as you can. Sit on a park bench and just watch the world go by for a day or two. You must behave really normally just ignore if she is nervous be really up beat and chatty.

What type of dog is she? (is it possible to carry her just have visions of you carrying a newfoundland around with you!)

midori1999 · 25/01/2010 11:11

It doessound like she is scare dot go outside. Has she been outside much with you carrying her?

If she is used to going otuside being carried, it may just be that the world seems a different place from the ground, bless her.

I have used an extending lead and if the pup stops, let it out and carry on walking, pup soon learns to stay next to you, as they don't want to be left behind. I wouldn't do this at all if she's not used to being outside though, as it's a bit unfair.

Original poster
izzybiz · 25/01/2010 15:02

She is a Staffie, so won't be able to carry her for too much longer!

She is fine in the garden, its the outside world that frightens her! She is fine with meeting people out and about, its just the walking on the ground that she seems to hate!

I have just bought her a harness to see if it makes any difference, she is running around in the garden with it on at the moment.

Do you think its ok to carry her for a bit then? I was worried she would get used to it and never want to walk!

OP posts:
ChilloOMNIPOTENThippi · 25/01/2010 15:09

Izzybiz I have Stffies, and in my experience they will always pull. I stare enviously at people who have managed to get their staffs to not pull! I use a harness with mine and I have very strong arms!!

RTKangaMummy · 25/01/2010 17:23

As my puppy is a guide dog puppy she has already been outside even though she is only little

Anyway my supervisor says to take her away from home in your arms and then she will want to walk home quickley cos she is secure there

And it worked!!!!!!

So carry a few feet srom the house and then let her walk home and see what happens

Original poster
izzybiz · 25/01/2010 17:30

Thanks will try that
Took her to the park after school today, she had to ride on Ds lap in the buggy!
She seems better on the grass, think it may be something to do with the concrete, am going to try taking her for a wander with my mums dog tommorrow, thought she might follow him!

OP posts:
Romanarama · 25/01/2010 19:32

Yes, Izzy, I second what Kanga said.

My pup has developed this too - he just braces his forelegs against the ground and won't budge. I've found that carrying him to the next street makes it much easier. He'll stop sometimes but mostly just trots along. When he realises we're back in our street he legs it home. I think it's just really scary and he needs to get used to it.

I'm going to have a go with the extending lead though.

Btw Midori, we are having meals in peace now since popping into the butchers for a bone to keep pup happy (in the crate just in case). Thanks for that tip

nooka · 26/01/2010 04:15

Our pup was like this too, he'd just stop, and then if I picked him up he'd be shaking like mad. So I'd start him off, and then pick him up and carry him for a bit, and then put him down again, and pick him up until we got far enough along that I felt he'd get enough exercise on the way home, when he woudl happily pull me as fast as possible all the way home. As time went by the carrying bits got shorter and shorter, and now he is fine - luck really as he has doubled in weight, and I wouldn't want to carry him much any more. Now we just have to teach him not to pull (although as we live pretty much in the country we don't use the lead very much).