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

[izzybiz]

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!

How long did it take nooka?

Not very long - maybe a week or two? Also more at night than during the day. We've had him for two months now, and now he is pretty keen to go out, and has just started marking a bit.

Patch is the same on the lead.

When I put on my coat and show him the lead, he goes crazy with joy. His tail wags, and he is generally very happy as most dogs are. He clearly wants to go out for a walk.

However, once we get outside the door, he freezes, and his tail goes down. Two weeks ago, he was literally shaking with fear, so I would have to carry him up the street. Once I put him down, he would pull on the lead, tracking by smell back to home as quick as possible.

He goes to puppy class, and I told my instructor about this. She has told me to use treats to lure him along. So I wave a titbit in front of his nose, and if he takes a step he gets the treat. Then I try to get him to take 2 steps and so on. I also use encouraging language and lots of praise.

In the past few days, he has improved on the lead using treats and praise, but he is still not there yet. However, I have hopes that he will soon be less fearful. He is not scared of people, and will go up to anyone and expects strangers to pet him. It is just new situations that worry him.

I'm encouraged that this appears quite common. I also put treats on the ground by my feet so he has to come forward to eat them.

That sounds just like Lola madsometimes

Allthough I have tried to lure her with treats and she won't even move for those!

Im going to try taking her a few yards down the road and see if I can get her to walk back,I really don't want to still be carrying her when she's fully grown!

Trust me I would bet money that you will not be carrying her when she is fully grown. You will be complaining how she is pulling on the lead to get out and about!

How did it go today?

Didn't manage to go out with mums dog today in the end, I am going to try on Thurs now, I am placing all my hope in good old Willis and his ability to encourage Lola to follow him!

Might try the few yards then home thing in a mo, will report back!

Even in the past few days, Patch has improved greatly. He now seems to pull on the lead and be generally impatient, rather than sitting still and trembling.

I know this is not good, but at least it feels more normal. Having a dog that will not move, and who is rapidly getting to big to carry is not good!

Yesterday I bought a puppy harness because he was pulling so much that I was afraid he would choke. We do still have some of the standing still episodes, but hopefully they are decreasing.

Update!

Have just done school run, took Lola with me, in the shopping basket of Ds's Bugaboo!
Got her out at the school, she seemed happy waiting there meeting people and their children etc, no nervousness around strangers.

As soon as we turned to leave she froze, so I put her back in the basket to walk up the road towards our house.

A few doors down from our house I got her out and put her down, she took a few steps, froze again so I waited for her, she walked a few more steps so we repeated the process till we got to our gate! Lots of praise etc, then to top it all off, she weed outside before I took her in!

A long way to go yet, but I can see a way forward!

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