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New puppy is bonkers on her lead?

12 replies

anchovies · 24/06/2012 19:53

Took 13 week old lab x puppy out for the first time yesterday. Straight off lead as previously recommended and it went perfectly. Stayed with us/our older dog and came back for treats when called. Took her out today and planned to do the same thing only she found some a load of horse poo which she kept running back for. We ended up having to put her back on her lead which she ended up staying on as the only path ran along the river and didn't want to risk her taking a swim!

So she was nuts on her lead, pulling til she was choking and diving about all over the place. Obviously not the most fun for anyone! So is a harness the best idea when they are little? Or an extendable lead (although I think we'd probably have the same problem?) Or just persevere with the collar? We are practicing walking nicely on the lead in the garden but that all (understandably) went out of the window when she was confronted with the big wide world!

OP posts:
Riversidegirl · 24/06/2012 20:12

I tried LOADS of different leads with my young boistrous lab and the best EVER is the figure of eight lead. I had to encourage her not to slide her head along the floor to try to remove it but once she got used to it within half an hour We could lead her like a lamb!

She can still open her mouth to eat and breath and, as you make sure the behind the ears bit is not low on her neck it apparently has a calming effect.

Got it off ebay.

Gorran · 24/06/2012 20:17

Oooh Anchovies you are brave!

We've taken Daisy out for the first time this weekend - water skiing with us yesterday (she didn't ski, obviously!) then pub lunch and then Pets at Home trip today and a visit to the stables where my daughters ride. She was obviously on the lead all the time!

Might brave a park this week. Why is it recommended to let them off the lead from the get-go? Is it only recommended if you have another dog (so the pup is keen to stay with the pack?). I'd be so nervous she'd run off!

anchovies · 24/06/2012 20:26

Thanks riversidegirl, will look that one up.

Hi gorran, sounds like daisy is well on with socialising impressed with waterskiing! The theory with letting them off is that when they are little and nervous they will stay close whereas when older they will be more confident. It was actually fine after the first couple of minutes of trauma!

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youdontknowmebut · 24/06/2012 21:35

My lab x border collie is a nightmare on the lead & collar. I use a Gencon al in one and she is much better, tries to get it off occasionally but she doesn't pull at all on it. My doglet is built for speed.

daisydotandgertie · 24/06/2012 22:42

Well. She hasn't got a clue what you've strung around her neck, or why it's there. Or why she can't run about and do what she wants which she almost certainly has been doing for the past few weeks.

And garden practice is invaluable, but bound to go wrong as soon as there's something more exciting about.

Don't let her learn to pull, it'll make it even harder to teach her not to. As she is so tiny, keep on going with the garden training over and over again. And then up the distractions and keep on going.

Take some really favoured treats - the smellier the better and to teach on lead walking decide which side you want her on, and stick to it. Keep the lead short, so she is by your leg and jolly her along, holding to treat to keep her focused. She won't be able to focus for long, but make sure she does. If she wanders away, stop and make her concentrate on you again. If she pulls, a sharp Ah-ah and stop. Get her attention again and off you go.

It will make no difference at all what lead/collar/harness you use. She will still pull until you teach her not to. That walking nicely on the lead is the only option. I hate all types of gentle leader type things - they are a sticking plaster for a horrible problem.

Don't try teaching lead work on the way to a walk - it will go very wrong! And on no account use an extending lead - it will give a very conflicting message ie that she can pull sometimes, but not at others. Keep the lead short, and on one side only. Don't allow criss crossing or stopping to sniff or anything and you'll be there in a trice. I walk 4 labs together on my left hand side and ALL their leads are completely slack all the time.

And I'm thrilled to hear she was off lead straight away and it went well. Brilliant news.

Riversidegirl · 24/06/2012 22:53

I don't need to use the figure of eight lead anymore but thanks to that, my labs now walk at my side too, daisydotandgertie. I was and still am attending training classes and these leads are used and appreciated widely by members of our group. Without them a few owners have said this would have been the dogs last chance. Of course the kind, human element is part of the training too.

I see lots of dogs for rehoming on Gumtree where the dog is described as 'pulls a bit on lead, boistrous'. It's so sad that for a bit of commitment to training they would have a fantastic companion.

I would still recommend the lead despite what you say.

daisydotandgertie · 25/06/2012 07:48

I'm glad the head collar helped you and your friends and made such a difference to you, but I'm afraid personally, I still hate them Grin.

They are used as a shortcut or sticking plaster in the vast majority of cases and a 12 week old puppy crrtainly doesn't need one to learn lead work.

HoneyDragonWearingLederhosen · 25/06/2012 11:12

I have a 13 week old lab. We are learning to walk to heel on the lead brilliantly (although I am 100% it will all go down the swanny for a bit in the teens). i credit it all to Cheesy Moments. These are her out and about training treats and not to be used for anything else.

Lots of praise and good jobs when she is to heel, with no distractions she is walking to heel perfectly. When she manages to focus and stay to heel without being distracted by interesting looking people and pigeons lots of praise and a treat.

She really has got the hang of it and now can heel to either my left or right side (necessary for me as have toddler in tow at all times) and walks to heel with me with the push chair in front too.

It is a lot of hard work, but the reward is what Daisy has, a slack lead at all times and a dog you can take everywhere who is a pleasure to walk rather than a chore.

I think there are many products out there that can help you to get it right for your dog, but they are not fixes in themselves. If you find something that works for you and the dog, great but see it as a training aid not a solution at all.

You just have to keep you goal in mind and be more bloody minded and determined than your dog Grin

Riversidegirl · 26/06/2012 21:34

I'll consider my self told off then for having such well behaved and polite dogs, DDand gertie! Grin

anchovies · 26/06/2012 22:24

Well I'm keeping up the training but she is a bouncy little thing! So I'm still nervous about her neck. She is very food motivated however she has had some tummy troubles so we are limited to her regular food for treats.

I think the worst of the crazy behaviour happens when she is nervous/overwhelmed so I am working on touch/look/sit to calm her down before we carry on. Long way to go yet though!

OP posts:
HoneyDragonWearingLederhosen · 26/06/2012 23:19

Sounds like your doing well, and that you're understanding your pup brilliantly Smile

Riversidegirl · 27/06/2012 17:33

You're a natural anchovies! Smile

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