Your top tips on getting puppy to walk on a lead please...

[CharlieBoo]

So Molly our 10 week old CKCS puppy freezes when taken outside to go for a walk. She just sits own and shakes! In the garden she's fine with her harness and lead. I keep trying her every day and take treats and lots of encouragement but we haven't been past next doors house! :-) I know it will take time but any tips on getting things moving along?

Thanks

At 10 weeks I wouldn't be worried about structured walks. I t should be all about fun learning, building a relationship with her and helping her to increase her confidence.

Our cavalier puppy was like this for a couple of days but didn't take him long to get excited by walks. I would carry on training in the garden on the lead, and maybe carry Molly outside for a few more days. It is very important that you socialise a puppy at this age and get them used to different sights and sounds.
Think our puppy was quite used to being carried whilst we were waiting for him to have all his vaccinations that he was quite miffed when we expected him to walk

At 10 weeks has she had both of her vacs? And waited for the two week clearance afterwards?

The nerves aren't about the lead. They're about being outside her comfort zone. Ramp up the socialisation - take her more places and meet more people. The window for socialisation is quite small, and you need to make the very most of it.

I am concerned about the vaccination situation though.

She's had both vaccinations and waited 5 days as per the vets advice! She is 11 weeks tomorrow. Never before have I heard up wait 2 weeks...

She's been socialised plenty, were a busy household, 2 kids, lots of visitors and take her to parents, neighbours and pet shop twice.

Yes, it is normally 12 weeks before pup is allowed out on the lead after their 2nd shot at 10 weeks.

I found the best place was not on the boring pavement with noisy traffic but a quiet place in the countryside where the smells are so interesting for them.

Well the vet said its fine after 5 days and the breeder! Well good job were not going far! :-)

It's not just people she needs to meet, she needs to get used to various noises etc. We took ours to a bench outside our local supermarket and sat there for about half an hour so got to meet plenty of people, but also got used to people ignoring him (how dare they!), trolleys, pushchairs, people on bikes, cars, buses etc.
Also take him for walks near fields so can get to see various farm animals.
If you have any dog care books they normally have a list of things, people etc you need to get your puppy used to. Can you take her in the car somewhere quiet so she can get used to the lead but also where she can get interesting smells? Then carry on other socialisation by carrying her around. Also have you got a friend with a puppy friendly dog that you could meet up for a walk, which might encourage Molly.
We found that our reluctant walker liked following our DS who was carrying the treat bag

PPG Puppy Socialisation Checklist

You need to do more than just meet people at home and a couple of trips to the shop.

Look at the checklist - she needs to encounter as much of the stuff on there as you can manage; make sure it includes pavements, cars, mowers, lorries, busses, motorbikes, noisy, moving things. As much as you can think of. She is not moving outside the gate because she's frightened. Pick her up, jolly her along and keep on doing it.

I have never heard of five days after the second vax, tbh. But if the vet said it, go with that.

She's been to my parents house, my neighbours house, walked up and down the street countless times being held, been to the vet twice, the pet shop twice... We live on a fairly busy street and she's seen/heard sirens/motorbikes, buses... She's just incredibly timid, but thanks for your help..... She's booked into puppy classes from mid dec.

Years ago my pup didn't want to be on the lead in the garden as was used to tearing around in it.
I did take her on the pavement first in a quiet village, but at least 2 cars went by and she was terrified. So we took her somewhere quiet in a nature park type area and she loved it and forgot she was on the lead. She was not a timid type and after the first outing she was fine, but we did not take her on the pavement again for ages. instead we climbed the dyke at the bottom of the garden, got safely through the sheep on the dyke and onto the river promenade and then onto the sandy almost deserted small beach.