Quote:
Originally Posted by dray  Maybe you can start taking her on short walks every day around the block so walking on a leash becomes second nature to her and then the ring will be easy for both of you. Take her any where and everywhere you can get away with it . |
This afternoon, I purchased the lightest nylon buckle collar for My SweetPea, and a light leash. I put in on her, and allowed her time to get use to it.. she dragged it around.
Then I planted myself stationary in one spot in the middle of the concrete pad of our backyard, just holding the leash in one position. She struggled and pulled. I did not budge or move, and I stayed quiet, not a word from me.. and just allowed her to pull and struggle, but no reaction from me. I did not tug on the leash... I just let her be....
After about ten minutes of this, I think she got tired, because ... she finally got up and came to towards me. And when she did, I showered her with overtly happy, happy, many praises
!!!
Then I moved away to another spot until the leash was fully stretched. Again! she sat on her butt and started to be stubborn. She tried to pull and struggle. I just stopped. I held the leash in one place, but did not pull on the leash. She did all the struggling, I did not say a word. I remained stoic. She sat there for a long, long time ... still pulling while seated on her hind legs, it was starting to make me want to just end the session . She was like this for a long time!!!!
But then she finally got up came to towards me!!! And so I showered her once more with happy, exaggerated praises.
When I moved to another location the third time, she started to move with me!!!! YEYYYY!!!. However, I walked four steps, and she would walk only a few, then sat.... and stayed there... but this time, she did not pull back or struggle But she just sat there. So I hurriedly went to the ref and got cheese (I have no treats available). Tried the same way, and when she sat, I showed her the cheese. I had to make her smell it first, because she has not had cheese before. I think she likes it, because it made her stand up and come to where I was. I did this four times. Praises, praises, praises.
Now, I am holding the leash, I am on top of her, and I start to make many baby running steps in one direction, and My Sweetpea is
trotting with me, (TRIPLE YEYYYY!!!). Praises, praises, praises.
Then I do it again, and once again, and she runs with me... but this time she is running fast and around and in front of my feet, and trying to bite my shoes
!! And every time I walked the other direction, she's now so excited and trying to run around me and bite my pant leg
!
Now what am I doing wrong??
Arrrghh!!
Bottom line... she now walks with me on a leash
!!!. The whole thing took almost an hour.
Tomorrow, I will follow your advise, and try to walk her around the block! Hopefully she will be CALM
, I can't wait!
Thanks for listening!