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Hulks_Mom · 06-06-2012, 05:56 AM

Hi everyone,

I have a 4 month old yorkie named Hulk. He's a sweetheart and both the BF and I love him to bits. We've been very proactive in socialization, going out to meet ups and meeting our friend's dogs. I've had trainers compliment me on how brave and friendly he is in these situations. He's really great with the housebreaking. He's excellent on the potty pads, and we're starting to transition him to outdoor. He's been through one set of puppy classes and we're doing a second round now, and so far he has his sit/down/off etc mastered. I've found him to be on the timid side ever since day 1, (hence the repeat puppy class lol), but that may also be a normal yorkie thing (Hulk is my first yorkie).

The one thing that has us both stumped is our walks in the neighbourhood. If BF and I go out with him, no problem. If one of us takes him by ourselves, he doesn't want to go. He will barely go down the front steps. I've tried high value treats, such as cheese, but he won't touch them. If we crouch down, he'll run up to us and clamber to get on our lap. My trainer told us that we should try and get him to walk as far as we could away from the house, then pick him up. Once he's a block or two away from the house, I can put him down and he'll start walking. He's not as happy as he is when both the BF and I walk him, but he'll go and he sniffs a little, but he definitely seems more stressed out. Whenever he's walking I make sure to praise him, try to give him treats if he'll eat them....

If he knows we're on our way back to the house, he'll walk. If I take him in the car to the park, he'll walk around the park. It seems to me that he's not as confident when it's just me, but he doesn't do the same freeze thing as he does at the house. Treats don't seem to work too well, no matter what it is at this point. My BF has the same experience with him as well when he takes him alone.

I've searched the forums, but couldn't find anything too useful. There's so much wonderful advice on here, I would love to know if anyone else has any insight. Right now, I take him by myself in the morning before I leave for work, BF takes him in the afternoon, and we both go with him at night. We're taking the same route every time.

How can we help him become more confident with just one of us? It's so disheartening to see an otherwise confident puppy sitting on the sidewalk shaking like a leaf....especially when he does the same walk with two of us no problem.

(I just realized this is really long - sorry!)

06-06-2012, 05:56 AM	#1
Hulks_Mom Yorkie Yakker Join Date: May 2012 Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada Posts: 26	Need help/advice re: walks Hi everyone, I have a 4 month old yorkie named Hulk. He's a sweetheart and both the BF and I love him to bits. We've been very proactive in socialization, going out to meet ups and meeting our friend's dogs. I've had trainers compliment me on how brave and friendly he is in these situations. He's really great with the housebreaking. He's excellent on the potty pads, and we're starting to transition him to outdoor. He's been through one set of puppy classes and we're doing a second round now, and so far he has his sit/down/off etc mastered. I've found him to be on the timid side ever since day 1, (hence the repeat puppy class lol), but that may also be a normal yorkie thing (Hulk is my first yorkie). The one thing that has us both stumped is our walks in the neighbourhood. If BF and I go out with him, no problem. If one of us takes him by ourselves, he doesn't want to go. He will barely go down the front steps. I've tried high value treats, such as cheese, but he won't touch them. If we crouch down, he'll run up to us and clamber to get on our lap. My trainer told us that we should try and get him to walk as far as we could away from the house, then pick him up. Once he's a block or two away from the house, I can put him down and he'll start walking. He's not as happy as he is when both the BF and I walk him, but he'll go and he sniffs a little, but he definitely seems more stressed out. Whenever he's walking I make sure to praise him, try to give him treats if he'll eat them.... If he knows we're on our way back to the house, he'll walk. If I take him in the car to the park, he'll walk around the park. It seems to me that he's not as confident when it's just me, but he doesn't do the same freeze thing as he does at the house. Treats don't seem to work too well, no matter what it is at this point. My BF has the same experience with him as well when he takes him alone. I've searched the forums, but couldn't find anything too useful. There's so much wonderful advice on here, I would love to know if anyone else has any insight. Right now, I take him by myself in the morning before I leave for work, BF takes him in the afternoon, and we both go with him at night. We're taking the same route every time. How can we help him become more confident with just one of us? It's so disheartening to see an otherwise confident puppy sitting on the sidewalk shaking like a leaf....especially when he does the same walk with two of us no problem. (I just realized this is really long - sorry!)