My first Yorkie was what looked like to be stubborn if the leash ever when remotely tight she would freeze in place and basically sit down ... some times of the leash even touched her back she would freeze for that as well .... for me it took a hell of a lot of patience ... she was 2 years old when I came into her life and she had never been walked before .... I started really slowly and go a few feet and coax her along .. it would take 15-20 mins to go 10 feet .. then I'd pick her up and I'd "walk" her to out destination ... a beach with lots of sand (North West sand so not real sand) .. I'd let her run around there and then would carry her till we where almost home ...she's missing her momma by now so its easier to have her move forward .... still took a while .. I'd have to stop immediately if the leash went tight and then coax her forward all with a loose leash....
Over the course of the next few years I did this every day ... extending the time before I pick her up and in the last year before she died I had he walking around the block and even some times to the shops and back ... she even go to the point where we could walk down a busy pathway with out her being to freaked out ....
My new baby is the total opposite .. as soon as the harness and leash are on she's raring to go and looks like a little sled dog trying to get to her destination as quick as she can .... so with her I need to start doing some sort of training with here so she can walk more calmly and at least loose leash just in front of me .. preferably at my side .... she is still under 5 months so I'm cutting her some slack right now ..which I'm sure is not the right thing to do to let it continue .. I'm thinking of an obedience class for her ..
Any way sorry to ramble on ... good luck and I hope you can find a happy medium so you both really enjoy walk time :-) |