Leash Training - My Little Diva won't walk on Leash

[MzLynnC]

Hi All, Lily and Luke are now 8 months old. Started training about 6 weeks ago to get use to harness, then with a leash and trying to walk them around the house. Then took them outside in the driveway. Luke is making a lot of progress; however, Lily is not. She sits, then lays down, won't follow Luke or my Poodle either, treats do not interest her all the time. If she is on all four feet and walks any - usually maybe 6 inches then she sniffs everything 100 times before she moves an inch. Have tried getting in front of her, calling, showing treats, nothing. DH blows off the driveway before we leash train just to give her less stuff to smell and try to pick up. Think she is waiting for us to get her a satin pillow and just carry her around - Gotta love these Diva Girls. - Suggestions please - we are using the Buddy Harness.

[canana]

Originally Posted by MzLynnC

Hi All, Lily and Luke are now 8 months old. Started training about 6 weeks ago to get use to harness, then with a leash and trying to walk them around the house. Then took them outside in the driveway. Luke is making a lot of progress; however, Lily is not. She sits, then lays down, won't follow Luke or my Poodle either, treats do not interest her all the time. If she is on all four feet and walks any - usually maybe 6 inches then she sniffs everything 100 times before she moves an inch. Have tried getting in front of her, calling, showing treats, nothing. DH blows off the driveway before we leash train just to give her less stuff to smell and try to pick up. Think she is waiting for us to get her a satin pillow and just carry her around - Gotta love these Diva Girls. - Suggestions please - we are using the Buddy Harness.

Sounds like a toughie! I don't have experience with this, but how about trying smellier treats? Stinky green tripe?

[4OC]

Originally Posted by MzLynnC

Hi All, Lily and Luke are now 8 months old. Started training about 6 weeks ago to get use to harness, then with a leash and trying to walk them around the house. Then took them outside in the driveway. Luke is making a lot of progress; however, Lily is not. She sits, then lays down, won't follow Luke or my Poodle either, treats do not interest her all the time. If she is on all four feet and walks any - usually maybe 6 inches then she sniffs everything 100 times before she moves an inch. Have tried getting in front of her, calling, showing treats, nothing. DH blows off the driveway before we leash train just to give her less stuff to smell and try to pick up. Think she is waiting for us to get her a satin pillow and just carry her around - Gotta love these Diva Girls. - Suggestions please - we are using the Buddy Harness.

BAD HUMAN )!!! You carried her every where mostly. I know I did this same thing with Prince Charming!!!!!!!!
Actually you waited too long before beginning their training BUT all is not lost --it will just be a battle of the wills.
Steps:
1. Get a clicker. I Iike the ones that go around my wrist the best but all of them work.
2. Put her in her harness AND click. If she does not like most treats you can use praise after the click. Use oral praise keep petting for when you 2 are having special time on your lap.
3. Do this 5 times a day for 7 days. She will get the message the clicker means mommy / daddy is happy with what I just did!
4. Buy a chain leash and CUT OFF the leather handle as some of these are not leather and can be dangerous for dogs to chew on.
5. Put the leash on the harness and let her drag it around the house for at least 5 days before going for a walk with her. Continue to take your boy for his walk WITHOUT saying anything to her. She will get whatever message you send. Be excited with your boy when you get your boy ready and are going out the door and down the driveway.
6. Take your walk and get all excited when you are near you drive so she discovers that you and your boy had fun. After 3 days try taking her for a walk alone. If she still balks take her back into the house again and take your boy for his exciting walk.
7. Repeat! Repeat! Repeat! As often as needed but usually 2 weeks is a long time.
8. If you follow every step and it does not work to solve her resistance please pm me and I will give you more help. I do not post the extra help as We do not want anyone to skip this part of the training as it usually will work EVEN for our Yorkies.
Please know that I am a professional trainer and train service dogs for the disabled.

[canana]

4OC's advice sounds excellent!

Btw, I use the Easy Walk® Harness by PetSafe®
It's very simple and plain (not as cute as the Buddy Belt harness), but the great thing about it is that the leash clips from the front of the harness rather than from the back. I found it great for training my pup not to pull during walks!

[MzLynnC]

thanks for the info - have went you a private message.

[MzLynnC]

I have seen those - what does it do if he is trying to pull - turn him around or turn him to the side?

[MzLynnC]

Originally Posted by canana

4OC's advice sounds excellent!

Btw, I use the Easy Walk® Harness by PetSafe®
It's very simple and plain (not as cute as the Buddy Belt harness), but the great thing about it is that the leash clips from the front of the harness rather than from the back. I found it great for training my pup not to pull during walks!

checked them out again, She is 9 inches at the girth - the smallest they have is a 12-16 inch. They don't have anything smaller. Looks like a very good idea.

[canana]

Originally Posted by MzLynnC

I have seen those - what does it do if he is trying to pull - turn him around or turn him to the side?

The design is such that if the dog pulls, because the clip is in the front, the tension would cause the dog to turn towards the side that you're standing on. In other words, if he's on your left and he's pulling, the pulling force would make him turn right. If the dog wants to pull, he only wants to pull straight and not turn in another direction. Other studies have said that the clips attached on the back promotes pulling, kind of like training them to become sleigh dogs. The more they pull, the more tension there is, the more they wanna pull.

Originally Posted by MzLynnC

checked them out again, She is 9 inches at the girth - the smallest they have is a 12-16 inch. They don't have anything smaller. Looks like a very good idea.

Hmm..that's too bad it doesn't fit. Scottie is 5lbs and it sits on him okay. How much do yours weigh to be 9" at the girth? Hopefully you find something else that works

There's also all the leash training techniques that you can try too. It's hard though and very time consuming to do on every single walk..

[mrssabes]

Hopefully, by the time you read this, the issue will have been resolved.

Fabian is 5.5 months now and we started taking him outside on harness for "walks" a few weeks after finishing his required shots.

While he prances around inside with his head up, he's got his nose to the ground nearly the entire time we're out and about. It takes a lot of time and patience to get him to walk around the cul de sac and I feel like a crazy dog lady with a near - continual chanting of "Next to me, next to me, GOOD dog, GOOD Fabian, GOOD heel. Next to me, GOOD boy. ..no, THIS way, honey. OK, time to go...." Then he wants to scamper on the grass and chase ants.

Oddly enough, when he goes somewhere unfamiliar, he'll walk just fine. It's just around his own neighborhood that intrigues him.

[BayleighL]

I have some tips.........first, put the leash handle in your right hand, and let hang across your body off your left hand. If you are short, choose a shorter leash or tall choose a long leash - but either way the leash should drop down like a plumb line to the harness with just a little big of slack once the dog is walking correctly next to you. Second, if the dog pulls or puts nose to ground, stop walking and correct their position. If the leash is the correct length, the dog will have to stand right next to you. Keep a gently taut leash and don't walk until they conform. If the dog is allowed to pull or go nose to ground they are getting what they do instinctually and will continue but they will learn that what they really want is to walk and will conform. Third, if you can, walk a little faster so the dog has to keep pace. When they have a good stride, gradually slow to normal pace. The reward for the dog is walking along with slack leash that is plumb from your side down to the harness. I prefer "exercise finish" - genuine vocal praise and a scratch behind the ears to food treats because a confused pup will be looking for food instead of walking correctly.


Funny anecdote. We had a mini-dachshund that our daughter was training through a 4-H dog group. Typical untrained mini liked to do all the assertive wrong things. First day in the group circle learning to walk on leash, the dog tried to act the fool until she saw the German shepherd in front of her and the Doberman behind. She fell right into line. It was very instructive! She learned to walk on leash in one rotation.