Walking Question!!!
 

Ok so Finley wants nothing to do with walking. He puts on the breaks and whins. I really would like to take him for walks but I am not sure what to do. I don't have a harness yet, but does this help with making them walk. Now Finley is only 8 weeks, my husband says to wait a few more weeks. I just really want him to get him outside. I want him to get out some of his energy. What do you guys think?

If you don't have a harness yet, I would not recommend walking him.. Using his collar alone could really hurt his little neck.

Once you have a harness on him and he is outside it will be easier. He may need some time to sniff around and get comfortable. Lots of bug scary things outside especially for a young puppy. :)

Once you and him are more comfortable just hanging out outside, you can sort of tug him when he's on his harness to get him going. Chances are, he's curious to see whats outside and around the block. Treats may help as well to get him to follow you.

Walking
 

You might get a harness first. Bella would do the same thing but you have to be presistance. In fact she was a scary cat. We had a home trainer who said its o.k. to kinda pull her once she gets the idea they will walk I tried it and now Bella when its walking time she goes to the door and wants to go. oh by the way we did this when she was 9-10monts.


Hope this helps.

Cheryl:animal-pa:animal-pa

Thank you. I am going to go get him a harness. I really want to walk with him. So I will go get one tomorrow. Thank You for answering my question!

Maya did this at first too, then she just decided one day to do it. My cousin was with me and I told her, "she's not going to walk for you." Maya picked up and walked like she had been doing it everyday.

You should not walk finley without the harness however you stated that he is only 8 weeks old. it really is not a good idea to walk him outside he does not have his shots and his imune system is still weak. Please speak to your vet about bringing him out. What you might want to try is walking him on the leash with the harness in the house so he gets used to it. Some puppies take right a way to a harness and a leash others take some time to get used to it.

This is good advice and I would also wait to introduce him to other animals until he is at least 3-4 months old. Also, if you go shopping at a pet store and take him, do not let him walk on the floors until he is older. He is still very vulnerable to picking up other diseases until he has had more of his vaccinations.

Congratulations on your new baby!!! He will get used to the leash in time. He's still young and probably more interesting in playing than walking on a leash. Before you know it, he'll be begging to take a walk with you.

He already lives in a house with other animals. We have 3 other dogs.

I agree with the poster above. You don't know what you might be exposing him to unintentionally. I know you want to walk and show off your baby but doing so may cause him harm. I like the idea of training him to the harness inside and maybe you could do the walking and just carry him outside on your "walks" untill he has had all his shots.

You know what is going on with your other animals you know they are up to date on all there shots, heartworm, flea and tick.......you don't know that for a fact about all the other animals outside. It is not my intent to scare you but thier is so much there is parvo, kennel cough, fleas, ticks, a host of things that a puppy can catch just from walking outside.

I wouldn't walk him outside at such a young age. I'd just keep him in my own yard until all of his puppy vaccinations are done. Definitely use a harness, and be patient! Missy didn't start going for walks and walking properly until this week, and she's 6 months and 3 weeks old.

8 weeks old is too young to be even outdoors at all. Wait until this puppy has all his vaccinations . He is not ready to be out walking , or exposed to all tyupes of deadly viruses. i hope the rest of your dogs are up to date with their vaccines too. :thumbup:

our breeder told us not to take our nwe puppy outside until he had his last set of shots...unless we were carrying him. We are so excited to take him out and let him explore, but we are waiting until he gets his last round of shots...its just not worth the chance for us (parvo, etc).

I have tried putting a leash/collar/harness on him in the house and he HATES it....so Im sure outside is going to be quite an experience at first.

Of course! I always have everything done with my dogs. They go to the vet and get everything they need!

Did you read that article? Do you really kick your Yorkie's butt or cuff his neck (claw)? I really don't think punishment works well with dogs. I still don't have my puppy walking but I won't be using that link to achieve it - it doesn't even address the OP's issue.

Training A Puppy To Walk On A Leash - Loose Leash Walking For Young Puppies.

Training A Puppy To Walk On A Leash

Leash Walking | Ahimsa Dog Training, Seattle | Dog and Puppy Tips from Seattle |

Refusing to Walk | Forum by Ahimsa Dog Training, Seattle

Thank you very much! these are great articles. I agree with the not kicking or whatever from the other article. I really like these ones!

Yes, I read the article and where in the world did it say to kick your dog in that article I posted? Nothings wrong with a small, but not hard, tug. I use a harness on my dog so it's not pulling his neck. As for using your hand as a claw, that's not a bad thing either. That's how the mother picks up her young. You're not harming the dog if it's a soft "claw" just reminding them what they're supposed to be doing. It snaps them out of it and reverts their attention back to you. It's what dogs in a wild pack do to each other - they nip at the neck. When you're using your hands like that, you're resembling a bite, in a non-harmful way. I don't agree with physically harming a dog in any way and I'm all about positive reinforcement. But sometimes a physical touch (note: TOUCH - not hit, pull, kick, smack) is necessary sometimes to correct a dog as long as you're not hurting them. Watch Cesar Millan's methods. He does this all the time. Whether you agree or not, no big deal. But it does work and it HAS worked for me and my dog.

The only thing I disagree with in that article is about not using a harness. The harness has helped us greatly. And my dad began walking good on a leash at 3 1/2 months old.

Sorry, I should have been more clear. I meant other dogs, not your own. You know what's going on with your own. It's when your out in public that you need to be careful at least for a while.

How is your new baby doing? Can't wait for some pics.

He is doing great! I love having him home! He is the best! He is sleeping through the night. Well from 9:00 to 5:30. I think that is GREAT! We have been working on the poty training. I take him outside on our porch every 15 to 20 minutes. He is so funny, when he does go, you RUNS to where we have him treats and sits and waits for me to get one for him. I am hoping that if I keep up with this for like another 2 months or so, we should be pretty much trained. He still has some accidents, but we are working on that. lol..

What a cutie pie he is!!!! Glad to hear the potty training is going well.

Thank You!

Anti-Lock Brakes
 

Oh, my deepest sympathies, but they all come with a mack daddy braking system. I tell mine, "No!", pick her up, walk a few paces, and then place her down in stride. It's almost like a mental glitch that says, "Lilly, stop walking!" Breaking up this mental block by holding the animal for a few strides really helps.

You also have to see the world from that little body....everything is HUGE. The harness is more effective, in that you are not choking the dog or dragging them down the sidewalk as you are choking the dog...hehehehehe. I can envision this. I have two....I live it everyday. Good luck with your furbaby...Glad to help, Lisa, Lilly & Jesse:animal36

I was told from my vet to not walk my dog in the out doors because not all dogs are vaccinated and she can get sick i have to wait to get the rabies shot he said

Second Thought
 

I didn't read the fact that he was 8 weeks, and like your husband, I think you should perhaps wait and try to pad train first. I say this only because it comes in reeeallly handy when weather does not permit a long walk. It also gives them a target to aim for when nature calls and no one is standing by with a leash.. :) Also, he is a bit tiny for a collar, so I would probably start him in another month, definitely with a harness. Good luck with your training, Lisa, Lilly & Jesse:thumbup:

Doggy Walks
 

Well, that is highly dependant on how many rabid animals your dog comes into contact with on its daily walk. A rabies vaccine only defends rabies, but it's also dependant on the strain. It's a bit technical, but canine to canine rabies is no longer a threat in the US as of 1/2008. Our canines are in danger when bitten by a rabid wild animal, i.e. raccoon, bat, etc. Rabies is not transmitted like the common cold. Your dog would have to come into contact with the saliva of a rabid animal through a bite. For example, if your dog is bit by a raccoon, then the dog will contract that strain of rabies, etc. I would probably be more concerned about exposure to mosquitos and heart worm parasites. Vaccinations and preventative meds are important and should be done at regular intervals, on schedule. I am a proponent of veterinary care.... :thumbup:

I would totally wait. 8 Weeks is very young. I would get a harness first and put it on him so that he gets used to it. Like leave it on for a while while he's running and playing in the house. Do this until you decide to take him outside. That way it won't bother him.

He's only 8 wks old ....
Wait until he's fully vaccinated
His immunity isn't built up enough yet to handle some of the stuff that's out there '

But when you do start training him for leash walking
You can't just pop a cllar on him and expect him to walk
This is a strange thing that's around his neck ... a very new sensation

Put the collar on first ... get him used to having the collar on
Once that;s done ... do the same with his leash
let him walk around with the leash dragging after him
It will get him used to the feel and the weight of it
When he's used to that
pick up the leash at times and just hold it ... and then start tugging on it
and you'll see he'll slide right into the walking along with you

When you do finally get to this stage
and you want him to walk .... coax him along with a treat