Tips on leash training needed
 

I am in the process of training my little one how to walk on the leash so i can start taking him places with me. So far all he does is resist it. Any suggestions?

One thing my vet suggested was to keep a leash on him while he is walking around the house. Not that you hold it but he pulls it around to get use to the "extra" around his neck. Also my son walks him around the house a little to get use to it. We are also potty training so it makes it convinent to take him out on the spur of the moment that he decides he has to go.

Some pups may respond better outside. I took Max out on the driveway and it took about 3 days before he would even take a step or two. Then we were off and walking a mile each morning. Be consistent and do it every day, ideally at about the same time each day. Use treats or a really good squeaky toy as a lure. Praise, praise, praise for any steps moving forward.

You can also try having a partner stand a short distance in front of you and make that person a desirable destination to urge your pup to walk forward (and forget about resisting). Make everything a positive and fun experience.

First, for a Yorkie please use a harness and 4ft. lead (trainers say collars but i would never put a collar on my yorkie for fear of harming her trachea). When she pulls, you stop. When she accidentally walks forward like she should, say "good girl, good girl! AND at the same time give her slack on the lead. When she pulls the wrong direction, stop again and wait for her to go forward again correctly. Very quickly she will realize that when she goes forward the leash loosens and she receives praise. It only takes a few days of short walks and she will get it. When she looks back at you that's another "praise" for paying attention. It may sound a bit complicated but it's not. I've trained my four yorkies this way and they all
learned FAST! My latest, Cheyenne, is one, and she knows to sit at the curb and wait for the "OK" to walk; and she knows "left" means go back to my left as we walk if she absently crosses in front of me. Good luck!

Thanks for the tips... I will start working with him more today. It's funny because when I put the harness on him he lays flat on his tummy with his legs spread and doesn't budge. I will start today and hopefully soon we can start going for walks and places together. I figured it must not be super hard to train them with the leash because almost every dog knows how to walk on a leash. :) thanks!

If you attend puppy classes you will find not EVERY dog knows how to walk on a leash. Some owners resist walking their dogs because it is so much hassle.
Keys to success:
Use a harness; attach a light-weight lead; hold a treat in one hand (we use cherrios); step out with a happy "let's go"; stay positive.
It also helps to run backward and call your pooch with treat and leash in hand.
If possible, enroll your pup in a class for socialization and training tips.
Good luck!

He did good today.. We walked around the backyard on the leash today. A couple more times and he'll be fine... I can tell.

I can't wait for our daily walks. :)

My puppy is wearing the harness fairly well now, but, when I put the leash on all she wants to do is chew on it, any suggestions????

Today went good... I brought treats out and they do work. Now when i tug a little he goes with it. When he decides to lay down I just pull out the treats again. And I always tell him how great he's doing when ever he follows my lead. Day 2 of this and he's doing much much better A day or two more and I'm hoping we can take a stroll at the park. :)

Congratulations! Keep up the good work. You can also introduce key phrases like "let's go!" as you step forward. I use that one for when my boys get distracted or want to sniff too much.

Put the leash on and immediately put your hand underneath your pup while holding the leash out of reach with your other hand. Then take your pup outside. Usually pups are less interested in chewing the leash once they get outside. Bring treats and lure your puppy to move forward, or as I suggested above, work with a partner, someone desirable to your pup. Have the person stand 10 -15 in front of you and call your pup to them. If all else fails, try spraying a little Bitter Apple on the leash.

Christinee... How old is your pooch? Make sure he is vaccinated before "walks in the park." Do you live near the Long beach greenbelt? I have family in Seal Beach.

He is up to date with his shots. He is just over 3 months.
Where is this greenbelt place at. Seal beach is very close. I probably am not too far. What is LB Greenbelt?

The greenbelt is on Ocean Blvd. starting at the Art museum. It runs for several blocks towards Belmont Shores. I see people walking their dogs there all the time. There is on-street parking.
Dori's trainer says to have a successful walk, YOU need to be the most interesting thing out there (lots of distractions on walks). I taught Dori to focus on me (with "watch me" command and treat) when distractions presented themselves (other dogs, people, birds, leaves). Not always successful, but much better.

Ok.. yes. I know exactly where that is.. just didn't know it was called greenbelt. lol I've grown up in long beach my whole life. I will check it out and see how he likes it after he gets the hang of it better. Thanks! :)

And I am using all of your guys' tips with the commands and things your saying.. Thanks so much. Doing training with him would probably be fun too... I should look into it. ;)

Sounds like you're all doing great! You'll be walking side by side in no time!!

I recently learned that some dogs don't like the leash.
I didnt have any problem with Mickey when it came to the leash. One day i put the retractable leash on him and took him outside and did wonderful!

For coco, I also bought (a smaller) retractable leash and a harness. Firs ttime she was really afraid of it started shaking and trying to climb higher on the pillows. So the next day i bought her a new leash that wasn't retractable and tried again. Same thing. So I decided to put the harness on her and see what she does. She started to shake and not move. If anyone can help, I greatly would appreciate it!!!!

p.s coco is the same when i put a sweater on her too!

Lexie used to be the exact same way, she wouldnt move and would literally sit in the same spot forever. Honestly it might sound mean but i just left the harness on her for like 2 or 3 days and she forgot she even had it on. I guess she got tired of sitting and sulking and decided not to let the harness stop her from having fun. She still doesnt really like the leash attached to her while she's inside but outside it's no problem because she loves going out.

today for our 4th roof play time, i put her sweater on and her harness and bribed her with some treats. she ran around (more like followed me... wonder if shes afraid ill leave her if she doesnt run after me hehe) & it was a success!
i think every day when we go to the roof ill put her harness on. just in the apartment she lies down with her legs out.

perhaps tomorrow ill leave her harness on for a day & see hehe

& Teppi is lucky for puppy classes! i live in asia so puppy classes are really hard to come by and i found one at an army base but the new start date isnt until mid may because of the yellow dust and yuks!

ive tried the treats, leaving the leash on while we're at home but once we go outside she doesn't budge. treats she doesn't care for. she just sits and shakes. even when we're just on our roof! i don't know what else to do!!!!

puppy classes don't start for another month in this area.

any other tips &/ advices?

Charlie is doing much much better. He still wants to stop and smell every stand of grass and every piece of dirt, but when he isn't sniffing, he's walking with me.. yay.

bump on a log/scared of outside?
 

my 10 week old morkie pixel has no problem walking with her harness and leash on in the house but will become a bump on a log while outside. its currently winter in Canada so i have to put a sweater on her. while in the house she doesn't mind the sweater or harness but stops as soon as we go out the door. we have tried pulling the leash (gently) to force her to walk but she just drags herself like a cat on a leash. I've tried bribing her with treats but that only works for so long (under 2 minutes)

should i do mini walks with her inside with her sweater and harness on or should i wait till it warms up a bit and bring her outside?

after much pulling and fussing pixel is finally walking on a leash with a harness and sweater. yes she is a little slow but atleast its progress. she is curious about outside but its still a bit chilly to stay out for more then a few minutes. on our walk to the store she even stopped to pee. so proud of her!

Im glad you have made progress usually its that curiosity of the outside that gets them going. Good job on the persistance

I went through the same thing with getting Beanie into a harness and walking. First I got the harness on her and led her around the kitchen with it using little treats to get her moving. I did this for a couple of days, then put a sweater on her and took her outside. She didn't want to move at first, but the treats helped. She LOVES food, so treats worked with her. At first, she sniffed at everything and I mean everything and she would not go very far. I just let her do her own thing for a couple of days just to get the energy out of her. Every time we went out, she went further and further up the street then back down the street. I mean this little doggie can MOVE. I am just about jogging with her for the first 15 minutes when we get out. I try to take her out at least twice a day. In the morning and I go home from work for lunch and take her out. I try to get her out at night after she eats too, but that doesn't always work out because I get home after 6:00 and it gets colder and still dark.

She actually walks/runs pretty much beside me now. AND she has peed outside!!! Yaaayyyy. She hasn't pooped outside yet, I am hoping that will happen too. When it gets warmer, I will be able to take her out right away at 7:30 a.m. and maybe the poop will happen. I am trying to train her to do both inside and outside. She actually goes right on the pee pads inside and I am thinking of making the ex-pen larger again because she pees and poops on the pad and then well, walks in it because the pen is smaller.

Anyway, I know what you all are going through. I have only had her for 3 weeks and let me tell you, the first 10 days were HORRIBLE. I really thought I was going to have to send her back and that I had made a terrible mistake getting her, being single and working all day. But Yorkies are really smart dogs, but VERY stubborn. Don't give up guys, you CAN do it. I posted here a lot for those 10 days and got a lot of support. Things are much better with my dog and I just love her to death. But, if she doesn't get her exercise, she is way too hyper.

I also got her when she was 7 mos. old and I feel like it has been harder with her because she is older and more "set" in the way she was at the breeder's house. But she is learning and I am learning (my first dog). It is a long, exhausting process, but totally worth it because these dogs are amazing!!