Frustration outside, evening walks, help

[karen24]

I came inside tonight ready to cry with so much frustration with my little 10 month old yorkie, Jack. He has such a mind of his own about which way he wants to walk. We have no sidewalks, so we must walk in the road. It's a small subdivision, so it is what is done here and the cars pass slowly and infrequently. He wants to direct which way we go, right in the direction out of the subdivision toward the high traffic road at each corner. He puts on his brakes and refuses to walk along with me. When a car comes by and I want to move over to the side he again puts on the brakes. He is so stubborn. I am at my wits end. Now, add in the evening when it is getting dark and he is doing this I am ready to pull my hair out. Any ideas??? Also, those of you who have dogs who go outside to potty, do you walk them? What about in the dark? Do I need another solution? It is only going to be darker & colder earlier. I wish he would go back to pottying in the box inside. It was so convenient!!

[Maximo]

I relate to your situation in both the setup of your neighborhood, and a doggy who thinks he controls the walk. Things get easier with age though.

First, safety: make sure you are wearing light color clothing with something reflective so that drivers can see you.

Do not allow frustration to take over. Be confident, relaxed. These little guys can read us easily and frustration seems to feed their stubbornness. Or it breaks the lines of communication.

Max responds so much better to sweet talking. If I say "baby" at the end of something, he follows right along. Sweet voice vs harsh voice always wins with him. "This way, baby."

Use a short leash, no more than 4 feet, especially in the evening. Shorten the leash even more to keep him closer to your feet.

Use keywords and phrases like "Let's go" when you want him to move. Say it happily and move your feet in the direction you want to go.

Use the keywords to mark other things like, "car" for instance, to get off the road.

If all else fails, I would pick him up and move him. There is a little risk that he may never learn then, but my boys have learned that they may as well listen to me because they are going to get moved anyway.

Good luck!

[Drudi]

Chip is the same way, he never wants to go where he needs to. They are curious little pups, He finally gives up and goes where I want him to. Just keep working with him, he will learn. BTW chip is 3 and still thinks he is the boss. and still has very good breaks.

[karen24]

Originally Posted by Maximo

I relate to your situation in both the setup of your neighborhood, and a doggy who thinks he controls the walk. Things get easier with age though.

First, safety: make sure you are wearing light color clothing with something reflective so that drivers can see you.

Do not allow frustration to take over. Be confident, relaxed. These little guys can read us easily and frustration seems to feed their stubbornness. Or it breaks the lines of communication.

Max responds so much better to sweet talking. If I say "baby" at the end of something, he follows right along. Sweet voice vs harsh voice always wins with him. "This way, baby."

Use a short leash, no more than 4 feet, especially in the evening. Shorten the leash even more to keep him closer to your feet.

Use keywords and phrases like "Let's go" when you want him to move. Say it happily and move your feet in the direction you want to go.

Use the keywords to mark other things like, "car" for instance, to get off the road.

If all else fails, I would pick him up and move him. There is a little risk that he may never learn then, but my boys have learned that they may as well listen to me because they are going to get moved anyway.

Good luck!

Thank you! You are right, my frustration does increase his stubborness, good point!! I have picked him up on the last 4-5 walks, set him down repeatedly, he won't walk, ended up carrying him all the way back home each time. It is good to know there is someone else out there who understands. Thank you!

[karen24]

Originally Posted by Drudi

Chip is the same way, he never wants to go where he needs to. They are curious little pups, He finally gives up and goes where I want him to. Just keep working with him, he will learn. BTW chip is 3 and still thinks he is the boss. and still has very good breaks.

Thank you! He is really testing my patience. He is such a little stinker!

[Maximo]

Originally Posted by karen24

Thank you! You are right, my frustration does increase his stubborness, good point!! I have picked him up on the last 4-5 walks, set him down repeatedly, he won't walk, ended up carrying him all the way back home each time. It is good to know there is someone else out there who understands. Thank you!

I have my bad days (don't we all?), and I see how my mood affects my boys. Makes them crazier! But when I set my mind to being relaxed, things tend to go so much more smoothly . . . unless the UPS truck drives by. Then we have bark fest. LOL

Originally Posted by Drudi

Chip is the same way, he never wants to go where he needs to. They are curious little pups, He finally gives up and goes where I want him to. Just keep working with him, he will learn. BTW chip is 3 and still thinks he is the boss. and still has very good breaks.

Aww, Chip. Maybe the secret is to have a second dog? Max never wants his little brother Teddy to get ahead.

[karen24]

Originally Posted by Maximo

Maybe the secret is to have a second dog?

We have talked about a second dog. He sure needs a playmate, but he is so good when I need to tuck him into his little bag (my "purse"). He is the perfect tag along buddy. Could I do that with 2 yorkies???

[yorkiemini]

These little guys can be a handful for sure.
Have your tried teaching him to sit and some things slide that.
Maybe finding a beginner's obedience class would help. Places like Persmart offer them. They are great for you and you little boy to get together on what he needs to do!

Good luck! Just patiently keep working with him.
In the frozen north, where you live, the indoor potty pad can be very convenient!

[Maximo]

Originally Posted by karen24

We have talked about a second dog. He sure needs a playmate, but he is so good when I need to tuck him into his little bag (my "purse"). He is the perfect tag along buddy. Could I do that with 2 yorkies???

Having 2 tag along is definitely harder than 1. There are lots of pros and cons to having more than one dog.

Also, tt's very difficult taking only 1 somewhere at a time, and leaving the other at home, even with human company at home. There is always disappointment and jealousy.

[Maximo]

Originally Posted by yorkiemini

These little guys can be a handful for sure.
Have your tried teaching him to sit and some things slide that.
Maybe finding a beginner's obedience class would help. Places like Persmart offer them. They are great for you and you little boy to get together on what he needs to do!

Good luck! Just patiently keep working with him.
In the frozen north, where you live, the indoor potty pad can be very convenient!

General obedience training is a great idea.

[dinkster]

Dinky was afraid of the walk as a pup. He is fine now, but it tried my patience too.
The dark could be a factor. If we walk in the dark, Dinky scurries quickly, eyes straight ahead. He seems aware that the dark presents more danger to him.
So if possible, you might teach him to walk when it is not dark?
You also might try working on having your dog follow you on command while indoors.
I walk with DH every day, so I was pretty upset that at first, Dinky did not want to walk. I had really looked forward to a daily walk. I have come to appreciate that Dinky has a long learning curve. If you don't give up, your pup will eventually get it.

[margaritaville]

Aging has helped but my two are a handful on walks. The walk starts out with excitement but they finally calm down. When they do I go to "nice walk, nice walk". We generally follow the same route with directions such as, "left, right" and at crossings "wait" and "go" after checking that it is safe to cross. They are use to the "let's go" after he stops to smell the 3,000th bush and "leave it" after the pile of poop. And of course, the TREAT when we get home.

Be consistent. Don't give up.

[Magnus]

Is he food driven? I used treats to get Magnus to go where I want and to follow MY lead. It's tedious way to train but it was very effective for me.

Lead the way with a treat in front (like hanging a carrot in front of the donkey?) and after few steps, praise and give treat. You just keep repeating this and after few times, you take more steps in between praise/giving treat.

Once in a while, have him sit and wait and again, praise/treat. (I do this when cars pass by or another person/dog passes by).

In regards to walking in the dark. I always carry a mini flashlight to make sure cars see me and furbutts. Also helps with looking for the poop. lol As added percussion, I put something reflective (either reflective harness or collar) on the furbutts as well b/c they're coats are dark and not easy to see at night.

Good luck!

[DBlain]

Lola is the best potty trained dog I have ever had so here is some advice, going potty and going walking should be two separate things. Walking should be fun, potty should be business. I also live in MI and having to walk a dog to get them to go potty will grow old fast especially in the cold, rain, and snow plus you will not always have the time to take a walk every time you want him to potty. Here is what I do, first I taught her to ring a bunch of jingle bells on the end of a ribbon hanging from the inside of my front door when she needs to go potty. I grab a few treats then put on her harness and a retractable leash, we go out and I stand on my porch and I do not move, she has the length of the retractable leash to find her place to potty, this cuts down on her dragging me all over the yard or street to sniff out the perfect spot to pee. At first she did not like it but she has grown use to the fact that I will not move. As soon as she goes she knows she is going to get a treat so that makes her anxious to do her business. Our normal potty break takes no more than a couple of min and on a cold MI morning that is more than enough time for me. Having them potty on a leash also helps if you want them to go in a certain area, in the summer I like to take her on the side of my house in the shade because I was getting brown spots on my lawn by the front door. So I carry her around the side then put her down on the leash and stand on the pathway and again do not move. In contrast my nephew has two mid size dogs and I have told him to do this, but LOL like most kids he will not listen so when he visits he often spends a half hour or longer being dragged all over the yard so his dogs will finally do their business, I don't have the patience for that. Plus since his dogs don't know how to tell him they have to go out I think some of the time he is trying to get them to go when they do not have to.

In reference to walking even though it should be fun you should not be afraid to teach a yorkie the proper way to walk on a leash, most dogs do not know this instinctively so they have to be taught. When it comes to walking do you have a park near by? if not and you want to walk, go only in the day and walk in the street like you are doing and then pick the dog up or just pull him in close when a car is coming. Lola also will pull in the wrong direction but let's face it I am much bigger and stronger so she has not choice but to be reeled in. I should mention that when doing this she is in a harness and I am not pulling her from a collar on her neck, I am assuming you know about using a harness when walking a small dog. Good luck with this, I know yorkies tend to have a stubborn streak but if you keep with the same program over and over they eventually get it.

[karen24]

Originally Posted by DBlain

Lola is the best potty trained dog I have ever had so here is some advice, going potty and going walking should be two separate things. Walking should be fun, potty should be business. I also live in MI and having to walk a dog to get them to go potty will grow old fast especially in the cold, rain, and snow plus you will not always have the time to take a walk every time you want him to potty. Here is what I do, first I taught her to ring a bunch of jingle bells on the end of a ribbon hanging from the inside of my front door when she needs to go potty. I grab a few treats then put on her harness and a retractable leash, we go out and I stand on my porch and I do not move, she has the length of the retractable leash to find her place to potty, this cuts down on her dragging me all over the yard or street to sniff out the perfect spot to pee. At first she did not like it but she has grown use to the fact that I will not move. As soon as she goes she knows she is going to get a treat so that makes her anxious to do her business. Our normal potty break takes no more than a couple of min and on a cold MI morning that is more than enough time for me. Having them potty on a leash also helps if you want them to go in a certain area, in the summer I like to take her on the side of my house in the shade because I was getting brown spots on my lawn by the front door. So I carry her around the side then put her down on the leash and stand on the pathway and again do not move. In contrast my nephew has two mid size dogs and I have told him to do this, but LOL like most kids he will not listen so when he visits he often spends a half hour or longer being dragged all over the yard so his dogs will finally do their business, I don't have the patience for that. Plus since his dogs don't know how to tell him they have to go out I think some of the time he is trying to get them to go when they do not have to.

In reference to walking even though it should be fun you should not be afraid to teach a yorkie the proper way to walk on a leash, most dogs do not know this instinctively so they have to be taught. When it comes to walking do you have a park near by? if not and you want to walk, go only in the day and walk in the street like you are doing and then pick the dog up or just pull him in close when a car is coming. Lola also will pull in the wrong direction but let's face it I am much bigger and stronger so she has not choice but to be reeled in. I should mention that when doing this she is in a harness and I am not pulling her from a collar on her neck, I am assuming you know about using a harness when walking a small dog. Good luck with this, I know yorkies tend to have a stubborn streak but if you keep with the same program over and over they eventually get it.

Ok, this is all making sense to me. I guess I just got used to the idea of walks over the summer and it has worked fine until now when the days are getting shorter and cooling off. My patience with the status quo is not as it should be. So approaching walks and pottying as 2 separate tasks, seems to make things easier. I did get the potty bells, but Jack is afraid of them, LOL! I will go back and see if I can find the training advice for the bells. I guess I need to work more with him to indicate he needs to go out. BTW, yes, he wears a harness. Got the flashlight, etc.

I also went out on this mornings walk with treats in my pocket and lured him along the way and only had to carry him home about 40 ft. or so. (I had been carrying him home for about half the walk. He wasn't interested in the return trip.) Today is a happier day overall for both of us. This should NOT be stressful for either of us!