Successful training advice for getting a lagging pup to walk on a leash?

Question

My puppy is 10 weeks old and i have been attempting to get him used to both his collar and his leash so that i can successfully begin training him to walk on his leash for just a few minuets without stopping, lagging and stalling every few seconds ( what he currently does) He's doing swell with the collar being on him and doesn't mind at all when a leash is attached to it (both the retractable kind and the traditional leashes) however; he is only tolerant and walking smoothly beside me whilst outdoors only if the leash attached onto his collar is not being held by me on the other end of the leash in any way. I have tried giving him various treat's as rewards when he does actually walk on his own by my side with the leash in my hand but it honestly is not working at all. In answering this question please do not simply type " go to a local obedience school/[puppy training classes" since my vet told me that until he gets a little older and receives all his shots that i should hold off on puppy obedience classes. that being the case, in the meantime, what should i do?

Answer 1

Please ask your vet to review the new vaccination protocals with an open mind. Your puppy is fine to start puppy kindergarten after first shot.



The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB) recently released a position paper ( http://AVSABonline.org/) outlining the importance of early puppy socialization, preferably before the puppy reaches 12 to 16 weeks old. The AVSAB encourages owners to take their pets to puppy classes as early as possible, even before puppies have completed their full vaccination series.

Source(s):

http://veterinarymedicine.dvm360.com/vet…



http://www.4pawsu.com/vaccinations.htm

Answer 2

This is the way almost all puppies react when they are introduced to a leash. I mean, you probably wouldn't be to happy if something was all of a sudden attached to your neck and you were being dragged, lol! Anyways, first thing first, let your puppy see the leash in your own home- but do not clip it on him. Just show it to him and let him sniff it some. Allow him to touch it and examine it. After doing this for a few days, clip the leash on him, but do not drag him at all. Let him drag it by himself- but supervise him! Otherwise he could get tangled up and end up choking himself to death. Then, gently try walking him around on it in your house, but be gentle. By now he should be used to the feel and the sight of the leash so it doesn't freak him out as much. It may require some dragging- but just don't be too harsh. The pup will learn eventually!

Answer 3

A ten week old puppy is plenty old enough for training, but your training method might need some adjustments. Instead of giving him the option of lagging behind, purchase a two-foot long traffic lead or cut off a traditional nylon lead to make it shorter. I love the leather traffic leads from J and J Dog Supplies (order online at www.jjdog.com), very soft and lightweight. Get a really skinny one for him because he's small.



Now, when you walk him, snap on the traffic lead. If he lags behind, the lead will tighten up and this should convince him that it might be a better idea to walk next to you. You could also lure him by putting some peanut butter inside a rubber toy and letting him lick it as he walks along next to you.



Make sure you're not correcting him harshly or doing anything to scare him, since a frightened dog won't want to walk next to its owner at all.



Never let him drag his lead. Either he's not wearing one or you're holding it. Continue with this regime until he accepts it and walks beside you. However, I still wouldn't walk him with the lead dragging - just use that when you're training or exercising him in an unfenced area.



I hope this helps!

Answer 4

This is an old training trick but it works really well. If your puppy likes peanut butter (if not, go to the pet store and buy Kong Stuffn-it's kind of like ezee cheese for dogs) put a dollop on the end of a long cooking spoon and dangle it in front of your puppy. Every now and then let him have a lick so he doesn't get bored. It's kind of like dangling a carrot in front of a stubborn horse...your puppy will have motivation and a reward for walking by your side. Good luck!

Answer 5

The owner of the dog needs to know how to "operate" the dog, same way you can get into a car that's in perfect running order but if you don't know how to drive you won't have much luck making the car go anywhere. If the owner doesn't know how to maintain the training, the dog will soon become untrained again. Read more here https://tr.im/rn8fI



People seem to think that once a dog is trained, that's it. Not true. You must reinforce the dog's training every single day in some way. It's best if the owner and the dog go together to get trained. As a professional trainer once said to me "We can train any dog in 2 days. It takes longer to train the owners

Answer 6

Some dogs will never learn how to walk by your side properly, and a lot comes down to what breed your puppy is. Look into clicker training, its a little device that makes a clicking noise, click and give the treat to reward for what your asking him to do. He's still only young aswell so he has plenty of time to learn.



Also remember when you're walking your dog its his time to have fun and run around, he does need to behave but does he have to be perfect?

Answer 7

Ten weeks is pretty young. Usually I would say to try to get him excited. Use happy, high-pitched baby talk, "Come on puppy, let's go!!! yayyy!" If he is scared, teach him to sit and stay. This gives them the confidence that they really can do it. I really would wait at least another few weeks. Try very very short sessions on the leash, like a few yards and then do what the dog loves best...a play session, a ride in the car, etc. Good luck, but I really wouldn't worry!

Answer 8

try a smaller leash that doesn't intimidate the pup. my dog was scared of the leash for the longest time.

once he gets used to it you can get a bigger leash.

also dont use retractable some dogs dont like it when they have to pull on the leash. the tension or pressure might also scare him. make sure you have a very slack leash and go @ his pace for now.

Answer 9

Keep doing what you're doing. Shorten the leash so that he doesn't have a choice but to walk beside you. He's very young and will learn with time. This just requires patience on your part.

Answer 10

Read more: How to Get a Stubborn Puppy To Walk On a Leash | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_2287399_stubborn-puppy-walk-leash.html#ixzz1496vJskl



It worked for some people that I know!!

Answer 11

Your vet is correct . Don't worry about training your dog until it's 6 months old . Then bring it to a class . Or get private lessons . Getting your dog to heel properly will be a simple thing .