Waling Puppy

[NickyVN]

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Kendall is going out for short walks now. However we are finding he is unwiling to leave the house and go to the top of the road, but once on the park he is fine, and is fine all the way back. He just sits down and doesn't want to walk. If I take him to a walk in the car he is fine as soon as he gets out. Not sure if its just that he doesn't want to leave his house where he is comfy, safe and warm. A dog trainer has said to drg him but not really happy with this advice. Do you think I am OK picking him up for the first bit of the walk, or is this giving him bad habits?

 

[davethehorse]

He is only 12 weeks Nicky so wont be able to walk too far yet - your best carry him to the park and let him off and then walk him back - I woulndt worry about it - our Finlay was the same at his age. :thumbsup:

 

[dabroad]

I train them. and yes mine does the same its because there shy and timid they refuse to move! the more you pay attention to this behaviour the worse it gets. ignore it and walk normally head in air don't even look down. short lead and walk at a fast pace ... they have no option but to move. your so called "reassurance" is in fact praise for being scared. they follow your body language. i know it seems unfair to pull them along because they so fragile but at the end of the day they are dogs your the "pack leader" you make the decisions! have a go and see! no need to shout or even talk to your dog! just simply walk!

hope thats some good advice for you

dee

x :wub:

 

[bertha]

I train them. and yes mine does the same its because there shy and timid they refuse to move! the more you pay attention to this behaviour the worse it gets. ignore it and walk normally head in air don't even look down. short lead and walk at a fast pace ... they have no option but to move. your so called "reassurance" is in fact praise for being scared. they follow your body language. i know it seems unfair to pull them along because they so fragile but at the end of the day they are dogs your the "pack leader" you make the decisions! have a go and see! no need to shout or even talk to your dog! just simply walk!hope thats some good advice for you

dee

x :wub:

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

​

That is far too dramatic for a baby puppy, you have to encourage them to follow you, use titbits, talk to the puppy, make a big fuss when he follows you.

DO NOT DRAG HIM ALONG, that is cruel and not the way to give him confidence. He is unsure and will need time and patience to get him walking on the lead with confidence.

I don't know where you got your ideas from Dee, a baby puppy needs kindness not bullying, I am sure a lot of people will agree with me.

 

[whippetmad]

I would never drag a puppy,i always like them to move at their own pace,that way before you know it,they are quite happy to walk on their own.But not too much walking,just a little at a time

 

[rls22]

With encouragement and lots of praise Kendall will get the idea eventually. I found Diego was very unwilling to begin with - even if his Mum was walked by my OH infront of him, but eventually with a little confidence he was soon striding out with the rest of them. I know it's frustrating but you just have to be patient and persevere.

 

[davethehorse]

Yes I prefer to use my own gut instinct when training dogs - at his age I would start off letting him walk on the lead, if he stops and pulls back pick him up for a short while then start again. In the park I would walk him on the lead a short while, if confident let him off etc, etc - no hard, fast rules, its mostly common sense IMO

 

[masta]

I train them. and yes mine does the same its because there shy and timid they refuse to move! the more you pay attention to this behaviour the worse it gets. ignore it and walk normally head in air don't even look down. short lead and walk at a fast pace ... they have no option but to move. your so called "reassurance" is in fact praise for being scared. they follow your body language. i know it seems unfair to pull them along because they so fragile but at the end of the day they are dogs your the "pack leader" you make the decisions! have a go and see! no need to shout or even talk to your dog! just simply walk!hope thats some good advice for you

dee

x :wub:

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

​

its because they are shy and timid?? its 12weeks old!! your advice is to drag a 12 week pup poor advice especially from some one who "trains them"

 

[masta]

i work backwards all my pups start off lead in a safe place and when im happy with recall they start on the lead this may be when their 5/6 months old by which time they are used to being out, more confident and it is a sight easier task than trying to coax a 12 week baby dog

 

[Suerose]

I train them. and yes mine does the same its because there shy and timid they refuse to move! the more you pay attention to this behaviour the worse it gets. ignore it and walk normally head in air don't even look down. short lead and walk at a fast pace ... they have no option but to move. your so called "reassurance" is in fact praise for being scared. they follow your body language. i know it seems unfair to pull them along because they so fragile but at the end of the day they are dogs your the "pack leader" you make the decisions! have a go and see! no need to shout or even talk to your dog! just simply walk!hope thats some good advice for you

dee

x :wub:

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

​

That is far too dramatic for a baby puppy, you have to encourage them to follow you, use titbits, talk to the puppy, make a big fuss when he follows you.

DO NOT DRAG HIM ALONG, that is cruel and not the way to give him confidence. He is unsure and will need time and patience to get him walking on the lead with confidence.

I don't know where you got your ideas from Dee, a baby puppy needs kindness not bullying, I am sure a lot of people will agree with me.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

​

I agree with you Bertha. The world is a huge and frightening place to a tiny pup. Grace was very timid about going out at first but we overcame it by just having very short walks to begin with, tempting her with titbits, praising her when she came. It didn't take long before she was absolutely fine and she hasn't looked back since. I think if I had forced her it would have been traumatic for her. It was the same with the car. At first she was very carsick through being frightened in it, and I took it in very slow stages with lots of treats and encouragement. Now she is perfectly happy in the car. I think that if I had just tied her in the footwell as the trainer suggested (I did try it and she was absolutely petrified) she would still be throwing up every time we went anywhere.

 

[Esty]

Mine are 12 weeks too and have been going out for little walks around the block on the lead for a week now. They are no problem on the lead but the same as Kendall, didn't like those first few steps out of the front door. Again like Kendall they were great when I drove them to a local nature reserve and took them for a little wander around there.

When starting walking from home, I just waited with them til they start sniffing around, taking a few steps and before they knew it they were walking along nicely. I have let them lead the pace and direction at the start. Having treats also works of course! I've been really lucky that they don't fight the lead at all and I've not had to drag them anywhere! Now they come to get their harness and coats on when I say 'walkies', though of course if it's cold outside they still need a bit of time to get through the door. One other thing they do is start shivering halfway round the block so I feel mean and go the quick way home - as soon as we are there, they whinge to go out into the garden, sans coats, and stay out there for ten minutes bounding around! Kendall is still little, he'll get it soon enough.

 

[dabroad]

go with what you think its your dog. as is mine mine. maybe mines not the same as yours. i DONOT drag my puppy ever! i just simply walk and she does too. well it works for me anyway. sorry if i upset you all. don't get some image that im cruel because im not. have fun solving your problem. :thumbsup:

 

[Suzycbee]

Nicky

He's very young yet, time will fly, and in a few short months he will be looking for his lead and coat wanting to go out. He will be absolutely fine, at this time of year, the temperature is not very condusive for them, but come the Spring, he will be so much fun when you take him out.

 

[Seraphina]

To train my pups I drive to a park, carry them to the car and then to middle of the park. Put the pup down (without leash) and start walking away calling him/her. They soon follow, for that I offer a small piece of jerky. But I find that often they are too overwhelmed by it all to eat anything .

When the pup is happy to walk with me I put the collar and leash on them and basically do the same - walk and when they follow they get reward.

Sometime I take along my other dogs on the leash, sometime I just take the pup (or 2, or 3 ) alone.

But basically just play it by ear. Every dog is different, some walk immediately, some put up struggle.

 

[Rebecca Claire]

Just go with it, your puppy will go further and get more confident. Only a suggestion but if you had a friend with a doggie that may encourage him to walk with you and be more fun - only a suggestion - good luck and enjoy x

 

[fallenangel]

mine go out quite a lot being carred before 12 weeks or they go in the puppy bag so they get used to the big wide world while being held and feeling safe. i then start taking them to the local feald carry them or they sit on me knee when im in my chair till we get there they then have a little mooch round on lead and we slowly at there pace come home. i fined after a few trips they are happy to go and want to walk especily if we have others with us. ours have to lead walk well as i take them out in my wheelchair in 2 and 4s and doing it this way6 has allways worked if they dont want to come out the houes just get a chair sit outside the door with the pupwith its lead on till it realies everything fine. it wont be long till your being dragged through the door :lol:

 

[NickyVN]

We did really well yesterday evening, he was positively striding out, tail up and wagging!! The solution seemed to be some pieces of cheese in my pocket. Had tried normal dog treats before but not that fussed about them but cheese was a different matter!!! Gave him a piece before we went then just a small piece every now and again on the walk, with lots of praise and he seemed to really enjoy himself. Also had his little green fleece on to keep him cosy! Went up the road , round the swings on the park and back which took about 15 mins total but a lot of that was just sniffing and standing watching things. He spends ages sniffing, must be some good smells on the park! He is really funy when striding out, looks like a little soldier marching his legs go so high, daddy has nicknamed him sargent kendall.

He is so settled now - he asks to go out for the toilet and last night went in his bed, telling us it was time to go to bed. Not a peep till 7am when he wanted the toilet. It must be great being a puppy and being so happy and full of life at 7am!! He is a little star - we love him to bits.

 

[FifeJillandIan]

Oh, isn't he doing well and you've discovered the magic of cheese! :lol: the magic of cheese helped me out quite a bit when Blue was wee - especially when he went through a phase of barking at other dogs (when on his lead walking - off lead in the park he would just happily play with them). We used the magic of cheese to distract him when another dog was coming along the road towards us and he would forget to start barking :lol:

 

[fallenangel]

the only other thing that works as well as cheese with mine is hot dog sauseges. i allways have some cut up in a ziplock bag in the fridge just incase

 

[Rebecca Claire]

Fantastic news - really pleased for you both - what a good boy you have :thumbsup: