Walking on a leash question...

[LuvtheShiloh]

I actually have a couple of questions (of course haha). Shiloh is 12 weeks old. She doesn't mind having a collar or harness on. She could care less if she is dragging a leash around the house or outside. I'm wondering, though, how do I go about actually walking her on the leash? She does not like when I pick up the leash and attempt to "go for a walk". Now, I've tried a couple different things like luring her with treats, and getting on her level and calling her name, etc. Once she figures out that I've got the leash and we're walking together, she balks. I don't know what to do! I can't walk her or go anywhere with her because she refuses to walk on a leash. How do I do this? lol. We are clicker training if that helps any...

Also, I just started gluing her ears today and they're all wonky. Can anyone show some pics of what ears are supposed to look like when they're glued?

Thanks ya'll!! Maybe one of these days I'll actually be able to contribute to this message board instead of asking all sorts of silly questions

 

[Justicemom]

Wait her out .Don't pull on the leash that will trgger the opposition reflex and she'll pull back. Just wait if she pulls back on her own hold your ground, once she moves even a step in the direction you want to go click and treat. Then take a step if she go with you praise/click and treat. Just keep the leash loose on your part and be patient. Diva did this then when she figured out she couldn't go backwards she bolted forward at full speed. I did the same thing unless the leash was loose I didn't move. Other tip unless you want to go a certain direction don't move with the puppy. You must be the one leading. Be silently until Shiloh does what you want. ie go you direction.

 

[RonandJan]

I let MMM run around with his leash on for the longest time, just so he got the feel of the natural tug of it.

Then I would start to pick up the end of the leash when he had finished doing his business, and very lightly and WATCHING him, I would begin to move towards the house, whistling and calling his name in a sing song silly voice and he started to follow me on the leash.

This will transition, let him catch up to your side and when in the heal position, say "yes" or click and "heal" and "GOOOOODDD BOOY!!" You can treat with the praise if you want. We do not treat for training, but that is just our opinion.

If you are still getting opposition, try carrying in your left hand a favorite toy to get the little guy to come along with you. This never works for me all that well, because instead of heal, I get a crazy jumping nutzoid puppy excited over the toy and then you have to train him to be calm on the leash.

Ears, Ears, There are lots of threads on ears! Try searching it, or maybe one of the breeders will jump in and clarify.

 

[Emmasmom]

If you have a hallway, try teaching walking on a leash there first. They can't go off to the side away from you. With Emma and Noah, I would put on the leash, then stand in from on them and call them. It took a little bit, but they would come. Once they did this, then I started working on walking by my side. Again, this took a little bit of time, but it paid off to work inside first without distraction. Once outside, I had a little bit of a war with Emma - she wanted to run ahead, but by stopping and waiting until she came back, or turning the other way and walking away from her, she quickly got the message that she had to walk with me, not against me or away from me.

 

[Lahree]

I made walking on the leash THE most exciting and fun thing that could ever happen! I had treats, treats, treats and I would pick up the leash and let Ellie see the treat. I would call her name in a high pitched goofy manner. She would walk forward for the treat, I would step backwards, all the time making sure the leash was slack. She'd come get the treat and we'd do it again. She stepped forward a few steps, I would step backwards a few steps. As soon as she got the idea if she came to me, she would get a treat she started wanting to be where I was. I then started to turn my body sideways and hold the treat my my leg. She'd come to my leg for that. I would take a few steps forward, so would she. Pretty soon without her really realizing it, she was walking along next to my leg with a loose leash with me giving her treats. If she balked, I would stop too and call her name in that goofy-excited voice and show her a treat. She would go forward. Make the training session short at first--five to 10 minues and work your way up. Makes walks and the leash FUN FUN FUN!

 

[BarbV]

At puppy school, they used a stick with peanut butter smeared at the end. You hold the leash in your left hand with pup on left, and the stick in your right, across your body and in front of pup's nose. If they move forward, they get a lick.

I was fortunate not to have to do that. The first time I walked Bacca who balked as soon as we got to the end of the driveway. I lived on a busy street, so I picked him up and carried him to a quieter street a block down. I carried a treat in my hand and if he moved forward, he got a treat and praise. It only took a couple of days before he got the hang of it.

Are you on a busy street by any chance? If so, take him someplace less spooky.