Trouble walking on leash

[Dawn]

Any suggestions for getting my 4 month old doodle to walk on her leash.  We take her out everyday but it is a challenge.  She either stops in her tracks and won't budge or if she does walk she turns around and chews/tugs on her leash.    I love walking with her but it's so difficult. 

Thanks for any suggestions.

Dawn

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

Hi Dawn

 

IMO a four month old is still at the "My dog is taking me for a walk now." stage.  Put the leash on her, some poop bags in one pocket and a whole lot of tiny yummy treats for her in the other pocket.  Then she walks you, at least most of the time.  Let her "lead" making sure you stay right by her side as if you were walking her.  This will be most of the walk.  Be prepared for the times when she and you are in exactly the right position and she is looking more or less at you, not the ground, the bush, the car, but you.  Then immediately say "close" or whatever word you are going to use meaning stay by me and treat her.  You can quickly progress from this to one or two steps right beside you then treat, 5 steps treat, 10 steps treat.  Short 5 minute you lead walks then 3 minute play and sniff sessions.  And work up. Don't expect more than 15 minute "close walks" regularly until a she is a year old.  By six months you can do 20- 30 sessions if you want to, but include 1 or 2 3-5 minute play/sniff breaks. 

 "Heel" is usually reserved for when a dog is walking in the heel position and both dog and human are actively engaged with each other.  They are walking with a single purpose, being in sync with each other, not for exercise.  I use "close" for just walking by my side and "sniffers" for play and the dog leads and sniffs.

 

Walking on a loose lead by your side is one of the most difficult things to teach your dog.  The world is just so darn interesting.  It takes constant practice and there will be setbacks with age as your dog becomes older and more independent from you.  Just keep at it and enjoy.

[Barbara B., Sasha & Oliver]

Its just a puppy thing, both my doodles did this.  I used their favorite treat to coax them along.  Be persistant it will pass, keep doing what you are doing, believe me she will be pulling you along in no time :)    I had issues once they got past the stage of doing everything but walking, both pulled like crazy and we did not enjoy the walk because of the pulling. I bought the Gentle Leader which is a leash that goes around their nose and the lead is hooded under their mouth, when they pull it moves their head to the side.  They did not like wearing it at first but now they know we do not walk without it.

 

Try different things, treat, toy etc. doodles are very smart... she will get the idea.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

At this age, I'd just keep right on walking.  If you don't stop when she stops, she'll get the idea.  Reward with treats when she's right by your side.  When both of my guys were this age, they would pull little "temper tantrums" at the end of the leash.  I never stopped or even acknowledged it.  They got the message that the walk was about moving forward.

[Carol Brand]

I have to disagree with Maryann.  My philosophy from the very beginning is that "where I go, the dog/puppy must go too."  When we are out in public, I consider that working time and I expect my dogs to learn from the beginning that they need to be paying attention to me and what I might need them to do.  To that end, I would never let my puppies set the pace of the walk or the direction.  I don't allow them to stop and sniff.  I don't allow them to pull.  If I'm walking... they are walking.  If I'm stopped... they are stopped.  I don't allow the puppy to set the agenda.

I do use treats to reward correct position and behavior, but I also use collar corrections if they are not paying attention as well as changes of pace and changes of direction to keep the puppy thinking.  By 6 months (24 weeks), I have dogs who are reliable off leash hikers because they know that their job is to stay with me, not to go off exploring on their own.  By 1 year, I have dogs who are actively training for high level obedience competition.

So how do you fix a "stopper"?  A puppy stops because it wants to control the situation.  I compare it to a young horse in training who will stop and refuse to go forward.  The puppy may be scared or stuborn or tired.  The motivation doesn't really matter.  The puppy still must walk when you walk.  I just keep walking.  If the puppy stops, the leash will eventually tighten and the puppy will get a tug.  DO NOT LOOK BACK AT THE PUPPY OR TURN YOUR SHOULDER BACK.  This only enforces the puppy's behavior and gives control of the situation to the puppy.  Use little tugs to get the puppy up and moving.  Don't use a steady pull because this will only encourage the puppy to pull back against you.  You may have to tug.. tug... tug... but the puppy will start moving.  The minute the puppy is moving, even if it is not up and with your, PRAISE PRAISE PRAISE.  You need to make the puppy feel like it is the smartest thing in the world.  You can reach a treat down, but DON'T TURN AND LOOK AT THE PUPPY OR TURN YOUR SHOULDER.  I will add that as an owner, it is your job to set your puppy up for success. Don't push a young puppy to its breaking point.  Keep walks and training sessions short and focused.

 

As far as leash biting goes.  This is a horrible habit and it should be corrected immediately.  When the puppy does it, give it a firm pop on the collar and a clear verbal correction.

 

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

It may help to join the training group and read through the forums from the past to get some good tools. Good luck! It's a tough road be persistent and be the boss.

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

jennifer's idea  to join the training group is a good one.  You will get lots of helpful feed back.   There are as many ways of training a puppy as there are successful trainers.  The one constant is that it takes lots of practice.   

[Adina P]

I tend to side with Carol.  If you keep walking, your pup will eventually move if only to stay close to its head ;-)  But seriously, no matter what training philosophy you believe in, it helps SOOOOOOOO much to attend a class and work with an effective trainer who knows training and dogs inside and out.  Dog training is a very visual thing and just reading 'how to' doesn't always translate to effective training.  We all mess up little things here and there and having an expert show you and then watch you helps more than you can imagine.

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

I tend to agree with Carol, although my two are nowhere near high level obedience training, but neither am I qualified to do that level of training. I just knew I wanted a dog to run with and enjoy walks and hikes with and by golly they were going to do it, period. However, DH Feels more like Maryann, that dogs should enjoy their walks and get out and explore and sniff. He doesn't mind being dragged all over. So needless to say we don't walk the dogs together. He uses a rope attached to their collar, I use gentle walker haters and have used the gentle leader for one.
One doodle, Murphy(3 yrs old next week), did just what your puppy did at that age and it was only with consistent training, telling him "let's go!" with a tug of the leash. With turning around and going the opposite way if he walked in front of me, I said "close" till I was saying it in my sleep, and treats in my hand right in front of him to help keep him focused. It was MONTHS!
But it paid off and by a year + he walks right by my side, stops on a dime when commanded and only walks ahead briefly before a small tug sets him right at my side again.
My Bella , (17 months old) came to me at 10 weeks with the most unbelievable leash etiquette already. She fell right into my side and walked so well I couldn't believe it and didn't t know some dogs actually could do it so young! She walks between me and Murphy now , always in the middle. So I'm not sure who has taught who how to walk well, but they seem to keep eachother in line. Maybe that's the ticket, get another doodle! Kidding. Good luck.

[Dawn]

Thanks for all the suggestions.    We are in puppy obedience school but we haven't talked about walking on a leash yet.  I really do appreciate this group.  As a first time dog owner I feel clueless about so many things.  Thanks! 

Dawn