Need help to leash train my 4 mth old labradoodle

[Donna Ross]

Chloe is 4 mths old and will not walk on a leash unless I have her on a VERY short length. If I give her any length at all on the leash, she just sits down and I have to pull her to make her "come". She is very smart and knows her commands-she just won't cooperate on a leash! Any ideas?

[Christine & Shelby]

If she is 4 months... My guess is she is just starting to go for walks. Might it be that she is fearful? Have you tried tethering her to you around the house and then transitioning that to outdoors? Are you trying to entice her with treats? You need to make it an enjoyable experience for her.... Otherwise it's just going to get harder and harder. Maybe the leash it's self is scary. Try clipping the leash to her collar in the house and let her drag it around. I think tethering her really cold be a good option in the house.... Attach the leash to your belt and she will quickly learn she must go where you go. Good luck.... I am sure others will respond with more great advice.

[Donna Ross]

Thanks! It never occurred to me she might be scared! She just wants to chew the leash. I may let her drag it around awhile inside. Thanks again!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Donna, I really think the best thing would be to enroll in a training class with Chloe, epsecially if training a puppy is new to you. Not only will you learn leash training skills, but you will also get a basic foundation for all of the training that you and Chloe will  be doing for the rest of her life. If you find a good instructor, you will have someone to help you with all of the challenges that are going to come up in the next year and beyond. You will also get support from other owners, and Chloe will get some socialization by spending time around other dogs and people in an unfamiliar setting. 

[Ginny Nightingale]

Christine has given you great ideas----and I would add a puppy class!! You need to get started on working with a trainer so that you become the "leader" and your pup is the follower--sounds like she is trying to run the show--believe me, she is not too young to begin asserting her authority and this is the time to firmly establish yourself as being in charge...in a POSITIVE way of course!!! That is where the right trainer comes in--with positive reinforcement training....
In the meantime, I would add one quick thing to Chrstine's answer--when you want her to move forward on the leash, do not look back at her and coax her--turn in the direction you want to go, give her a gentle tug and say "Let's go!" in a cheerful, positive way and then start walking--if she doesn't follow, keep walking forward and do not look back, just give gentle tugs and she will follow...Also, get a harness! A gentle leader is the type I would recommend! That way, you are not are not hurting her neck with the tugs or making her neck immune to your touch--some dogs get "hard necks"--from pulling on the leash and they do not even feel the tugs you are giving them.

[Donna Ross]

Thanks, I appreciate the advice. We have three other dogs all well trained to a leash. Chloe just wants to bite the leash! I have had it on her this morning in the house. I think she really is scared of it. She hunkers down and walks really slow. The only thing I can find in training classes for my area is PetSmart. In reading online-she already knows the preliminary things they teach. Sit, Stay, Come, Up, Down, all that. Most trainers here are for hunters and you leave them for several months. I don't want to send her off. :-(

[BG and Gavin]

She may know these commands in the house with little distraction, but I guarantee she will forget how to do all of it when she is in a class with other people, dogs and all kinds of distractions.  I did a class at Petsmart early on and I thought it was pretty good.  I know there can be a discrepancy between the skills of any given trainer there, but for the basics and socialization I think it is fine.  A bonus is that some of the training happens in the store isles which is great for learning to obey with distractions.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I agree. Plus, places like Petsmart with lots of sounds, sights, smells, people, and other animals are great places for socializing dogs who do have some fear issues. JD was terribly undersocialized and fearful when I first adopted him, and part of his desensitization program was visiting pet supply stores at least once a week. We also did a lot of our pre-CGC loose leash practicing there, just walking up and down the aisles.

[Donna Ross]

Thanks. I may check into those too! We have three other dogs, so there is plenty of interaction with them. People, not so much. Just me and my hubby here.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Socialization with other dogs is the least important type of socialization for any dog. What is critical is that they be socialized to human society, which is what the term really means. They must learn to be comfortable in our world, outside of their homes, with people of all ages and sizes, with strange noises, sights, smells, movements, etc. It makes life easier for both of you, and helps prevent common problem behaviors. .

[Donna Ross]

Oh- I do have a harness! She doesn't like that either!

[BG and Gavin]

I am not a fan of starting a dog out on a harness.  I would try for control with a collar first.

[Ginny Nightingale]

Good point--she is probably not ready for a harness now that you mention it.