Leash Training Advice?

[john]

Hello all, im new to the forum and need some advice on leash training.

I have a labrador puppy and he cant seem to get used to being taken for a walk on a leash and wearing a collar, he's fine around the house but becomes very difficult when it's time to go out side and be under my control.

[admin]

Hi John and welcome to the forum!

When exactly is the problem happening, when you leave the house, or when you try to put the lead on?

[john]

Hi admin, great site BTW, the new forum looks so muh better than others!

Anyway back to the question. Having the collar on is fine but when i go to attach the lead he freaks out and wriggles around a lot. Even if i manage to get the lead on he goes crazy with it, jumping about everywhere in a panic. I realy dont know what to try.

[admin]

Thanks john for the forum compliments, as for your dog i'd just attatch the lead and let him walk around the house in it for a while, just let him get comfortable with having a lead around his neck.

Then gradualy get him used to you holding the lead by holding it for longer amount of time every time, rewarding him all the time.

This way he'll begin thinking that having the lead on is a fun and enjoyable experience. Then just keep it going untill you can take him outside and around the garden.

Hope it helps and remember to keep rewarding him.

good luck!

[Leader]

Hi John,
It's the easiest to accustom a puppy to a leash before they are 12 weeks of age. After that, they naturally resist any leash work - is also part of the first real "fear period" that puppies do go through.

Do you do "tummy-side up" with your puppy? This is holding the puppy firmly in your arms against your chest with the tummy exposed. With a larger breed such as a lab, sit on the floor, have the pup's pelvis between your legs and hold the pup around the chest.Hold the pup until he relaxes - do not release him until he quits struggling. I teach new owners to do this a minimum of two to three times a day for 5 to 10 minutes at a time. This will do two things - develop trust between the pup and you and also get the pup used to restraint. This is imperative to do. There may be times in the pup's life when he has to be restrained (e.g. at the veterinarians etc.). Learning to do this will help any future problems.

The tummy-side up will also help to translate into the leash work as he'll be able to translate the restraining feeling around his neck (which he is objecting to) to being "o.k." being held in your arms.

I'd also teach "watch me" - to get the pup's focus. If you don't have their attention, you can't get through to them!

Absolutely, do your work with the leash inside before going out into different areas. And certainly use the "lure" method of having the puppy follow a treat in your hand. (Ian Dunbar teaches this brilliantly in his Sirius Puppy Classes.) I teach this to many different breeds of pups at my kennel club's puppy classes - is a fabulous foundation for a lot of different behaviors. For more information on puppy training etc. go to my website of index