please help with leash question... Bailey HATESSSS them! What to do?

The only time I ever use a flexi lead is when the pup is little bitty, 3 months to about 6 months tops. 

I would offer the same advise about the drag line.  Get an old leash or long line...one that you will never use again.  Cut off the handle part, so that it doesn't get caught onto anything.  Just put it on her and let her be.  She'll try to chew it, play with it and whatever with it.  But, eventually she'll accept it and just ignore it

After she gets used to that, start handling the line while its on her...just hold on to it lightly, no pressure.  Then start leading her with treats in hand.  Just like anything else, time and patience required.

mudpuppy

you know, puppies need to be socialized. That means taking them out in the world often and exposing them to all sorts of people, animals, and events. Even if you have a huge yard you aren't doing your puppy any favors by not-leash-walking him from a very early age. Lack of socialization is a major cause of dogs developing behavioral problems; and behavioral problems are a major cause of dogs ending up in shelters and ending up dead.

 

seriously??? i am asking a question about a leash and i am getting a lecture about behavioral problems and my dog could end up dead in a shelter?? give me a break and stay on topic... our dog doesn't have behavioral problems - she doens't like a leash, and she is socialized with MANY animals... have you not seen any of my pictures?

I don't think that muds post is really all that off topic.

Hindsite is always 20-20 though and what wasn't done can't be changed, so of course now you need to focus on those leash manners.  Honestly, I'm sooooo glad that I taught my dogs how to walk on lead when they were young because in my situation NOW, I'd be a mess trying to walk adult, big, strong dogs, without that history.

When I'm leash training a pup I do what the others have suggested.  I put the lead on and let them drag it around for a little bit several times a day for a few days.  Once I DO pick up the leash I don't try to make the pup go MY way....I simply follow him/her around and talk to him/her the whole time.  When I do start getting the pup to go MY way, it's always a simple suggestion, such as, lets go see the butterfly, or whatever, and in that excited voice like coming with me is the very best thing anyone could do.

This isn't a really fast process, and especially with an older pup it'll take a bit longer, but slow and steady is what its going to take.  And very, very consistent.

I personally absolutely HATE flexi's and wouldn't even consider using one with a strong dog.....but, I'd not really use one with any dog.  Too easy to not pay attention and end up with your dog wrapped around someones ankles.

Another thing about flexis that you might want to beware of is the handle.  There are quite a few times when I just slip the leash loop over one wrist while I'm digging for treats or picking up poop.   You can't do that with the handle of a flexi.  If you happen to drop it, it reels up very quickly and can smack  the dog in the leg or the head and either hurt him or scare the bejeebers out of him, causing him to dart off dragging the thing behind him. Also not fun.

Joyce

I don't think mudpuppy is insinuating that you'd dump Bailey at a shelter, but it is true that there are TONS of dogs in shelters for reasons such as "he just isn't a leash dog".  It happens every day.  People never leash train their dog, then one day something in their life changes such that having the dog on a leash is now necessary, but they just drop the dog off at the shelter b/c they really think some dogs just can't be leash trained.  Unless a dog has endured abuse involving a leash/collar or has some physical ailment that makes being leashed painful, I really don't think there is any reason why a dog cannot be leashed trained with a lot of time, patience, and positive reward. 

What about a harness like an Easy Walk?  That takes the pressure off the neck/trachea AND is designed to help train the dog not to pull. 

Liesje

I don't think mudpuppy is insinuating that you'd dump Bailey at a shelter, but it is true that there are TONS of dogs in shelters for reasons such as "he just isn't a leash dog".  It happens every day.  People never leash train their dog, then one day something in their life changes such that having the dog on a leash is now necessary, but they just drop the dog off at the shelter b/c they really think some dogs just can't be leash trained.  Unless a dog has endured abuse involving a leash/collar or has some physical ailment that makes being leashed painful, I really don't think there is any reason why a dog cannot be leashed trained with a lot of time, patience, and positive reward. 

What about a harness like an Easy Walk?  That takes the pressure off the neck/trachea AND is designed to help train the dog not to pull. 

She insinuated that my dog was not socialized just because she has not been leash trained... HMMM... how is that true or how does that make sense in any way...  I asked for tips, I am in NO WAY giving up on her... my god.

She has a harness.

BTmomma

She insinuated that my dog was not socialized just because she has not been leash trained... HMMM... how is that true or how does that make sense in any way...

I'm confused as to how you did socialize her without being leash-trained. A dog who's never been on a leash (or at least hasn't been on a leash much) sounds like a dog who's never been out of her house/yard. Not saying that's the case here, just saying what it sounds like. Socializing to me means taking the dog everywhere...parks, pet stores, vets, training classes, friends houses, etc....none of those are really possible without a leash. So I think we're all just confused.

I agree Chelsea. I don't think mud was trying to be rude.

I have a large backyard as well - but my dog still enjoys going on walks. Taking a nice long walk tires him out way more than running in the backyard. He meets all sorts of people, dogs, cats, birds, etc. on our walks. He loves to get out and sniff things, not in his own backyard.

I don't think you need a leash to socialize with other dogs, Casey is never on leash when meeting new friends - that's just how we do things here - never a need for a leash in that setting.

An easy-walk harness is a lot different than a regular harness - it doesn't allow the dog to lean in and pull WITH the harness, like most do. I saw the pictures of your new harness, and I don't think that will help any. *I'll find a picture of my harness and show you*

Drag a small leash on her, at all times. Give lots of treats, praise, etc. You could even get a small, cat leash from petsmart to start with - those things weigh nothing, she probably wont even notice it too much. Gradually switch to a larger, heavier leash. After a few days, pick it up and just follow her with it. Talk to her, tell her what is going on, make it tons of fun. Gradually work your way outside, tons of treats, praise, etc. Get one of her doggy friends, and go for a walk. Treats to lure her, if need be. Don't let the walk be a negative thing - which it already as become. Start from square one, pretend she's a pup.

This is how I leash train all my pups, I have them walking perfectly on leashed by 8 weeks.

erica1989

An easy-walk harness is a lot different than a regular harness - it doesn't allow the dog to lean in and pull WITH the harness, like most do. I saw the pictures of your new harness, and I don't think that will help any. *I'll find a picture of my harness and show you*

here's an old pic of dummy in his:

BTW I don't think anyone was suggesting that YOU were giving up on Bailey, but that lots of people DO give up on older pups because they hate leashes or demonstrate other undesirable behaviors that aren't the fault of the pup but exist because things weren't done earlier in the lives.  I know there are things I WISH I did earlier with Bugsy as it is harder when they are older.

Hang in there do the drag line thing and she'll get it - I am 100% confident 

chelsea_b

I'm confused as to how you did socialize her without being leash-trained. A dog who's never been on a leash (or at least hasn't been on a leash much) sounds like a dog who's never been out of her house/yard. Not saying that's the case here, just saying what it sounds like. Socializing to me means taking the dog everywhere...parks, pet stores, vets, training classes, friends houses, etc....none of those are really possible without a leash. So I think we're all just confused.

We have no dog parks around here... and the parks we do have, pets are not allowed... There is a website here locally and we have been petitioning for one... we will see what happens... We bring her to all of our familys with ALLLLLLL of their pets, cats, and tons of acres and she runs and plays freely! She is well behaved without a leash... She stays by my side without running off... We even bring her to all of our friends houses and she plays for HOURS... As far as pet stores - we have one within an hour that you can bring your pet into and it is beside my work - so i go on my lunch breaks and do not have Bailey with me.  We just started bringing her out in our boat and everything... Yea - I believe she has been socialized... She is spoiled rotten with other animals and things to do...

 I am from a small town and we do not have a lot of dog community things to do with pets.  Believe me - I have done my research...

I just started trying to leash train because of hurricane season around the corner, at most hotels that you can stay at with your pet, you must keep them on a leash no matter what...

Shoulda coulda woulda... yall can all keep preaching it to me... i asked for tips as of now... not criticism for the past... geezzzz

Thanks to all of you that have helped me. 

Here's Casey's harness - I really think this type will be your best bet. While not the cutest one out there, I think it really works the best for leash training work.

You know, the first time I took Emma to an obedience class was the first time she ever walked on a leash. She did learn, and she does extremely well both on and off leash, now. She even competes!  And when I got Teenie, she was a terror on a leash. I don't think she'd ever seen one! She learned, too, and would walk nicely at my side. It's definitely doable, and Bailey is still a puppy (Teenie was a traumatized, very old dog). You just need lots of treats, and patience. It can be done with an older dog (and people do it all the time, with rescues), so it shouldn't be terribly hard to do with a well socialized puppy. You've been given lots of good advice, already, and I don't have much to add. I just wanted to tell you I messed up when Em was young, and that I (as a very novice trainer) did it with a very old dog, as well.

 

They are never too old to learn.  Bailey will be just fine...

THANKS SO MUCH GALS for the support!

Well we went to the vet today... i kept her close to my side, and much to my surprise, we only had a little fit once... i let her drag leash around about 10 minutes before we left, and she still has it now.. she isn't chewing on it, but still a little wound up from the vet so we are maybe moving in the right direction! ALOT to improve but better than last time.