Advice on leash training

    • Bronze

    Advice on leash training

    A little background here.. we have had out puppy for almost two weeks now. The one we got her from got her from her friend and was going breed her with a red Chichi she had (ridiculous) well evidently the woman backed out and decided to sale her.. which is fine by me cuz now my family has a pet and my kids will have her to play with and cuddle with... anyways She is a boston terrier my top pick of breed... Ok so I had a friend come with me as I had alot of questions and I didnt want to forget anything and as is I had to drive two hours to get her so I wanted company and she didnt mind coming along.. when I picked her up I asked the lady if she had been crate trained, leash, or house trained answer were No no and no.. she is 4 months old so I thought maybe I would have a lil trouble here... Well the crate she has done ok with granted we had about three nights of trouble with making poo messes in it, well I got that all sorted and made less room fellow friends explain to me to make just enough room for her to lay down and she wont do any messes and she hasnt!  well house training has gone pretty good I would think, she hasnt made any accidents in the house for three days now (knocking on some wood) and I have learned her ques as she needs to go.. we have a pattern with this...   the problem Im having is Leash training!   She absolutly hates it! she wont move a muscle if I put it on her! Not even a inch she will just stand there like she is scared out of her head.. now on the warms days we have had this week I have put her on the porch with the door open on a leash like that attaches to her colar as well to the porch so she cant take off all she will do is stand there and I put her on the bench we have on our porch and she will not budge  now I had a friend come over with her pup and she moved a lil but not much but soon as I took the leash off she jumped around and played alot with the other pup.. now I have heard to put a lite weight leash on her and let her around the house with it.. but the problem is I can do that but she WONT MOVE at all!  I have put it on here for an hour befor she stood there.... So is there any advice any of you can give to me.. I have never had to deal with this sort of thing.... Its been a long time since I have had a dog and in past times of having one they was always familiar with going potty outside the crate and the leash...

     

    Any advice would be great Im up for any ideas...  thanks for reading..

    • Gold Top Dog

     Hehe. Im "the" friend!!!

    I told her to put a leash on her in the house and let her drag it around. BUT I think she told me that Raven just hopped in a chair and wouldnt move.

    I think Ashlee's doing everything right. But Raven just refuses to move with the leash on. 

    I took Joker over there to play the other day(some of you all saw pictures) and she wouldnt budge with her lead on. As soon as Ash took it off Raven was ready to play.

    • Gold Top Dog

     Odd.. Even if she's just hanging out the house, dragging it, she won't move?  Hmmm...

    • Gold Top Dog

     Yep that's right.

    I think the only thing that moves on her is her eyes. 

    • Gold Top Dog

     Is there anything that she loves? Like a toy or treat?  Something to get her jumping? Maybe if you'd bribe her to walk and get her moving then snap on the leash with no fuss and continue on with the treats.

    *shrugs* I'm just throwing ideas.. I've never had a dog that froze with a leash...

    • Gold Top Dog

     I tried to give her treats. She acted like they were poison.

    When I took Joker over there to play I had him dragging his leash. Everytime it happened to touch Raven you would have thought she had been shocked.

    • Gold Top Dog

     It sounds like something really bad happened with the leash. *shrugs* Maybe use something lighter like a ribbon or a peice of string then work up to the leash.. With Maze I used a dollar store leash that was feather light cuz she would scream and fight a regular leash..

    • Gold Top Dog

     The leash she has cant get any lighter!! It is a little long. Maybe I should have her shorten it somehow.

    • Gold Top Dog

    Lol. Smile Right idea.  Yeah. Shorten it so it's not dragging on the ground but long enough to grab if need be.  I know some stores sell small leashes but I'm not sure if it'll be short enough for a Boston pup.

    • Gold Top Dog

    Ok -- the problem is that you gave in at first.  Now all she has to do is *outwait* you and you'll cave. 

    If you choose to just leash her you gotta pretty well ignore her.  Don't cave -- just leave it on.  Period. 

    I would have done it a different way since she's so fearful (and by the way -- it sounds like you bought from a back yard breeder -- so be cautious along the way of health issues).  I would have simply added a ribbon - about 6" long (six INCHES) and let it flutter from the collar.

    Tomorrow, I'd tie on one that is 10" -- the next day it's 14 - 16" .... every day it's longer.  And along the way go to a bit heavier ribbon.  (from a skinny satin ribbon to a wider satin one, to a grossgrain one)

    At some point rather than tying it on tie the ribbon to a leash clip (which increases the weight again). By sneaking it up on her she has to deal with something new but only a new bit it every day.  She will learn to dodge around it and ultimately you'll get to a short leash. 

    Since you've already gone the leash way, YOu may just as well bulldoze thru and just put it on her and LEAVE IT.  Just don't give in.  don't ooh and "poor baby" her ... I'd practice "ignoring" her but I wouldn't make it easy on her.

    I'd break out the good stuff and pan fry some liver (just til it's 'set' -- let it cool totally and then cut it into tiny pieces -- spray a cookie sheet really heavy with Pam and then make at 175 for 2 hours - very 'cool' oven for a long time). 

    Don't make her come to your hand.  Simply put 3-4 pieces down 4-5 inches in front of her and WALK AWAY.  Let her set her own pace.

    Once she takes that ... set another couple of pieces 1 foot further away.  Eventually offer her some from your hand. 

    Remember when training doesn't work break it into smaller steps.  Still keep it positive but make it so she has to do *less* to get the reward.  She still has to 'do' but do **less** will make it work.

    • Gold Top Dog

     YAY Callie! I knew someone would be on with better advice then me. I've never had a dog that refused to walk on a leash. So I was just throwing suggestions. Smile

    • Gold Top Dog

    Just a thought - is this reaction from having a leash attached to her collar? or a harness?  If it's to a collar, could you try a harness and see if that makes a difference?  Also, has she had a vet check to rule out any medical condition or injury?

     What I would do is attempt to change her perception of the leash.  HIDE IT so she can't see it and every time you get it out, make it party time!  Don't attach it just yet, just make her feel good about seeing the leash.  By contrast, when the lead disappears, switch off and go and do something else quite abruptly.

    How does she feel about mealtime?  Maybe you could put it on her while she is fed meals in her crate?

    Maybe touch it to her leg or her side very gently and briefly and then heap her with praise and a tasty treat - rinse and repeat. 

    When you put it on her, make like she is just about the best dog since Sliced Bread.  She doesn't HAVE to move at that point, altho if she does you really have to JACKPOT as far as rewards go!  End the session there, while you are ahead and come back later. 

    I would teach "touch", possibly using a clicker, and get some forward movement with the lead on that way.  Touch is just where the dog touches their nose to your hand, or a target of your choice, usually for a treat.  The lead could be dragged at that point, leaving you both hands free, and, more importantly, still allowing her the option of Flight.

    "Touch" is SO easy.  ESPECIALLY if you use a clicker!  Most dogs learn it in minutes and the very learning of it gives them a massive confidence boost.

    I'm confident she will be dragging you down the street in no time Smile

    • Bronze

     I agree on the backdoor breeder comment, This woman I bought her from wanted her for selfish reason so she got her from a boston terrier breeder in return she wanted to breed her to a chichi she had I guess to make a buck Im not sure.. Kimberly went with me like she said above I wanted her to go so she could help with askin question but as kimberly and myself could agree this woman was standoffish of answering lengthy questions.. I also agree with the comment maybe she was abused with the leash, just by the actions she does I have tried to let her sniff the leash and gentle move it towards her or put apon her leg or back but she backs away like she is scared to death!   So leads me to think that possibly she was abused... I havent taken her to the vet yet Im going to go on the same day kimberly goes to take joker so I know where Im going cuz I trust my friends word that the vet she takes all her dogs to is a good vet.. She has had all her shots I have her shot record the only missing one was the rabie shot which I tend to get on the first visit..  And the woman acted like she had no idea when she was suppost to get that and she was amazed when my friend told her she could get it now... its like how retared could a person be...   I knew it would be a slow process to get her to come out of her shell cuz simply because I dought she has any or little human contact possible just put in a kennel and left there.. well she has since came around and I actually got a video last night of me playing getcha with her and it was the first time she had played with any of us she was running around silly as can be and I actually hear her bark for the first time yesturday since being in our home.. I know I will need to work with her, but Im willing to.. I love this dog to death and our kids have really taken up with her alot! as well as she has pretty much made her self at home and has a favorite chair she likes to sleep in.. hehe...    I will try out the advice you guys have thrown out to me and I will try the harness thing  because she wears a colar right not.. so maybe that might make a diffrence...   thanks everyone I appreciate it..