Leash training a dog

ResonanceTheory · 01-30-2009, 12:29 AM

I have a two year old italian greyhound. She is very much used to going to a fenced yard alone outside to do her business. She is my dog, but for this reason I have been forced to leave her at my mother's house (I live in an apartment). I am working on getting a house with a fenced backyard next year so I can bring her home with me...but in the meantime, I was wondering if anyone had any expertise in this area. I tried to leash train her before, but she just seems scared and unsure of what to do when she is on the leash. When she is on the leash, I try to stand back and let her do her thing. She will look around a little, but she pretty much just wants to play with me, and I can't get her to do her business. I miss her very much and want to bring her to stay with me but I can't do so until I know how to work this out.

Any suggestions?

george237 · 01-30-2009, 12:31 AM

Get one of those leashes you anchor in the ground. This will keep him in the yard and he won't be distracted by you.

Comatose · 01-30-2009, 12:40 AM

Start slowly. I've had a few dogs that hated leashes and walking, and it just takes time like anything else.

Start by giving her treats everytime you put the leash on, so she starts to associate it only with good things. Talk in a happy voice when you're putting on the leash. Don't get frustrated and tense, she'll only sense your mood and that will make her even more unsure.

When she's more comfortable with the leash being on, be motivated, talk in a high pitched voice, and give treats as you walk. Go to a park or someplace where people normally walk dogs and wait for her to start sniffing and getting interested in where she is and what she's doing. Praise and give treats constantly, I can't stress that enough! Even rub some yummy smelling food on her leash.

Let me know how it goes.

a_far · 01-30-2009, 12:41 AM

In my experience (and I have 3 dogs!) you just have to be persistant. Even if that means leaving that leash on them until they do there business! Lol. Eventually they'll get the hint.

One of my pups would sqwack (or whatever?) like a chicken when I put him on a leash. But I just kept doing it and eventully he eased into it. That's pretty much how you teach them, by doing. You also have to show them whose boss!

redhearts · 01-30-2009, 01:30 AM

She can't walk in front of you, she can't be trying to walk you and if she keeps stopping you need to tug.

ResonanceTheory · 01-30-2009, 03:15 AM

my biggest issue here is actually getting her to go potty while she's on the leash. I can make her walk with me (though she seems skittish on the leash, sometimes), but she doesn't want to pee, poop, nothin.

01-30-2009, 12:29 AM	#1
ResonanceTheory Online Gold Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Florida Gender: Female Posts: 872	Leash training a dog I have a two year old italian greyhound. She is very much used to going to a fenced yard alone outside to do her business. She is my dog, but for this reason I have been forced to leave her at my mother's house (I live in an apartment). I am working on getting a house with a fenced backyard next year so I can bring her home with me...but in the meantime, I was wondering if anyone had any expertise in this area. I tried to leash train her before, but she just seems scared and unsure of what to do when she is on the leash. When she is on the leash, I try to stand back and let her do her thing. She will look around a little, but she pretty much just wants to play with me, and I can't get her to do her business. I miss her very much and want to bring her to stay with me but I can't do so until I know how to work this out. Any suggestions? __________________ "The Ghost made a sound something between a sob and a snarl. " I wish I'd never been born" it said. "What are we born for?" "For infinite happiness," said the spirit. "You can step out into it at any moment...." -C.S. Lewis, "The Great Divorce"

01-30-2009, 12:40 AM	#3
Comatose Offline Bronze Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Whitefish, MT Gender: Male Age: 24 Posts: 102	Start slowly. I've had a few dogs that hated leashes and walking, and it just takes time like anything else. Start by giving her treats everytime you put the leash on, so she starts to associate it only with good things. Talk in a happy voice when you're putting on the leash. Don't get frustrated and tense, she'll only sense your mood and that will make her even more unsure. When she's more comfortable with the leash being on, be motivated, talk in a high pitched voice, and give treats as you walk. Go to a park or someplace where people normally walk dogs and wait for her to start sniffing and getting interested in where she is and what she's doing. Praise and give treats constantly, I can't stress that enough! Even rub some yummy smelling food on her leash. Let me know how it goes. __________________ “A dreamer is one who can only find his way by moonlight, and his punishment is that he sees the dawn before the rest of the world.” - Oscar Wilde

01-30-2009, 03:15 AM	#6
ResonanceTheory Online Gold Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Florida Gender: Female Posts: 872	my biggest issue here is actually getting her to go potty while she's on the leash. I can make her walk with me (though she seems skittish on the leash, sometimes), but she doesn't want to pee, poop, nothin. __________________ "The Ghost made a sound something between a sob and a snarl. " I wish I'd never been born" it said. "What are we born for?" "For infinite happiness," said the spirit. "You can step out into it at any moment...." -C.S. Lewis, "The Great Divorce"

01-30-2009, 12:31 AM	#2
george237 Offline Platinum Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 2,123	Get one of those leashes you anchor in the ground. This will keep him in the yard and he won't be distracted by you.

01-30-2009, 12:41 AM	#4
a_far Offline Join Date: Dec 2008 Gender: Female Age: 26 Posts: 116	In my experience (and I have 3 dogs!) you just have to be persistant. Even if that means leaving that leash on them until they do there business! Lol. Eventually they'll get the hint. One of my pups would sqwack (or whatever?) like a chicken when I put him on a leash. But I just kept doing it and eventully he eased into it. That's pretty much how you teach them, by doing. You also have to show them whose boss!

01-30-2009, 01:30 AM	#5
redhearts Offline Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 4,620	She can't walk in front of you, she can't be trying to walk you and if she keeps stopping you need to tug.