starting on the leads

by hoochandjake Mon May 02 2011, 21:35

need advice... my two boys are 13 weeks old now and im trying them on the leads... only around the garden and its no hope ive tried everything leaving the leads on them walking around the garden themselves... stand there with holding the leads while they eat... walk around weith the leads in my hand... but everytime one gets terrified and bolts for the dog box and the other follows... ive never hit them like or anything so i cant understand why their so terrified... i know their young but they've gotten huge in three weeks and just trying to get them started.. any advice please thanks

by kitten Mon May 02 2011, 21:36

Have you been using any treats??

by Guest Mon May 02 2011, 21:38

Let them drag the leads around for a while, and treat them with their favourite titbits & loads of praise. Start off with just a couple of minutes, and gradually increase it.

It seems an uphill struggle at the moment, but they will get there in the end! Big Grin

by hoochandjake Mon May 02 2011, 21:45

oh i know ill get there. wont be long and ill have them in the harness and they mad to go for walks just ive been talking to a few friends and they cant understand why their so frightened... i use treats ya they come backl out like but when the lead is on them and im there they sit when i walk away they bolt to the box again... i was thinking of taking them down to the pitch bit by bit so their out of the safety zone kinda klike they have to respond but is that not makin it worse given the fact im takin them out of their comfort zone

by Guest Mon May 02 2011, 21:49

Have you tried taking one out at a time?

If one goes out the other might want to follow..............

by hoochandjake Mon May 02 2011, 21:55

yup tried that... hooch is the more adventurous anyway so i tried him and im getting somewhere with him alright only prob is when he realises jake aint around all he wants to do is find him and go back... jake is sometimes such a grump and an odd ball sorry but its the best way to describe his behaviour ha

by Guest Mon May 02 2011, 21:57

I had a GSD pup that was a bit like that. He was keen to go out, but as soon as I put a lead on, he'd dash for his bed. In the end I carried him out into the street and put him down for a couple of minutes, letting him just wander around, and then I'd lead him back in.

by hoochandjake Mon May 02 2011, 22:00

gsd?? well i took them down to the pitch in the back of the jeep and they loved it running around like mad so im hoping as they get older the confidence will grow.. also its me who is doing all this. i came home home from work sat and my sis and her boyfriend were pulling the two gogs up the driveway... jeez i leathered the two of them(sister and her boyfriend that is) clowns the two of them... give it a few months and they'll have no interest in them... i just want them to be confident in me and i think trust will bring them on an awful lot

by Guest Mon May 02 2011, 22:12

Make sure that wherever you take them, they're not just running around off lead - give them periods of calm lead walking as well, or they'll never see it as a pleasure!

by hoochandjake Mon May 02 2011, 22:21

oh i know cheerrs for the advice

by **gem** Mon May 02 2011, 22:29

I always get mine used to the collar on off and when they tolerate that I attach the lead a lightweight one and tie it up so its just dangling a little (like you see when you get a neww say iron) I make it longer as its tolerated and dont frighten them they are still babies Smile