Very stressed out puppy

Hi, Charlie has been ok to go out this week from Monday.....he is NOT impressed at all! He's ok with his collar on but as soon as the lead goes on he's trying to hide and his tail goes straight between his legs. On Monday OH only took him outside our house and across the road (not busy at all) he trembled, hid in a bush and when he came in he was sick. He came in the car with us on Christmas day to my Mother-in-laws...took him a while to settle down but he was ok inside and in the garden. He's very confident in our back garden and happily goes out to toilet when we tell him to. Yesterday we had the same frightened reaction out the front and again today...no sickness though. He plonks his bottom down, his tail is so tucked under you'd think he didn't have one and refusing to move, pulling against his lead and making choking sounds

Guess it's going to take a long time for him to be confident out there. We've tried leaving his collar and lead on him today in the house but I think he was so worn out he just fell asleep, poor thing. We will try just carrying him outside to get used to the different noises and maybe just put him down on the front garden. Think it'll be a while before we can enjoy walks

Kay

You have to give it time Tilly was hard work for a week or 2 and then she got it , we were lucky with Tommy as he just followed his sister

have a look at this

awwwww, looks like she's not keen at all!

Aw Bless, it's so scary for them, as Dave says time and patience. Carry him out to somewhere quiet and then pop him down, let him sniff and you follow him, keeping the lead really loose, no tension, just so he gets used to the feel of the weight of it. Then as he gets a little more used to it then you can apply a little persuasive pressure, a tiny little movement and loads of praise if he looks at you, call him to come and reward him with treats if he moves towards you and not pulling back. It takes time and patience. He'll get there just don't force him. I knew a dog that sat still for over 6 weeks before he would move on the lead. You just have to be patient Good luck.

Try leaving the collar and lead on in the house so he can get used to it when you are there to supervise. Treats are also a great motivator when you are out

Griffin5 wrote:awwwww, looks like she's not keen at all!

She wasn't but 1 week later you couldnt keep her in

I found that time helps as my boy was the same at 6 months old he now loves going out (we got him at about 6 months)

How often would you try going out with them? Just been to the bottom of the path, only held him in my arms, no collar or lead, he climbed up to my shoulder and shivered like mad! Came in, he jumped up on sofa with me, burrowed in and fell asleep!

The more you take him out the chances he has to be used to being outside. Suki was around his age when we got her and was terrified of being outside. We took her out every hour or so and tried to go just a bit further on her walks each time.

We also took her to lots of different places to get her used to traveling

Thanks, we'll have a go more often tomorrow then
(and take treats)

May sound daft but try wrapping him in a blanket too (when you carry him out) ... act's a little like a thunder shirt, it's soothing and warm. Just keep chatting about what you see and sound a little excited. If you feel relaxed and happy he'll pick up on it and relax too.

Good idea, Claire thanks for that

No worries, He'll get there... you both will just try to keep relaxed x

The world can be a big scary place for a little puppy - baby steps, he'll get there eventually!

Thanks for your help

He'll all of a sudden realise he is going to exciting places then you'll be on here asking, like me, how do I keep my arms in their sockets

Bear in mind that the problem of the big scary world is compounded by the fact that they DO NOT like the wind and rain.

We've found that out, we open the door for him to go toilet in the back garden and he'll sit and sniff if it's wet out there....needs encouraging out! We had an improvement yesterday, after holding him in arms and walking down path quite a few times, OH put him down on our garden path and he didn't immediately run inside, has a bit of a sniff about...it was without a lead and collar though. Looking positive though

as said above you have the added problem of the rotten weather , buy him a little coat as well to make him snug, just keep persevering , those exciting car journeys are great as well , especially when you need to go to the vet , NEVER make that the only time they go in the car , they learn very quickly

Good advice, thanks....I'd read somewhere about occasionally popping into the vets on the way passed so they get a fuss but they get no prodding or poking.