our 11 week old has just had her second vaccines and we have two weeks to wait before we walk her in the "dog world". We have tried to practice in our garden. We tried a harness but she bends her head and bites it ... so doesnt really walk, just spends her time galloping along with her head biting her harness. We then just tried a short lead on a collar ( no harness) - she's worn the collar for circa 4 weeks and so it's just the lead she dislikes. She twists her head and grabs the lead and bites it, and just jumps in circles, so you can't walk. What do we do? We really want to be able to walk her in the steeet or park in two weeks time ?
Hi @Jo johanson I suggest you use a tug toy to redirect the mouthy behaviour. When the puppy bites the lead it can easily turn into a game. Grab the dog by the collar, let the lead go and redirect the dog's mouthiness to the tug toy. Try then picking up the lead: You can let the dog walk with the tug toy in her mouth. Be careful with the tug toy--you do not want to dislodge her puppy teeth before they a ready to come out. So soft tugs are to the fore. You could try a metal lead. But be extremely careful with such equipment. The chain can wrap around the dogs limbs and injure the dog. Equally the puppy's tooth can get lodged in the metal lead. It is for such reasons that I am not in favour of such equpment. Try the tug toy first and with luck and good technique you may be able to avoid the metal lead entirely.
One other thing @Jo johanson, be careful with your timing that the dog does not begin to perceive that it is being rewarded with the tug toy for biting the lead.
It's not that she dislikes the lead, she is just playing with it... I would suggest using a metal clip lead until you are out of puppyhood and she has outgrown this behaviour. Get a chain lead - since dogs and puppies don't like to bite metal. Make sure it has a clip on the end and isn't a choke chain. And do go back to using the harness, much better for the pup than the collar.
With our latest puppy, she is now two years old. We trained to walk to heel in a fun way before we introduced a lead. So basically at around 9 weeks old we rewarded Bramble for being close, placing a piece of kibble right by by our feet, and in front of her nose every pace or so. She began to anticipate this and eagerly walked close to our side. We practiced this off lead, no collar, in our garden, and driveway without any distractions. After a while, we introduced a puppia harness, at meal times, and just a few minutes at a time until she became happy and comfortable. By associating the harness with mealtimes reduced anxiety/excitement, plus wearing it randomly during the day she became very comfortable with wearing it. We then played the game of walking close, and dropping a treat on the ground when she was in the correct position, wearing the harness before adding a lightweight lead. So, for us, Bramble got the hang of walking close, wearing a harness, and the lead was just one small thing additional "thing" to get used too. Adding all three AND going somewhere exciting can really blow a small puppies mind! As a final point when we first took Bramble out and about on her lead, we just took her to a quiet place, sat on a park bench and allowed her watch the dogs and people from a distance. We rewarded with treats for being calm. We did this for a few times before attempting to walk her!
Thank you al. Have ditched the harness for this week and focussed on her collar, a lightweight lead, and giving little treats as she walks along. Seems to work and she's not fighting the lad... just looking up at me 100% and wondering when the next treat is coming ! Will try the harness at meal times idea .
Wonderful news. Try incorporating lots of turns. Reinforce her for keeping up with you. Keep lead with a u shape between you and the dog. You are not a tug boat. She is not a ship. Lead is only there for security. The reward is for her staying with you. Good training!
