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Refusing to walk on leash all of a sudden!

10K views 15 replies 12 participants last post by  tuckthepupnyc 
#1 ·
Hey GRF folks,

Bodhi's 15 weeks old now and has been walking on leash now for around 3 weeks, a dozen + times a day (we live in an apartment so he's leashed for all potty breaks outside). He has done so, so well with leash walking until this week (although he pulls like mad when he wants to go in a particular direction like the dog park two blocks from our place). All of a sudden, after we get outside and he potties, he will walk for a bit then he plants his butt or lays down and REFUSES to continue on. Treats don't help, he'll walk a few steps for the treat then plant himself again. He'll pull away from me with all his weight if I try to (GENTLY) pull him. If I do get him up and pull him, getting him to continue to walk with me it is such a struggle. And I don't want to pull him, it makes me feel bad-not only that, but I had a lady actually yell at me today how I shouldn't pull my dog. In the middle of a cross walk, like I could just let him stay in the middle of the street. I felt like crying, this was after being outside and struggling with him for a good 45 minutes to walk 6 city blocks.

It isn't that he doesn't want to be outside or walk, he absolutely LOVES going outside. He gallops down our hallway to the elevator and gallops towards the lobby door to get outside. Nothing has scared him, nothing has changed with the exception of his behavior. It is a battle of wills, and I feel like I'm losing. I also feel judged by a lot of people who walk by us and see me pulling him to try to get him to walk with me.

I know I'm probably going about this all wrong. Please tell me what to do. I can't get him into his training class for another 2 weeks and I dread walking him for the next couple of weeks if it's going to be like this.
 
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#4 · (Edited)
Playing tug of war with a golden is a loosing path to begin. A small, gentle snap of the leash is far more effective than the pulling :)
Try taking a squeaky toy or some boiled chicken in a zip lock bag and when they cop a squat ask her to spin in a circle or down or shake... anything she knows how to do so you can reward the positive behavior and get her moving.
A bribe always works with toddlers... kids or puppies.

OOPS! Sorry, I have 2 girls and naturally call everyone she..
 
#5 ·
I have had neighbors guilt me into buying a harness for our 13 week old Golden. He has been doing what you're describing right from the start. He will just lay down in the street and look up at me with those big brown eyes. I often pick him up and carry him for a bit and then try again. But there is a lot of pulling that goes on so I tried the harness. He hates it but maybe he will get used to it. I would much rather teach him how to walk on the leash properly but he's probably too young to completely get it. Today at puppy school we're going to be working on leash training. I'll let you know if I learn any useful tips!
 
#6 ·
Penny did that at about the same age. Lasted a month or two. It sucked. We took a lot of shorter walks. And when we did do longer ones I would stop with her for a few or if I had to pick her up and set her back on her feet and keep going. She ended up a fantastic leash walker until about 12 mo when she started a yank me down the street phase. I had to start using the Halti (gentle leader) with her. I'm trying to transition out of it but we aren't quite there yet
 
#8 ·
We are back from puppy class. The trainer said we should teach him to walk beside us literally one step at a time. She said we should pick which side we want him to walk on and then stick to that side. Don't let him wander back and forth from your left to your right. Also, never let him walk in front of you. Lead him with the treat till he is just a bit behind you and then lead him to your side and give him a treat as soon as he gets to the right spot. Then take one step and do it again. This training requires lots and lots of treats!
 
#9 ·
I just waited Kaizer out lol. The fuss I made over him trying to get him to walk got him a lot of attention and he started doing it more often. Then I ignored him and busied myself with my phone or a book or talking to someone (if there was someone with me) and he realized he didn't have my attention and started walking towards me. Then he got lots of pets and good boys and a treat.
 
#10 ·
I always carried a book. I got a lot of reading done in the early days.
Max wandered about for a while always, still does. He has to decide which way he wants to really go, read all his pee mail, leave a few messages, then after about 10 minutes we can actually get moving.

Also, you have to consider age. You're talking about major baby brains here.
 
#12 ·
Bailey did that FOR MONTHS when it was time to get in the crate to go to bed. Slept great in the crate and any other time of day would hop right in. Reminded me of that video every stinkin' night LOL. The only time she did it out in public was when she didn't want to leave obedience class one day.... SMH
 
#13 ·
Oh, sorry, forgot the rest of my message! Try luring him with a yummy treat in the opposite direction you want to go to get him up and moving, then keep him busy trying to get the treat out of your hand for several steps until he is distracted. Reward like crazy every couple steps and before you know it he will figure it out. Hope that helps! That's how we had to get Bailey on her feet and toward the crate LOL
 
#14 ·
Oh my gosh!!! Bohdi is getting so grown up!!! I love the pictures, can you post more??? LOVE!!!

We haven't had leash training yet, but Grizz is doing pretty good on a leash. He plops down A LOT and I have a TON of treats to get him moving. I'd say they help about 50% of the time. The other 50% of the time I pretend like something REALLY exciting is happening and we must go see. Unfortunately, that doesn't seem to fool him. Stinkers.
 
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