Hi

My boxer pup will be able to go out for walks in a couple of weeks, and I was thinking that in the meantime, I would get him used to the lead in the garden. BIG problems!! He just goes round and round in circles until he ends up in a heap on the floor, then eats the lead :)

Is there a best way to go about getting a pup used to the lead?

Thanks

Hi,
I have a 10 week old boxer and we are confined for just another 4 days.We started introducing him to the lead on day 2 and he was just the same,spinning around obsessed with chewing it.I have put him on the lead for 5-10 mins everyday since, going up and down the garden(I know it's boring!!) and now he dosen't take much notice of it.He will get used to it and hopefully when we take them out they will be so distracted by the world out there that they wont worry about the lead.Good luck with your pup,what's his name and what colour is he?
Hazel

Hi Hazel

He's red & white, and his name is Dylan. He has a web site (!) which is on my profile thingy :)

Yours?

ive just had a little snoz at dylan he is adorable can't wait to see bradley on sat who is coming up for 4 weeks (singleton male boxer).
em

Hi Jo,
Dylan is georgeus!!He is very similer to Charlie (red with white socks)except Charlie has a longer blaze between his eyes.I had a look at his pedigree and they share a few relatives!!
Hope all goes well with the lead training,I remember with our last Boxer the fun realy starts when you take them out and then the pulling starts!I tried a harness but that seemed to give him more strength!I can't wait untill Sunday.Charlie had his first jab at 8 weeks then at 10,now we have to wait a week(it's unbearable)
Hazel

Hi Jo, we had the same problem with Sydney he would just sit and not go forward or pull against the lead. I got his favourite toy and held it in front of him and he got the idea slowly. Could do a lap of the garden almost without any problems. Didnt get the kids to do it as I didnt want them draging him around.

You will find he gets better once you can take him outside. Sydney was walking properly after about a week of walking outside. I bought some bitter apple spray to stop Sydney from chewing the lead started around 15 weeks. But I used it on his lead but he was used to walking. May not be a good idea yet till yr pup is walking better dont want to find the lead nasty.

I am sure otehrs will have some good advice, best of luck with your pup.

Thanks for that - I did wonder if it all might become easier once outside properly, where, like you say, there will be far more interesting things to worry about other than that annoying lead :)

I looked at your web page - your Sydney is a real looker!

Thanks Jo Sydney is a real cutie, had a look at yr Dylan. He so sweet, looks like butter wouldnt melt in his mouth, bet he's a little devil though, just like my Syd. I wanted to get either a dobe, boxer of staffie, but as needed to make hubby happy as well we picked a dobe, he has only had them before. We have quite a few boxer were we live. They are really nice looking only down side is the slobber (grin) having said that Syd certanly can slobber in the back of the car, one would think we had tipped a bottle of water all over the seat on his good days.
PS very nice web-site. Mines just a freebie cheapie.

well i am no expert and i'm sure someone more knowledgeable will come along BUT in the meantime...

what i do with my mini dachshund (yes i know i probably don't have the same pulling issues as you might!) is just walk at my natural pace. whenever he goes off in the wrong direction or pulls i stand still, not moving a muscle and not speaking to / looking at dog. when he stops circling/pulling he will come and look at you. then say "good boy let's go!" and start walking again. they soon realise that they won't get anywhere unless they're walking nicely by your side.

the other thing which my dog trainer taught (and this worked in a few minutes on a really naughty golden ret who wouldn't go anywhere!) is to carry a pocket full of treats and start walking (again you must walk at your pace, don't modify it for the dog although i guess your pup can keep up with you more easily than mine can!). whenever he goes off etc, make a noise e.g a click with your tongue and when the pup comes to you quickly give him the treat. they soon learn to keep walking along beside you!

i think these methods work really well for pulling. like you i have only tried them out in the garden/large confined area - we are going for our first walk this evening so i'll see how well it has worked. archie is excellent on the lead at the mo but this could all change! it also helps that he is so tiny and still comes to me for reassurance about bigger things (i.e. everything) - he doesn't like to be too far away but i guess your boxer might be a bit braver!

well good luck and i hope this helps - let us know!

I'll try that the standing still and ignoring technique! That may work. I have tried tempting him to walk with a piece of cheese, but that doesn't seem to work.

It's early days yet - today was the first time I have tried him with the lead, but I thought it best to get some advice early on, rather than going about things in a completely wrong way! Thanks for your help!

With Star we have been walking and when she starts pulling we stop dead and refuse to move until she stops. She usually sits down and waits for us to go. This only works if there is only 1 person with her. If the kids are there she pulls so hard that she chokes and makes herself sick.

Today I got a gentle leader to try when we are out as a family because all that pulling cant be good for her neck.

Dexy was the same at first - but after a couple of days he was much better. I found wafting something nice to eat helpfull in front of him! His worst vice was biting the metal clip on the leader. Funny enough when we were allowed "out" he walked perfect, head up in the air as if he was important!!! I couldn't believe it - so don't loose heart if your pup doesn't like the leader in the garden he might just supprise you when you're allowed "out"!
Good luck!