Hi Guys,

I need some advice, Leo is ready to go out in the big wide world, we've been taking him out carrying him to different places, into shops that allow dogs etc, to different houses, near traffic etc.
He's been wearing his collar for a week or so and mostly ignores it now. We're not sure how to go about getting him to go for walks on the lead, weve tried letting him walk around the house with the lead on but then he thinks its a chew toy, as soon as we put it on him he pulls in the opposite direction, weve tried calling, whistling and bribing him with food but he just wont come.

What should we be doing?

Best way I have always found to teach a pup to walk on the lead is to teach him to walk beside you WITHOUT a lead on first.  Using his meals feed him one piece at a time as he follows you around the house and garden.  Praise and small talk at the same time. :)  Then when he is consistently walking beside you distract him with maybe a little food on the floor whilst you attach the lead to his collar.  The lead needs to be at least 4ft.  Tuck the other end of the lead in your belt or pocket (or over your wrist only if you'll not be tempted to pull it) and do exactly the same as before.  He probably won't even notice the lead.  Before you get to the stage of attaching the lead you should probably spend some time just holding his collar and clipping the lead on and off whilst you give him treats or his dinner.  All of this should be done well in advance of his first walk in the big wide world. 

It isn't a good idea to let him wear the lead walking around the house on his own because apart from him chewing it, he isn't learning that wearing a lead means that he is with you.  He is going where he wants which will lead to pulling on lead when you pick up the other end.

HTH
Sally

Hi
That is a good tip, with the food, i will try that with my great dane, we tried the stopping and sitting every time she pulls but it is not working. anyway i will try the food trick :)

cheers sally, i was just going on the house line thing that was in the perfect puppy but i may have got it wrong, just to teach him that he can be stopped by his collar... we have obviously never left him unattended with the lead attatched because he could hurt himself with it.
I will try the food idea cheers

Have you actually been able to take him out on the lead yet? Leon was a sod in the house on a lead, all over the place and trying to eat it and jumping at me but we took him out this weekend for the first time and he was completely different, probably cos it's so exciting outside!

weve tried taking him outside he just sits there and wont move

I can still remember Gus doing that when he was a pup :)

He would just plonk his bum down and refuse to move - but not for long though ;)

could you go with someone else who has a dog? I found that a pup will follow another dog and forget about the offending lead. My new pup learned off delilah :)

I think you just need to practice little and often!  Do it when he isn't feeling sleepy, and also when he hasn't got a full stomach.  We are doing this with our puppy at the moment, who was okay with collar, but clip the lead on first few times and it was complete rebellion!  Anyway, after only a couple of days, he now knows I've got some bits of cheese in my hand, and if he takes a few steps forward he gets one. (I let him see me get them from the fridge).  I don't make him walk all round the garden/house, just if he moves forward he gets cheese treat - do that 2 or 3 times, then I just take lead off and let him go and play.  We have a session like that three times a day.  Good luck!
  Hilda

Oh, lucky you being able to take your little one out. We've still another 3 weeks to wait!

What we've been doing is getting him used to the lead in the house. He's led outside on the lead to do his toilet, and not allowed off it until he's 'performed' (it's like killing two birds with one stone - going off-lead is a reward for toileting in the proper spot AND he's getting used to the lead). I've also been practicing loose lead walking in the garden - walk a few steps, click & treat, walk a few more steps, click & treat. Before I knew it he was trotting beside me looking for treats. We also practice putting a lead on him around the house for a few minutes here and there.

If Leo won't come with the food you're using, then perhaps try a higher value (really stinky!) treat? Or something that he really loves (a squeaky toy?). Anything to distract him from thinking that the lead is a chewtoy.

I'm with Charlie!  Millie was a nightmare with the lead indoors, and in the garden, biting it, refusing to be lead anywhere on it....but just wait until you open that big front door and let him walk out into that big wide world with things to see and sniff...."lead?  What lead?  I totally forgot I was on the lead!"

YIPEE
Just got back, i just did it and Toby was an angel he wouldnt go far from me and totally enjoyed it thankyou all so much,
Toby wasnt the problem i was, he even walked to heel part way round he wagged his tail and checked i was still behind him, i cried most of the way round with shear pride for my boy,
Its like they say most of the problems are not the dog but the owner,
my boy is fab the best.

a very happy Heidi

Jax i have pm ed you

Heidi :)

sorry i have just realized i am on the wrong post sorry folks i apologize im just so excited

Lol@heidleberg, well done! :-D

sorry sorry sorry  Yipee

Congratulations - people like you make the best sort of dog owners, your Toby should have a full and happy life with you both - if only ALL dogs had such great owners!

Thankyou Digger, that is such a nice thing to say, i must admit we do idolize him.

Heidi

Heidi, you and Toby made my day :D good for you for trusting him. A lovely post to read.

let him off again today fab :)
Heidi