Pup Will Not Walk On Lead

[oakeydoak1]

I know I have made a rod for my own back but..............

I have a 5 month old BC who I am just starting to leash train. First my reason for waiting so late is:

We live on a 4000acre property and alot of our dogs work, we found that if we lead train them too early they dont like leaving us to "Cast off" they think they are supposed to be by our side all the time. The ones we have left later to lead train have been our best working dogs.

So Lucy is now 5 months and I definately dont think she is going to make it as a working dog, which is fine, I want to put her in obedience or agility. Off lead she sits, stays, drops (sometimes), comes etc but as soon as the lead goes on she has an absolute hissy fit. She either: 1) drops to the ground and rolls over or 2)jumps and pulls on the lead even without me putting pressure on it.

I have put the lead on her to drag around which she does fine, doesnt bother her, try picking the lead up - the above happens. I have tried having another dog on a lead next to her - no go she just freezes.

I have also tried using food to encourage her to come to me and walk with me but she is not a food driven dog at all - even tried it before she had her meal as I thought she might then be extra hungry and the food would smell good.

I am going to take her to obedience next month to get some help bu I was wondering if anyone has any ideas in the meantime?

Many thanks

[JulesP]

What do you do when she has a hissy fit?

[Vickie]

Have you tried getting one of your other dogs who walks well on a lead & walking them side by side? Often a pup will just fall in with another dog that they are comfortable with.

[oakeydoak1]

JulesP - I release the pressure. Wait until she calms down. Try again - she has a hissy fit. Wait until she calms down. Get her to do a sit or drop so she is doing something that she is told and then let her off - really not sure what else to do.

Vickie- Yep tried that and it makes no difference.

[Cosmolo]

I wouldn't release the pressure if she has a hissy fit. Teaches her that lying down or resisting gets the pressure released. But i wouldn't necesarily set it up that way to start with either. At dinner time, put the bowl down, pups lead on and lead her to the bowl- if you're not in a hurry to lead train for exercise etc, i'd probably do this for a week or so first before moving to the next step.

I then like to teach pups to give to pressure- rewarding any step in the right direction with the release of the gentle pressure on a flat collar. When lures, dog friends and lead dragging have failed- this would be the next thing i would try.

[oakeydoak1]

Cosmolo - that is a good idea, will give that a try.

I suppose the pressure thing is like when you a training a horse - that is how we get them to lead - suppose I didnt think of it like that, I was more thinking "she is so little and I dont want to scare her".

[Cosmolo]

That method is exactly like what we do with horses- its much easier to explain to someone when they have experience with horses!

[oakeydoak1]

Thanks Cosmolo - it has been a long time since I have trained a horse but I remember the basics!!

[JulesP]

Cool, you are horsey. Hold the pressure. When pup gives. Heaps of praise. Amber was a horror at first on the lead. It only took one session of hold, give and she was fine. Interestingly she doesn't pull at all on the lead. The minute she feels the contact she immediately gives to slacken the lead.

[oakeydoak1]

Thanks JulesP and Cosmolo. Think you have me on the right track. Will start with the leading to dinner thing and then not give to the pressure.

Like all borders she is very smart and learnt the sit stay drop first go so hopefully she wont take too long to learn this!

Will let you know how I go.