What Happened?

[Mil]

I'm so frustrated because I have no idea what went wrong.

We've been looking forward to our puppy Herwin (Bichon frise) being fully vaccinated so that we can take him out into the world.

His very first walk on the extending lead went really well. He was calm and even came when I called about 80% of the time and then he was walking nicely beside me.

The next day we took him out and he seemed more reluctant and then we got vaguely near a road with cars on it and he flipped out. He was trying to sprint back home and therefore pulling fiercly on his lead. We kept trying to calm him down but he got so worked up he was completely oblivious to us.

The next day we stuck to the quiet area but he still flipped out again. We had him walking quietly for a little bit, but then he would flip out...

I thought I'd start again and go for another gentle have-a-sniff-where-you-like, no pressure walk so he would like the outside again and he flipped out as soon as we got out the door, before we even got to the end of our front path. Once again I finally calmed him down enough to pick him up and took him to the reserve across the street and he began happily sniffing although completely ignoring me when I called more and more and pulling on his lead. Then he got more and more upset and flipped out again. I tried to get him to calm down before we got home, but I couldn't so I gave up and came home and he immediately calmed down when I took the lead off.

I'm sorry this is so long, but because I don't know what went wrong I thought if I told you the story some wise person could tell me what I did wrong.

Thank you so much for getting through such a long post. I'm at a complete loss and I'm really disappointed that I messed up such a crucial stage somehow.

[Kujo]

;) Just a thought maybe you could put the leash on him while he is at home and he can just walk around freely with it (supervised of course) and then after a few days with him being use to wearing the lease around the house you could take the other end of the leash still around the house and follow him and then start to take him outside after he is use to having the leash on.

Thats just my suggestion and im sure some other DOL'S will be able to provide you with some more and possibly better ways to help you.

[poodlefan]

My guess is too much too soon.

You need to have him happily following you around on lead where he feels safe before you take him out. He needs to have the basics of a recall too.

Loose the extender lead. You don't have as much control as a short lead and he has to pull on it to make it work - that's the opposite of what you want - you want him to walk nicely on a loose lead.

It's a big scary world out there. Start slowly and introduce new sights and sounds carefully and initially from a distance.

These are issues you could get a lot of help with from a decent dog trainer or club.

[Mil]

Thanks for replying so quickly. I have been practicing in the backyard for a couple of weeks, because I really wanted him to be comfortable on the leash, and he never pulled.

If it is too much too soon, should I make the walks shorter? because I can't really go anywhere quieter than we already are.

Do you think that we have now done damage and it will be much harder?

Oh dear I thought the extender lead would introduce him to the outside world without pulling.

I'm really upset about it because I really wanted to do the right thing with lead training from the beginning. ;)

[poodlefan]

How old is the pup? 12 weeks.

Plenty of people (me included) do not really walk their dogs onlead until they are over six months old. However, short trips to parks for a sniff around and even sitting somewhere safely watching the world go by is good.

I doubt there's been any real 'damage' done. Dogs learn like we do sometimes - two steps forward, one step back. ;)

So keep taking him out but short periods, keep him close. Take treats, toys etc. Don't mollycoddle him just keep him safe.

It goes without saying that you should not take a pup of this age anywhere near a public off leash park for "socialisaiton". If you don't know the dogs and owners there you cannot guarantee your pup's safety. Even friendly dogs can harm a small pup in play.

Go to a good dog club... lots of help and opportunities for controlled socialisation.

I own flexi leads but I use them in very limited circumstances. My youngest dog who's been taught from the word go to walk only on a loose lead can't use one. He won't pull on the lead to extend it.

Edited May 4, 2007 by poodlefan

[The Spotted Devil]

Mil, don't worry! Your little puppy is just a baby...think about their survival instinct. It's perfectly natural for him to be wary of anything and everything - we tend to forget because they act so confidently at home.

I went through exactly the same thing with my Dal - a bold little rat bag at home and get him out the front gate and he just tried to drag me home! So just be patient...a little bit at a time (even sit quietly so he can watch the world go by), some good socialisation classes and he will gain confidence little by little. Just remember not to reassure him when he's scared or you will reinforce his behaviour. Keep your voice and body language nice and cheery and confident. I took Ziggy everywhere when he was tiny....to the shops, cafe, outdoor pub and had all manner of people and dogs approach him (under strict supervision). Now he loves to trot down the street, as proud as punch and doesn't even flinch if another dog gets anxious as he walks past!

I picked up a flexi-lead but found it fairly useless....will probably save it for holidays when we can't let him off. I'd rather have Ziggy trotting politely on lead or having a good run at the park/beach. Oh, and definitely be careful around other dogs. Being a large puppy, people assume their dogs can do anything to Ziggy but I am very, very careful he is not bullied, chased or played with too roughly. That said I have no problem with a mature dog gently but firmly telling him off if he gets overly boisterous - teaches him some puppy manners!

Enjoy your puppy - he sounds gorgeous.

[Tonymc]

Mil,I have to agree with Poodle Fan too much to soon.Be careful when the Pup does show fear that you do not reinforce the Fear and be watchful that he does not become conditioned to associate Fear with the Leash. tony

[Kelpie-i]

Mil, my question to you is how many times did you (if you did) try to comfort your pup whenever he showed the fearful behaviour? Did you use a concerned voice like "what's wrong?? It's okay? Pat, pat, stroke, stroke etc etc.

[RedStafford]

My 2 cents, and it is only 2...

Take something with you that will distract the dog when he freaks out. When i started with my pup i always made sure I had her no 1 treats with me - which is either raw meat or cooked sausage... she got scared i put some in front of her nose to 1) distract her from what was scaring her and 2) it helps turn what ever is scary into a possitive experience for her. I will say Be carefull not to give the treat to quickly, but as soon as her focus is on the treat instead of whats scaring her give it... dont give it while shes focusing on whats scaring her - or you are saying good dog for being scared, and you don't want that!

So as others have said, slow down a little, and to me really take her favorite food - or something else you know will distract her if she's not strongly motivated by food.

Next time you go out, make sure you are in a state of mind where you are not worried about it, if your worried your pup will be to, be calm and in control - have a plan on what your going to do when she gets scared... look upon her getting scared as a good thing - because you get the chance to fix it... when my pup got really scared of skateboards at a skate park, i took her there with a whole heap of treats, made her sit and treated her lots, walked away walked back, treats treats treats... now she tollerates the skate park but isnt thrilled about it...

ok so it turned into 10c

[Mil]

I'm sorry I just wrote a really long reply and just lost it. And now I don't have time to write another.

Thank you for your advice. We are now trying out very short walks in the front yard. But he still freaked out when the car went past.

I wish that treats would work, but it seems to be the only time in his life that he is not enthralled by treats. He was completely oblivious to us and the treats...

Is a flexi lead the same as an extender flippy lead? Because we got one so that he wouldn't learn about pulling. So what did you use instead so that he could just explore and sniff? Did you use a very long lead or just follow him everwhere?

I think that they were my main questions. I'm sorry the reply with quotes and stuff was soo much better. argh computers

[Poodle wrangler]

Mil, my question to you is how many times did you (if you did) try to comfort your pup whenever he showed the fearful behaviour? Did you use a concerned voice like "what's wrong?? It's okay? Pat, pat, stroke, stroke etc etc.

This amounts to rewarding the "flipping out" behaviour. If you keep rewarding a behaviour, the dog will do it more often i.e. you might be training him to "flip out" (unintentionally).

It's easier for someone else to see this kind of thing; harder with your own dog . This is where starting some basic obedience can really help- club or privately. Ask here if someone can recommend someone in your area. I'd give the walks a rest until you feel you're a bit more in control e.g. teach her to sit reliably first, at home.

With treats, it helps if you use them when you're dogs a little bit hungry e.g. time your walks so they're just before a meal is due. Also, make it something your dog loves e.g. I use cheap devon roll cut into little pieces. Some dogs love squeaky toys even more than food, so you can use this instead. As long as it's something the dog LOVES.

For small dogs, especially, if you use treats don't forget to reduce their next meal accordingly.

Bichon's are usually intelligent dogs and she'll have you trained if you don't train her first. I've got poodles and they're the same .

[The Spotted Devil]

I'm sorry I just wrote a really long reply and just lost it. And now I don't have time to write another.

Thank you for your advice. We are now trying out very short walks in the front yard. But he still freaked out when the car went past.

I wish that treats would work, but it seems to be the only time in his life that he is not enthralled by treats. He was completely oblivious to us and the treats...

Is a flexi lead the same as an extender flippy lead? Because we got one so that he wouldn't learn about pulling. ;) So what did you use instead so that he could just explore and sniff? Did you use a very long lead or just follow him everwhere?

I think that they were my main questions. I'm sorry the reply with quotes and stuff was soo much better. argh computers

Mil! Be patient!!! It may take several weeks for him to settle.

Yes, he will freak out when cars go past at first - imagine how loud that is for a puppy! We live near a train line and although Ziggy was fine with the trains when in the front yard...the second he went out the front gate (out of his comfort zone) he was terrified! It can be frustrating because you want your little pup to explore the world, but every pup matures at a different rate. Just don't push him too far, and equally, don't sook him either, tempting as it may be. If he's not tempted by the treats, try something of a higher value....just be careful not to upset his little stomach. Make sure he's well rested too, as they just get tired and grumpy, otherwise. I used a shortish lead when Zig was little (still do actually). I was happy to stop and start with him, because they certainly need to sniff and explore but didn't really want him getting in the habit of wandering away too far.

There's some good advice given by other DOLers and if you follow it, you and your puppy should be fine! That said, do keep us updated.

Oh - and squeaky toys are fabulous if your puppy likes them - I save Ziggy's favourite ones for off leash recall practice...works every time.

Edited May 9, 2007 by The Spotted Devil