leash walking

kenRC51 · 05-15-2008, 10:56 PM

Melanie is almost 5 months old and i walk her all the time. She keeps bitting on her leash and will not walk by my side. Any advice?

TooneyDogs · 05-15-2008, 11:34 PM

You need to show her where you want her. Try this: when she goes out ahead of you turn around and go back the other way. When she catches up to your side immediately treat and praise..give another treat and more praise.
Now, the important part...exactly where do you want her to be? Next to your knee? Then make that the 'treat spot'...your knee. Put a treat in your hand and keep your wrist on your knee....you don't 'deliver'...she has to come to your knee to get it.
This takes patience. You're competing with all the other stimulating things on your walks so, you need to pull out all the stops...treats, praise, whispers, singing little ditties, petting, NOT walking in a straight line (forces her to pay attention to YOU).

kenRC51 · 05-16-2008, 02:58 AM

ok ill give that a try. I never had to train Stitch she just walks by my side without pulling as a puppy without treats too. I think it was natural for her but Melanie is different. Melanie is hard to handle.

When i am putting the leash on her collar she gets excited and bites the leash making it hard for me to link it to her collar. How can i stop this from happening? When i do get the leash on her she still keep bitting it but when i walk her out of the house she just goes ahead and dont bother with the leash anymore. Why this happens and how to get rid of the bitting?

TooneyDogs · 05-16-2008, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kenRC51

When i am putting the leash on her collar she gets excited and bites the leash making it hard for me to link it to her collar. How can i stop this from happening?

It's just excitment..."Let's Go Already!" Move the collar ring to the back of her neck then hook up the leash. You can also throw a treat on the floor. While she's getting it, do the hook-up.

French Ring · 05-16-2008, 07:00 PM

When a dog or puppy bites the leash, they are getting frustrated and excited. I wouldn't reward the frustrated/excited behavior. If a dog gets frustrated with the leash that I'm holding, then I'm going to make it wait longer. I wouldn't step outside my house or going anywhere until it remains calm.

Billiie · 05-16-2008, 07:04 PM

I agree with French Ring.. only put the leash on her when she has calmed down. Also an thing to remember is don't say "walk" or whatever term you use; that can only excite her more

kenRC51 · 05-16-2008, 08:56 PM

i dont think that she knows that she is going to be walked when i bring the leash out. I think that Melanie is thinkg that its a toy, but as soon as i start walk she would stop bitting the leash.

Yeha i have tried moving the ring to the back but she moving all over the place its not as easy as you think. She would try to bite my hands and stuff.