So far I've read about what to do if the puppy wants to take off. But what do you do if the pup won't go anywhere? He's a 14 week old Havanese. We go out the door and he's fine. Then the grass sniffing and rolling around and laying in the grass starts. He just stays in one spot. I want him on the sidewalk walking by me and he's stuck in one spot on the grass. None of the "crazy dog walker" or "stopping in my tracks" things will work because he's not moving and has stopped completely. I don't want to pull on the leash. I tried bribing him with a treat but apparently the grass and leaves are much more interesting. Thoughts or tips? We are doing puppy classes with clicker training. On this first walk I didn't have my clicker but am wondering if I should have brought it.
Puppy learning leash walking question...
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At 14 weeks, I wouldn't worry too much about taking a "serious" walk. Just let him go at his pace. If he wants to stay in the grass, let him - play some games with him. Then when you are inside the house, you might try this training article...
http://www.clickersolutions.com/articles/2002c/llw.htm
http://www.clickersolutions.com/articles/2002c/llw.htm
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Attaching your clicker to an elastic on your wrist helps to remember to take it with you..but since you are still starting out with CT you may or may not make headway at this point.
14 weeks=putting on the brakes...every breed and almost every puppy. It's a normal stage of development..they are alternately happy as pigs in poop to be outside and terrifically overwhelmed by being outside..it's a little war going on in his head!
What we recommend in class is to try and walk the pup on the sidewalk nearest the road side of your body..less distractions of grass etc. Pick say, 6 houses, on your street and work on walking nicely up and down that same part of the street..each pass the distraction level drops (been there, sniffed that). If he's put the brakes on totally, stop and wait a bit, then squeak a toy, toss a stick near his eye level and just in front of him, whatever works to get him moving forward, even if it's a few feet before he does it again. If you have your clicker, make sure you click and reward the forward movement (timing!) and not the stopping. Repeat..a thousand times..lol. I found with the GR puppy I was recently working with that if I waited 20 seconds or so she would simply "shake it off" and start up again with no input from me..patience is key. And believe me, soon enough he'll be trying to drag you along in everywhichway direction chasing a piece of moving leaf or garbage and it will be a whole nother set of skills you'll need!
Just a note about the havanese..I have seen many of them get skittish so socialization to everything you can think of using LOTS of good experiences and treats goes a long way to a calm and cool little fuzzball! Good luck.
Here's Cracker and her little Havanese buddy Tip at the park last winter!
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14 weeks=putting on the brakes...every breed and almost every puppy. It's a normal stage of development..they are alternately happy as pigs in poop to be outside and terrifically overwhelmed by being outside..it's a little war going on in his head!
What we recommend in class is to try and walk the pup on the sidewalk nearest the road side of your body..less distractions of grass etc. Pick say, 6 houses, on your street and work on walking nicely up and down that same part of the street..each pass the distraction level drops (been there, sniffed that). If he's put the brakes on totally, stop and wait a bit, then squeak a toy, toss a stick near his eye level and just in front of him, whatever works to get him moving forward, even if it's a few feet before he does it again. If you have your clicker, make sure you click and reward the forward movement (timing!) and not the stopping. Repeat..a thousand times..lol. I found with the GR puppy I was recently working with that if I waited 20 seconds or so she would simply "shake it off" and start up again with no input from me..patience is key. And believe me, soon enough he'll be trying to drag you along in everywhichway direction chasing a piece of moving leaf or garbage and it will be a whole nother set of skills you'll need!
Just a note about the havanese..I have seen many of them get skittish so socialization to everything you can think of using LOTS of good experiences and treats goes a long way to a calm and cool little fuzzball! Good luck.
Here's Cracker and her little Havanese buddy Tip at the park last winter!
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