You have just brought your puppy home. Now you are eager to take him for his first walk. This moment is something you’ve been imagining for years. You pull on the leash and swing open the door. . . Your puppy won’t get up. Huh.
You pull her a bit, believing she must get in the groove. She’s now refusing to do so. She is now firmly planted. Locked the elbows
Weird.
You can see her go a full 10 feet further down the walkway if you do it again later. You grab her and start to carry her. You can then set her down and she will walk straight back to your house. She is still straining all the way.
If you’re anything like most people, you are confused and disappointed. Aren’t dogs meant to enjoy walks more than any other activity?
SENSIBLE SELF-PRESERVATION
It makes perfect sense when a puppy is reluctant to walk on a leash along with her owner. As shocked as you may be at the sudden turn of events, try looking at it from the perspective of your puppy.
Your new puppy may feel trapped in her new environment for the first week. It is not natural for dogs to be on a leash, even though we are used to it. It is possible that her previous outdoor experience was in the same place every time. She is overwhelmed by new sounds, smells, and sights as soon as you open the door. She may have never seen a child on a bicycle, heard a car or walked down stairs before. She will need to process this information at her own pace.
It’s not surprising that a puppy who is new to the world hates her first walk. It’s actually quite surprising that she enjoys it. This is likely because she was fostered by a caring person who took the time to explain things clearly. Don’t worry. These steps will get you happily walking together in no time.
LEASH TRAINING YOUR DOG IS EASY IF YOU ARE SLOWING DOWN
It’s easy to use your empathy to break down overwhelming experiences into manageable pieces.
The pup should be wearing a small collar for the first few hours. You can distract the pup by giving her toys and playing, so that she doesn’t think about how annoying, itchy, or strange this collar is. You may need to take the time to get to know the collar. Give her a treat each time. You might see your pup trying to grab the leash. To minimize this, keep the pup entertained with fun distractions. Do you feel that the pup is not being stressed by the leash? Next, take these exercises outside to help pup get used to the leash and collar. As the world passes by, sit together on your front steps and enjoy a small piece of hotdog.
This is a point where a dog who is calm about walking around the yard while you hold the leash may be able to walk with you for three or three days. It doesn’t matter how long it takes!
What about all the fun distractions that you have been using to distract the dog’s attention from the collar and leash? Keep them around! Keep them around! All of this will be helpful as you take the leash experience on-the-road.
If you don’t have a way to go to the toilet, or if there is no other option, then you will need to compress everything. You can still make it more comfortable by having an empathic mindset.
To get your dog used to the feel of the leash, you can use your yard or hallway. You can let your puppy drag the leash at first. Then, distract her with tasty treats, happy voices, and a squeaky toys. As she explores, you can move along with your dog so that the leash does not tighten and cause panic.
START LEASH TRAINING WITH A COLLAR; USE A HARNESS LATER
You might notice that I am referring to collars rather than harnesses. Although many people start with a harness right away, I think that it just adds to the “Oh my god what are you putting on my head?” reaction.
A light collar is easier to adjust to than a large, bulky one that may pull or bind at several points. A martingale (or limited-slip) collar works well for the first few weeks. It’s easy to put on and wear, secure, and light. We like the Martingale Collar and Quick Snap Buckle by petsafe.net. To add an extra obstacle like a harness, I wait until I have more confidence with my pup.
ENLIST A DOGGY ESSCORT
Pairing a dog with an experienced friend is the best way to encourage a puppy to move forward excitedly. It’s hilarious to see a puppy who refused to move suddenly walk happily when another dog walks by.
You can find a neighbor who has a calm and happy adult dog to join you for three walks over three days. It’s more likely than not that this will convince your dog that it’s okay to go out on walks.
Here are two things to keep an eye on:
Do not allow your dog to bark on walks. A barking dog can make the pup more anxious than the larger dog. That’s normal! You can just give your dogs more space and offer treats to re-engage their interest.
ZIG-ZAGS and WIGGLES, SNIFFING OKAY
The puppy’s first few weeks of walking should be about getting him out and about, and to feel good about the world. The first four months of a puppy’s life are incredibly short and you can’t get them back. Leash walks will help you make the most of the remaining time. There is just too much information available to be learned in our own homes.
We want to instill the idea that novelty is okay – before biology begins to tell the puppy that anything she doesn’t see yet could be dangerous. It is important to expose your puppy to new sights, sounds, smells, and situations, but only if she is comfortable with them.
This is not the time to instill a perfect heel, as the main priority is keeping your pup happy. This is the time to fill your pup’s pouch with tasty stuff and show him that food, walks, and learning new things can be paired with food. You can also let your pup “sniffari” to her heart’s delight, as every sniff helps you learn a lot about the world and builds confidence.
Do not get discouraged if your walks seem too short. They aren’t small for the dog who has just “met” 15 dogs, three children, and a senior citizen. You have plenty of time to show your dog a new type of walk where you both move together quickly. Your puppy is learning the best of all the world, so walks that include wiggles and zig-zags are ideal.
Yes, you should take your puppy for walks before the last Puppy ‘Shot’
Dreamstime.com
You might be thinking, “But wait! You may be thinking, “But wait! We can’t let our puppy leave our property until she has had her parvo/distemper shots at four months.” If so, we ask that you and your veterinarian review the most recent guidance regarding the behavioral importance of a nuanced, less binary approach to dog training. You must be responsible for taking your puppy out and about.
This is not just our opinion. You can also take comfort knowing that veterinarians today no longer recommend keeping puppies in cotton wraps until they reach five months. Please read the following and be sure to share it with your vet.
The American Veterinary Medical Association’s Literature Review on the Welfare Implications for Socialization of Puppys:
Most dogs can explore new social and physical environments by 8-9 weeks of age. They may become permanently fearful if this is not allowed until after 14 weeks. These dogs can be able to function in very restricted social settings, but they will react fearfully and negatively when exposed to pets or people outside their home.
The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behaviorists (ASVAB), “Position Statement for Puppy Socialization”:
The first three months are the most crucial time for puppy socialization. Puppy socialization should take place during the first three months of life. This is when puppies need to be exposed to new people, animals and stimuli. ASVAB believes this should be the standard of care. . Incomplete or inappropriate socialization at this crucial time can increase the likelihood of developing behavioral problems later on in life. . .
Although puppies’ immune systems are still developing in these first months, they have a good chance of surviving if there is a maternal vaccine, primary vaccination and proper care.
If you don’t introduce your puppy to the outside world within her first few months, chances are that she will be difficult to live with. Your pup will be much more comfortable if she has had one or two vaccines and you’re careful about what you do.
What if your puppy won’t go? Here are the steps to take for puppy leash training whole
Did you miss our previous article…
https://www.topdogadvisor.com/training-big-dogs-a-big-responsibility/
