Rescue Dog WILL NOT walk on a leash!
 ). We have a large, fenced in back yard and spend a couple of hours a day out back with him, running around, so he gets plenty of exercise. I'm just terrified that if he ever gets out the front door and takes off he won't know how to get home! I want to get him familiar with the neighborhood but walking him is quickly becoming a non-option. I even went to obedience classes with him (first time in 25 years of dog owning that's ever been necessary) but being around all those other dogs made him crazy with joy -- After two completely disrupted classes I opted to keep him home and keep working from there). We think he's about 3 years old, so that's a lot of catching up to do.............Does anyone have any suggestions on how to tame a wild sheepie and get him to be calm on a leash? |
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| I don't really know the answer to your problem— never run into it before.
But I think what I would try is gradualism— first putting the leash on him in the house (I assume he is a house dog) and just let him drag it around for awhile with no tension. Lots of pets and reassurances. Then I'd pick it up, and use the leash to nudge him toward me with it and give him a pet or a small treat. If he doesn't react adversely to the leash, maybe try walking into an other room with him calmly. Gradually, increase the use of the leash to get his attention and give him rewards immediately afterward. If it goes OK, I'd lead him into the back yard next and walk him in that familiar terrain. Eventually, if it works, I would lead him out of familiar surroundings. Don't know if this will work but I think reducing the association of anxiety about the leash will be a slow process. |
| gosh this is hard with a rescue dog. you have tried all we do, does he associate leash walking with something not nice? no may be he gets too excited.
Only thing I would do, as you say you have a big garden. Is put him on a long training lead, on your left side like you do for "heel" training, and have pot of treats with you when he does one step to heel.. reward. long process but perhaps if you started 2 minutes a day, and increased. Sorry not much help.  |
| Possibly signing up for an obedience class?
or a haltie or gentle leader? I have had 2 rescues..although they were younger and both pulled--- both big dogs...(one was a 80 pound Beardiemix...and Pearl my OES) One other suggestion---- can you get him really, really, RRREALLY tired out in the back yard and THEN try to put the leash on him and walk him around the yard????? Maybe that will work....Good Luck, keep us posted.... |
| I'm sorry to hear you're going through a hard time with this, but bless you for taking in and working with a rescue.
I agree with the notion of gradually getting him used to it, all the while making it seem to him like he has rid the world of poverty and created world peace (i.e. make a huge deal, lots of treats and a little party!). As for your concerns with the harness, I don't quite understand what you mean when you say "he might pull me right over". I know that Tucker pulls like a fiend on his collar but walks like a gentleman on his harness, which has the buckle/clip on the front instead of the back, so when he pulls he ends up pulling himself around again, instead of just lifting his paws off the ground. Maybe this would help??? I'm not sure how it would be any worse than a collar, that's for sure. Good luck! |
| 1st things 1st have you tought any attention excercises? watch me or sits , also I use a nylon slip collar for training, kept high up behind the ears. do not pull it tight. when he lunges quickly" pop" the leash. It is more to gain attention. also start in the house, a closed room ( no where for him to get away to! and treats , lots and lots of treats!!!!!!! when he is doing what you want lavish praise and immediate treating!! you can get through this and If I can do anything to help let me know! |
thank you all -- Excellent suggestions! My poor Loki doesn't know ANY of his commands (It took me a month to teach him sit - He's the only sheepdog in the world who's NOT food driven!  ) In fact, he doesn't even take treats most of the time -- The rare occasion that he does, he lays down with it and just kind of..........LOOKS at it. He does, however, LOVE the leash and the IDEA of walks -- He gets so excited that he starts bounding around the house and we have to get out of the way!
I will try the gradual approach - It's going to take time. I'm working on 'lay down' now........The 'Down, Stay' is a long way off. I could cheerfully throttle the moron that kept this beautiful boy in a tiny kennel all of his life - But I'm glad we have him. |
| just a suggestion . one word commands . keep them short and sweet . as far as treats, you will find something that works, I use training rewards from Pet Organics at pet Smart... It is like puppy crack! all the dogs I work with love it! just remember the 3 Ps of training Patience, Practice and PRAISE!!! |
| Absolutely! I can do that He has shown a real FONDNESS for people food as a treat - We are so NOT going there! He just doesn't have any clue how to act like a dog at this point - He's just learning how to play with my other two roughnecks, doesn't come when he's called (that's improving, though), doesn't know any basic commands sigh. He does, however, LOVE to snuggle on the couch, so we do that a LOT. The rest will come -- The leash is 1'st priority, though. |
Lokis Mom wrote: Absolutely! I can do that
He has shown a real FONDNESS for people food as a treat - We are so NOT going there! You can do some people food, it all depends on how you give it to him. I give Tucker small pieces of cooked chicken, popcorn, cheese, and bits of hotdog as treats. He never begs at the table or counter because they've never come from there, always from a baggie out of the fridge. I find I can use kibble or other relatively bland treats for low level commands like sit, which he has known for a long time, but if I want him to do something really difficult or brand new, I use the human treats mixed with kibble so it's about 50/50 and he never knows what he's going to get. It works well for him, but then again he is really food motivated so obviously that helps. But maybe you could give it a whirl?! |
| I actually do give him people food - Every Sunday I cook up some brown rice and boiled burger, broil some chicken and put it in the fridge to mix with the kibble for the week for all 3 dogs. Since they were all rescues, they came to me in various stages of undernourished, so I've just gotten into the habit of giving them good quality food that's easy on their stomachs.
The problem with Loki was that he realized very early that people food is WAY tastier and he started to refuse the kibble - At 90 lbs that's an awful lot of rice! So I've cut back on the ratio of people food to kibble and slowly but surely he's getting back to where he should be. sigh |
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