[blw]

Hi,
We have our labradoodle now for 3 weeks and he is adorable. He is now 11 weeks old. We are finding that he does not want to come for walks that well. We lure him with treats which work for a few steps. However, he stalls, stops and just won't come. Any advice on how to get Gordon to walk with us? Thank you for any tips.

 

[debbildog]

Well, Gordon probably shouldn't be walking in public until he gets his 16 week shots, but for now I would absolutely practice in your yard until then!

Sandy was a bear to teach to walk on the leash - he LOVED to dig his feet in to make me nuts. I wound up buying a retractable leash and running away from him - it made him chase me and eventually that game turned into walking on the leash.

Good luck!

 

[River Rat]

Chouette is eleven weeks old, too, and does pretty well on the leash. I use a four or five foot nylon one. I'm trying to teach her not to pull, and to stay next to me on my left side in a rudimentary heel. I've been following the suggestions in the Brian Kilcommons books, and when she pulls at the leash or gets out of position I give a quick pulse on the lead (not to hurt her, just to get her attention, and the point of the pulse is that if you use steady pressure they'll just pull in the opposite direction and exhaust you) and turn in the opposite direction, so that she has to follow behind me on my left. Then I praise enthusiastically.

Stepping out and keeping up a cheerful patter of "Good Gordon!" when he's cooperating might help. I also have Chouette sit when I stop, and then I reward her with a bit of her kibble. That keeps her paying attention to me, too, although we're in early stages of that part. But mostly it helps if you don't look at the dog but just keep walking. If you're looking at him he figures that he's the one in charge and he doesn't have to pay attention to you. If you just keep moving briskly and talking cheerfully, encouraging him, that may work. You should try to be in the lead, anyway; puppies will usually follow their leaders.

 

[Maureen]

Leslie you sound like a pro! All very good info and suggestions. The "heel" type of walking is the only one where an ongoing encouragement is appropriate, in my opinion, as you keep walking together.

I wonder how long are you walking your puppies? Or for what distance?

 

[River Rat]

Don't forget I've been raising puppies all my life, just serially rather than in great quantity or with great frequency.

The last couple of days I've taken Chouette to get the newspaper. It's partway down the driveway and then through the woods. It's about a five minute walk round trip. We go slowly, at her pace, but it does tire her out. Still, almost anything does since she's so young. Should I be limiting her walks more? What would you recommend?

Leslie

 

[Maureen]

That sounds like a nice walk to me!
I was wondering what kind of distance blw & Gordon are walking?

A puppy will tire and want to sit if the walk is too long. I'm very sure you are being sensitive to Chouette, and 5 minutes would not be too long for any puppy, I wouldn't think.

 

[debbildog]

I realized after leaving for work I should have mentioned that we only used the retractable leash for learning in the yard - I won't use it for walking Sandy on the street. We used it specifically to get him to walk with us so he learned the leash isn't something to be afraid of.

 

[blw]

dog walking

O.K. I am now worried that we have been walking him in public. Our vet said just not to go to a park but said nothing about walking him in public.
At any rate, not sure what to do now. None of the books I have read mentioned the 16 week shots barrier either.
He goes for the next shots on July 4th. Thanks for the tips on walking. I am hoping that going to puppy school will also help.

 

[blw]

puppy walking

Maureen, we are taking him perhaps too far now that I read what you have said. It is down the block and back but sometimes more than that. So... short distances sound like the way to go. I feel bad now that we have tried to make Gordon walk further. I hope we haven't ruined his outlook on the leash. Thanks so much.

 

[River Rat]

BLW, our vet said that there was no reason we couldn't take Chouette to Petsmart now to pick up some things, and our friend who's a vet had said that with two series of shots she'd be fine. Probably a park where a lot of dogs are running loose isn't a great idea, but there's nothing wrong with a walk around the block in terms of exposure. But maybe it is a bit long. With young pups I sometimes just walk them around the livingroom on a leash to get them used to it, because there probably aren't as many distractions there, but outside is fine, too.

 

[blw]

puppy walking

Thank you so much for such a prompt reply. Those are great ideas and we will cut the distance for sure. I appreciate your help.
Barb

 

[River Rat]

Barb,

Keep us posted on how it goes. And we'd all love to see pictures of Gordon, by the way!

Leslie

 

[blw]

Gordon

hello,
I will definitely keep you posted. I would love to post some photos as he is CUTE but do not know how. Any tips? Thanks again.
Barb

 

[gene]

Yes...help is here......

http://labradoodle-dogs.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=3927

 

[blw]

photo bucket

Just a little more help if you have a minute,
I have an account with photobucket but do not know how to copy them into this reply. I uploaded 4 photos so they are sitting there waiting to be shared with you. Help, please.

 

[gene]

blw.....I pm'd you.

 

[River Rat]

Barb, I copied this from one of Gene's posts and kept it on my monitor desktop for reference; see if it helps:

go to www.photobucket.com

create a username and password
then upload your pictures

next highlight and copy the IMG code beneath the picture (hit control and c at same time)

then come to forum...hit reply button
now hit control and V to paste the IMG code into your reply
type what you want before or after doing above step

last, hit submit and your photo shows up

 

[Guest]

Gene,
I bet blw is hiding under the desk wondering what Gene did when he "pm'd" her. :lol:

BLW, Gene sent you a private message at the top of your screen it will say you 'have one message'. Click it and Gene's message will showup, just like mail.

:lol:

 

[MaxandMe]

LINDA you spoiled all the fun hahhahahaaa i love how it sounded
"Gene Pm'd her hahahhahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

 

[cocoandjane]

I guess you are past this stage if you are making it for a small walks....but I always leave a very light weight leash on a small puppy in the house. I let them get used to the leash and then try walking them on it while inside. ...or just holding the end of it, while they walk and play around. I walked Coco around a very long block by 12 weeks old, once a day and worried about Parvo, but she was fine....I think the vet did say that with two rounds of shots she was somewhat protected....but,not to start obedience classes though til she'd had all four rounds.

I have done the loose heel from the beginning, and used the prong collar to really train her to heel and now she heels beautifully. Coco didn't ever have an aversion to the leash or walking on it with me.....but many of my past dogs did.