Need Some Leash Training Help Please!

[BrightEyes]

I'm asking for a friend of mine. She has a 4 month old french bulldog/boston terrier puppy. She is trying to leash train him but is having the darnest time, you see, every time she clips the leash on his collar, his butt goes down.... and stays down

She has tried everything.... got him walking (leash free) beside her and then bends down while still walking and clips the leash on. He immediately stops and his butt goes down and he won't budge. She had her son stand a little bit away from them with some treats.... leash on dog (butt is down, of course) and nothin'....and he loves his treats!

I hope some of you can give me some other ideas that she might try. I told her I would ask the experts here and see what can be done to get her little man moving.

[Chaser]

Sounds like he has quite the stubborn streak!!! Chase did this until about 10 weeks, but I've never heard of it in a pup this old. Personally, I'd leash him, prompt him with treats, and wait him out. He's gotta move sometime! As soon as he takes even one step, let the praising begin!!! It could take a while, so she should set aside a chunk of time and plan ahead not to give up.

Also, she should help him associate the leash with positive things. Have it near while giving treats or belly rubs, then put it on and do the same. Practice a few times a day to make it a non-threatening object. Once he's willing to walk with it on, it would even be good to take him out to do business on-leash. It may not be necessary if she's got a fenced yard, but I leash-trained and potty-trained in an apartment. The leash went on nearly 10 times a day for a while, and I'm convinced that's the fastest way to leash train a pup.

[BrightEyes]

Thanks for the suggestion, Chase_Mom, I'll forward this to her.

She does have a fenced in yard, and as soon as the door is opened in the a.m. he's out and running around and having a grand time. Since the weather has been nice, my friend has been leaving her patio door open and he comes in and goes out at will. If she's working out in the yard and Bogart gets tired, he'll go inside and have a nap in his basket. But man, as soon as that leash is clipped on..... nuthin. She's even put the leash on in the house (clipping the loop handle of course) figuring he can get more used to it by dragging it around some, but that didn't even work.

So yep, I'll tell her to clip that on and then wait it out cuz you're right, he'll have to move eventually! LOL

[bendyfoot]

I would get a VERY short leash or else a peice of rope maybe 2 feet and tie it to the pup's collar and let him wear it around the house for short periods of time, just letting him trail it behind him to get used to having something there. Over time, increase the length of the leash/rope. Try playing, treats, etc., or just let him do whatever he wants. If it's just sitting, fine. I've never known a puppy not to get distracted by something EVENTUALLY, he'll have to move sooner or later and may then discover the leash is not going to kill him.

[Soter]

maybe try feeding him only when the leash is on, and as bedyfoot said, put it on and let him wear it around the house, he has to move sometime!!

hope it goes well


soter

[Winston]

Great suggestion Bendyfoot!

Praise, praise, praise and treats, treats treats till he learns that there is nothing but good things when you put on a leash!

Good Luck

Cindy

[BrightEyes]

Thank you, bendyfoot, this is a great idea also. I'll forward this on to her. The more things she has to try, the better the chance of finding something that works.

He does seem to be quite the little stubborn man in this area. He sat for 20 minutes straight while my friend and her son tried treats, lots of enthusiasm, you name it. But nope, not one sign of a desire to move or anything. That little

[BrightEyes]

Soter, you and everyone else is right... he HAS to move sometime! Dang him! LOL

[bendyfoot]

We have a boston mix puppy too....I can't speak for bulldogs, but any terrier I've ever met has been a stubborn little ... it's just the way they are. I really think leaving a short "house line" on the pup will work.

[jessi76]

i like Bendyfoot's suggestion of letting the dog trail a light leash or light rope to get used to it. Just curious though, can anyone ELSE besides your friend tried to walk the dog on leash? I found often, when my dog was a pup, that he behaved MUCH differently when my trainer walked him. Different energy usually gets a different response.

[BenMax]

Originally Posted by bendyfoot

I would get a VERY short leash or else a peice of rope maybe 2 feet and tie it to the pup's collar and let him wear it around the house for short periods of time, just letting him trail it behind him to get used to having something there.

This is the most valuable information. As bendyfoot says, leave the leash on during the day indoors - supervised of course at all times so he does not get caught up.

If you do this, it will take no more than 1 day to conquer his insubordination/reluctance.