Cindy Able wrote 01/14/2007 10:01 PM Shelter puppy won't walk on leash #124712 - 01/14/2007 10:01 PM
Cindy Able Webboard User Reg: 11-27-2006 Posts: 9 Loc: South Carolina Offline	I'm hopeful someone has some good advice on how to get a shy/fearful puppy to walk on a leash. I volunteer at a local animal shelter in which 9 sheperd mix puppies came in, they were found at about 5 weeks old wandering out of the woods. The are about 12 weeks old now and most have been adopted with no issues. One of the last ones to go was a male that was very shy of people. I received an email tonight asking for suggestions on how to deal with his problem. This is what the email stated : Jed's "parents" sent an email today and said Jed is not responding at all. They have to carry him in and out the house (will not move on a leash). She could not even entice him to come to her with a piece of hamburger. She says they are giving him lots of attention but he is just sitting there with big eyes and his tail between his legs. I read some stuff on the internet which suggests they should not shower him with attention as he sees this as a reward for his shyness. Any thoughts on what might work with him? Would anyone here be able to offer any suggestion? I'd love to see this puppy have a chance at the live he deserves. Thanks, Cindy
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Yuko Blum wrote 01/14/2007 10:28 PM Re: Shelter puppy won't walk on leash [Re: Cindy Able ] #124713 - 01/14/2007 10:28 PM
Yuko Blum Webboard User Reg: 11-20-2006 Posts: 1002 Loc: Offline	Maybe they're pushing him a little too much? They could try starting slowly by leaving him in his crate and only taking him out to relieve himself. Let him settle in and get used to his new home from a safe place. Let him get a little bored in his crate... hopefully it'll make him more eager to come out and explore Assuming he doesn't have a genetically faulty temperament and hasn't suffered irreversible damage from his early neglect, he should eventually warm up. He probably just needs more time than his sibblings. It might help if he doesn't receive too much attention and stimulation from too many people for now.
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Connie Sutherland wrote 01/14/2007 10:39 PM Re: Shelter puppy won't walk on leash [Re: Cindy Able ] #124715 - 01/14/2007 10:39 PM
Connie Sutherland Moderator Reg: 07-13-2005 Posts: 31571 Loc: North-Central coast of California Offline	Quote: cindy able I'm hopeful someone has some good advice on how to get a shy/fearful puppy to walk on a leash. I volunteer at a local animal shelter in which 9 sheperd mix puppies came in, they were found at about 5 weeks old wandering out of the woods. The are about 12 weeks old now and most have been adopted with no issues. One of the last ones to go was a male that was very shy of people. I received an email tonight asking for suggestions on how to deal with his problem. This is what the email stated : Jed's "parents" sent an email today and said Jed is not responding at all. They have to carry him in and out the house (will not move on a leash). She could not even entice him to come to her with a piece of hamburger. She says they are giving him lots of attention but he is just sitting there with big eyes and his tail between his legs. I read some stuff on the internet which suggests they should not shower him with attention as he sees this as a reward for his shyness. Any thoughts on what might work with him? Would anyone here be able to offer any suggestion? I'd love to see this puppy have a chance at the live he deserves. Thanks, Cindy Ditto, Yuko. They may be overwhelming the pup with looming over him, too much contact, too much touching and talking and petting, too much. "Lots of attention" might mean "overwhelming." I wonder if he has a crate. I think shy dogs need that safe place even more than most. I also wonder if they know about letting a shy pup come to them, and not vice versa. Sometimes being some distance away with something very attractive, sitting quietly with it, not looking at the pup, will excite curiosity. The lead can be quietly clipped on and left to drag for a while. Clipping it on and going for a walk might go better if it is a several-phase thing.
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Connie Sutherland wrote 01/14/2007 10:44 PM Re: Shelter puppy won't walk on leash [Re: Connie Sutherland ] #124716 - 01/14/2007 10:44 PM
Connie Sutherland Moderator Reg: 07-13-2005 Posts: 31571 Loc: North-Central coast of California Offline	P.S. "Lots of attention" with a puppy who is shy from wandering in the woods with no humans might be the opposite of what's needed. I I think I'd go for very calm quiet presence with no direct attention until the pup approaches on his own. JMO.
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Jennifer Hart wrote 01/14/2007 11:35 PM Re: Shelter puppy won't walk on leash [Re: Connie Sutherland ] #124719 - 01/14/2007 11:35 PM
Jennifer Hart Webboard User Reg: 07-24-2005 Posts: 268 Loc: CA, San Benito Offline	Different opinion. If a pup needs to walk on a leash for some reason (controlled exercise, etc) then I just walk. No talking, no nothing just walk ahead. The pup might pull a bit, but will figure out pretty quickly that walking is easier than resisting. Most pups won't fight the leash that long with that attitude, it's self teaching. But I do agree with Connie and Yuko that with a shy pup they shouldn't be overwhelming it with too much interaction. And a crate is a MUST HAVE for all pups, especially those that have confidence issues. Wish them luck!
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Sandy Moore wrote 01/15/2007 04:21 AM Re: Shelter puppy won't walk on leash [Re: Cindy Able ] #124726 - 01/15/2007 04:21 AM
Sandy Moore Webboard User Reg: 07-25-2006 Posts: 2665 Loc: AZ Offline	Ditto what Yuko and Connie said. Also it's my opinion that there will be plenty of time for walking later when the pup gains more confidence. Unless they live in an apartment and have no backyard, then just take him out to relieve himself. He's been through a lot of trauma in the first few weeks of his life. I don't think exposing a fearful pup that young to things that frighten him is productive. Doing all the things Connie and Yuko suggested should instill more confidence in him in a few weeks. I don't think there needs to be a hurry for walking with this particular pup. Also, there are things that can go wrong on a walk - stray dogs approaching, kids running up to it, even cars going by, that can further traumatize him.
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Yuko Blum wrote 01/15/2007 09:07 AM Re: Shelter puppy won't walk on leash [Re: Jennifer Hart ] #124738 - 01/15/2007 09:07 AM
Yuko Blum Webboard User Reg: 11-20-2006 Posts: 1002 Loc: Offline	Jennifer, I agree that the drag-along method is a good thing for older stubborn pups or adult dogs who won't walk. However, I do believe that it would be very damaging to do that to a dog who's not walking out of fear. It's best to build up their confidence a little at a time, starting in the crate, then in the home, then in the yard and then moving on to the neighbourhood etc. I wouldn't force a very young puppy to walk along either. When puppies are very young they tire quickly and will sit or lie down frequently while you walk them. When my pup was very young I would pick him up and carry him for parts of our walk. You don't want to force them to keep walking if they're tired and damage their baby joints. Not to mention the bad experience you will create in the pup's mind (being dragged along when it was too tired to walk). As they get older their endurance goes up and they will follow. Let young puppies decide for themselves when they've had enough exercise.
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Cindy Able wrote 01/15/2007 09:35 PM Re: Shelter puppy won't walk on leash [Re: Yuko Blum ] #124841 - 01/15/2007 09:35 PM
Cindy Able Webboard User Reg: 11-27-2006 Posts: 9 Loc: South Carolina Offline	Thanks so much for all your replies. I have forwarded them on to the shelter manager who forwarded them to the new puppy owner. Hopefully they will resolve their situation. Thanks so much! Cindy
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Audrey Litfin wrote 01/17/2007 08:29 PM Re: Shelter puppy won't walk on leash [Re: Cindy Able ] #125171 - 01/17/2007 08:29 PM
Audrey Litfin Webboard User Reg: 01-13-2007 Posts: 9 Loc: Colorado Offline	Hi Cindy, Sounds like one shy puppy! Just a few tips: Puppies generally go through a period referred to as a "fear imprint period" where things that happen during this time can affect them dramatically as they grow up. I believe it's between the age of 7-14 weeks or somewhere around there. For instance, if the puppy is bit by another dog, he may not like being around dogs as he grows up. During this time, it's extremely important that everything that he is introduced to is positive. If he reacts with fear, do not feed him affection because you're feeding the state of mind that he's in, basically telling him that it's good for him to be fearful. This will only increase the problem. I agree, a crate is very important as a "security blanket" for him until he feels adventurous enough to approach the owners. Audrey
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Jennifer Hart wrote 01/17/2007 08:43 PM Re: Shelter puppy won't walk on leash [Re: Audrey Litfin ] #125175 - 01/17/2007 08:43 PM
Jennifer Hart Webboard User Reg: 07-24-2005 Posts: 268 Loc: CA, San Benito Offline	Yuko - I didn't say go on a 30 minute walk. Nor did I say that you shouldn't pick up a tired dog. That's part of the walk with a pup. I've raised shy dogs and never had any adverse reactions to leash training in the manner I described above. Building confidence is definately something that has to happen, but it doesn't need to happen on a walk only. I agree with you that building confidence in the home and then outside the home is important and should be taken slowly with a dog that is shy. I was speaking strictly to the leash training, not building confidence.
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