I recently got a rescue dog (Dec 2010)who was picked up as a stray on a northern Canadian reserve. Dogs picked up here generally do not wear collars or leashes and are allowed to wander around the community's homes in packs, getting fed at their home or wherever. The vet guessed her to be about 2 years old. She is a husky/shep mix. Was likely someone's pet as she knows some simple commands like sit, and plays fetch like a maniac. She was also very easy to housetrain. I've posted in another forum about her dog-dog agression, and have ordered my pack structure/basic obedience dvd set but am looking for any additional tips on leash training while I'm waiting for those to arrive. As I'm in Canada, it could be quite awhile if customs decides to hold my dvds for some reason. She took to the collar fine, but just doesn't seem to understand how to walk on a leash and from the minute it is snapped on she is pulling until she chokes. I've never had an adult rescue, and our other dog we raised from a puppy walks well on leash now. When I've asked pet store staff or the vet, they recommend a head halter - totally didn't work, she pulled anyway and ended up breaking it. From the comments on my other posted question re the aggression, I realize that she needs more basic training as she just doesn't understand what I want her to do - walk with a loose leash. I don't care so much about formal heeling, just want a loose leash walk. We do daily walks with my other dog (and have tried with Pippi), no stopping just walking at a brisk pace and Ghost has no problem. There are no pee breaks or sniffing unless I stop and let her, and she is quite happy to just trot along with her backpack beside me and the stroller with my son inside. How do I start working with Pippi so that I can walk her too. Right now it is just a huge struggle that is unpleasant for all of us. Any starter advice would be great.

Marker training.

Lure, mark, reward.

I know you said you didn't care about "formal heeling" and that is, of course, legitimate at this point Angela. But Michael provides a nice explanation of starting youngsters out with leash pressure (in the house of course -the "lure, mark, reward" that Aaron is referencing) in "Focused Heeling". Careful work with this without distractions in your home could help reframe her understanding of the leash IMHO...

 Quote: Aaron Myracle

Marker training.

Lure, mark, reward.

What he said....

You're not currently attemmpting to walk her with your son in the stroller or with your other dog, correct? This will take your undivided attention for awhile, IMO.

Thanks. I skipped ahead of myself again and thought we could start by walking outside. We will work on in the house leash with the lure, mark, reward system. This has been working well with getting her stop jumping up outside. Looking for a ball diamond or some other fenced area to have her play fetch on while on a long lead as her exercise time instead of the outdoor walks.

You don't learn to drive a car by entering the Indy 500.

Be fair to your dog.

It'll come. It just takes patience (and lots of treats).