My three month old Saint Bernard has me stumped. He's wonderfully responsive for basic training - sit, down, stay, and his eye contact is terrific regarding his willingness to respond to commands. But he has, from the time I got him at eight weeks, been stubborn as heck regarding leash training. Now I'm aware that it's usually considered an age related issue when a puppy is stubborn on a leash, but my little guy is gaining five to six pounds a week so it's crucial I solve the following problem before he outweighs me - he's 40 pounds at 13 weeks and growing! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
As soon as we leave our house he immediately wants to pee and poop on my front lawn. I'd much prefer for him to do his business at the parkette across the street which is a thirty second walk. But he puts the brakes on and will literally poop as we walk if I try to coax him across the street. It's not because he can't hold it - he will sit at the door when he has to go outside to do business, so I have been getting him outside before he has to go, and he still will struggle to poop and pee where he wants too. The same thing in the backyard - from day one we've taken him to the same spot to do his business and he doesn't like that spot - he'll whine and carry on when we put him there before he eventually goes. Because we have young children it's important he uses the bathroom in designated areas. Any ideas as to how to conquer this issue? After Guinness does do his business he'll turn to go back inside and it's another struggle/coaxing to get him to go for a quick (less than two minutes) walk. He lags behind the entire walk unless he's off leash, and as soon as return towards the house he trys to pull me across the street to home. Because I don't want him feeling that he's controlling the walk I'll purposely walk a bit past our home and he balks and refuses to walk without a struggle. I'm really stumped over this little guy. I've trained about a dozen of dogs from puppyhood and have yet to have the difficulty in leash work and peeing/pooping outside that I'm having with Guinness. He's a wonderful dog and I know every dog, like people, have some areas that are stronger or weaker than others - I'm just extra keen to ensure any leash problems are conquered before he reaches 200 pounds! Any ideas or tips would be appreciated.

Thanks.

I had a similar problem with my Giant Schnauzer pup, but she didn't want to walk on the leash at all. I brought treats along with me, and tugs. If I want her to walk with me when she's got different ideas, all I need to do is flash the treat or the tug, and she comes charging in my direction. Also, I had her wearing a drag leash all the time around the kitchen when she wasn't crated. We still do that. She is much better on a leash 5 weeks later, than she was when I first started putting a leash on her. As far as trying to get our dog to go in one spot, I figured if I wasn't able to take her to that one spot every time she pooped or peeed for at least 6 months, then it really was hopeless to expect her to go there consistently. Since I work during the day, and my wife has no interest in taking the pup to that one spot when I'm not around, I've resigned myself to being happy that she's well on her way to being fully housetrained. I guess I'm just glad she knows to go somewhere outside, rather than inside.

Have you tried picking him up and carrying him to the spot across the street? Does he ever like being taken from the house for a walk? Where in the backyard is the dog supposed to go potty, and where does he go?