My dogs fear of her own lead

[rearadmiral]

Hi, I wonder if someone has some suggestions regarding my dogs fear of her lead. She's a rescue dog & the rescue shelter have no details of her history as she was found on the street. She's quite timid but gaining confidence all the time & is becoming quite playful, but if I pick up her lead she starts trembling & whining & if I put it on her she freezes & won't move. I have tried a few ways of getting her to walk such as treats & her favorite toy & have tried using just a piece of string as a lead but without success. I'm just trying to think of other ways to desensitize her. Any ideas gratefully welcome.

 

[Maxy24]

Just put it on and leave it there (as long as you are watching her) eventually she will forget about. Maybe you could start with a very light lead (nylon) what kind are you using? Give her treats while it's on and be sure never to try and drag or pull her.

 

[rearadmiral]

Wow! That was fast, thanks Maxy. I've tried this before & after an half an hour she still hadn't moved, is it worth leaving it on her for longer? I'm just worried about traumatizing her further. Are there any other techniques I could try?

 

[Doberluv]

That's good advice from Maxi. It makes you wonder if someone whipped her with it or something if she doesn't get use to it with such an unintrusive way of just letting it hang off of her. I don't know if this would work or not, but could you lay it on the floor and put her dinner next to it or make a figure eight design with it and put her food inbetween? Get her use to associating it with food and treats....just the leash itself without having it on her until she's comfortable with that.

Then you could see if she'll play with it while you make a toy out of it...like a snake that you wiggle and drag around? Just get her to associate it with fun and food while it's NOT on her for a while.

Another thing you could try is when you're hanging out with her, watching TV, you could hold it in one hand or on your lap and just stroke her and give treats. Then try moving onto winding it up into a bunch and stroking her with it, scratching her with it and giving treats.

Then progress to trying it again on her collar and letting it hang. With this, you might try a shorter leash, one that only hangs down about to her shoulder and doesn't drag on the floor or get around her legs. Then go for a little longer leash or rope, one that hangs down to her knees.

Always give lots of praise and treats when she shows a relative calm about the whole thing. Then try a regular leash. This sounds like a really looooooong process, but it may not be....maybe it will only take 2 or 3 days on each phase. But it would be faster than trying to make her accept it when she's in a state of fear. She can't think that way. I'd give it a shot. Let us know. Skip the walks for now other than around your house or yard. Do other things with her in the meantime until she gets OK with the leash.

 

[Maxy24]

Hmmm you'll just have to go slower. It sounds different than just not being used to it, she must have been beaten with one or had a training collar gone terribly wrong. You said she starts getting scared as son as you pick up the leash, so maybe pick it up and sit near her. Pet her and give her treats while holding the leash. Once she calms down go put it away. Do these little session a few times a day until she stops reacting to you picking up the leash. Let her sniff it if she wants to, eventually she will learn you are not going to hurt her with it.

Then move onto putting it on her, giving her a treat then take it off. Walk away or a minute then come back put it back on (be talking in a high but calm voice as you put it on) give a treat and praise then take it off. Repeat it over and over a few times a day until she does not get nervous as you approach to attach it to her.

Then you can start leaving it on for a small amount of time. Put it on, give a treat and praise her for a minute then take it off. Over time slowly leave it on for longer and longer until she is used to it and shows no fear. If she decides to move at all during these exercises make sure you give her a treat and praise her calmly.

Also you can try leaving it on her while she eats (unless she won't eat while it's on).

 

[ARottMweilerY]

Not sure if this will work or not, depending on the dog, but you could try putting a tab leash on her, then give her a bone or try an get her to play with a toy. All other advice is great as well! I had the same problem with my dog Judd. He was terrified of the collar and leash, second it was on he'd freeze. I got him at a year and a half, I got him to train and ended up keeping him. Any ways, I would have to carry him to our training area, then I just let him drag it. He loves to play and loves toys, so I got him over it by playing fetch with him and doing fun activities. As long as you associate it with lots of good things they'll learn to love the leash. Another thing you could try is Take out the leash, & let her see it before each good thing you do with her like: Petting, giving a bone, breakfast, dinner, treats, treat ball, training...etc... Then advance like said above. Hope these help! Good luck!

 

[Boemy]

Is she afraid of it all the time or only when it's on her? If it's the former, how about leaving it lying around all the time so she becomes used to it as just another household object?

 

[rearadmiral]

Sorry guys, I meant to come back to you with details of how well my girl's done. I used a combination of treats in the middle of a coiled lead & picking it up & putting it down whilst stroking her. Slowly but surely she came round & eventually accepted it on her as well. Now she walks with her tail & ears up & is getting more & more confident with it on her.

Thanks again everyone, your advice really helped.