Walking a dog that doesn't want to move?

[StunnedMonkey]

How do you get a dog to walk with you when they simply refuse to move? I have this problem with 13-week old Darby frequently. It usually happens when (1) we're in an unfamiliar area, (2) we're in a famililar area and something spooks her or she's had a bad experience there (read on for an example of that) or (3) she's simply tired and doesn't feel like moving. I'm talking DUG IN and unresponsive to treats or toys.

We were at puppy class last week and started working on loose leash walking. I mentioned my problem to the instructer so he decided to demonstrate how I could work with her. (Obviously, he thought this would be easy.) And of course Darby was completely uncooperative and wouldn't budge no matter what the instructer did. So he proceeded to DRAG her around by the neck (flat collar) for quite some time. She wasn't walking reluctantly, she was literally being dragged around in a sitting position. When she started gagging I suggested that she was in distress, and he replied that if she was being hurt, she'd move. When he eventually gave up and stopped, she gagged a bit and vomited. I was pretty pissed but bit my tongue. The other folks seemed a bit surprised that he'd actually done this. I might add that the instructer preaches positive training excusively, practically straight out of the Pat Miller book, so this display was surprising. I might mention that at home I use a sporn harness that is easier on the pup, but he won't allow anything but a flat collar at class, and says I shouldn't use a harness at home either. (Of course, I still do.)

So what do you do with a dog that won't move? Again, treats and toys have no effect. If it's a place we don't need to go, well then we simply don't go. But sometimes we NEED to go, and I'm reduced to either carrying her or dragging her. Obviously, I'd rather not drag her. I'm dreading class today because I know he'll be mad if I carry her in, but I can tell you now there's no way she'll walk in there under her own power.

Is this reluctance to move unusual for a pup? How should I handle it?

 

[jess2416]

Do you have a clicker??

If it was me...I would put the collar and the leash on her while you are at home and just let her walk around by herself (without you holding it *under supervision of course* ) and every time she walked anywhere with the collar and leash on, click and treat and praise her.....and I'm sure pretty soon she will realize that a leash and collar isn't torture

Maybe someone else will have some other ideas

 

[Herschel]

Jess gave you great advice. Let her get used to dragging the leash around. I'm not sure I would click and treat every few minutes, though. Instead, you could make it a game. Have your wife sit 10 feet away from you with some treats. Then she could say, "Darby darby darby darby darby come here darby come on darby good girl darby!" in a really high pitched voice. When Darby goes to her (dragging the leash) she gets a treat. Then you do the same thing and she comes back to you. Don't let her stop to think about the leash for one second--if she does, keep calling her name and get more excited. (Don't be scary, just excited) This will help her recall and her leash manners.

Very few puppies naturally walk on a leash. It is an odd sensation for them to have this thing pulling on their neck. Give her time to get used to it.

I hate it when dogs get choked by flat buckle collars. If you want to use a harness, by all means, use a harness. We've never used anything but harnesses with Herschel and he walks fine with a loose leash.

Get a new trainer. Ask for a refund and find someone that has more experience than the person you're working with right now. If someone ever made Herschel vomit I would be irate. We've gone through 4 classes and no one has ever had to make a dog vomit. I'm not kidding. Find a new trainer. This guy has no idea what he is doing. Dragging a dog around like that could cause spinal injury and traumatize the dog.

 

[StunnedMonkey]

I'm not sure dragging the leash is going to have any effect. She's on a leash so often (our yard is not fenced so she's on a leash every time we step outside) that she's obviously used to it. Heck, since we're still potty training, she's on a leash several hours a day I'd bet. And of course sometimes she walks fine (fine for a puppy that is) and we're m,aking real progress on loose leash walking when she wants to go...but there are just times when she WON'T move, and it's very frustrating.

About the trainer, yeah that annoyed me. But I'll probably keep going so long as there are no further incidents of this kind. Darby needs the scoialization and there aren't any other puppy classes offerered in my area, so I really have no choice unless I just want to no go to puppy class. I'm capable of ignoring advice, though it's funny because the actual advice he offers is pretty much what you'd read here. I don't think anyone would have any problem with most of it. But his actions with my pup were certainly contrary to what he preaches.

 

[StunnedMonkey]

An update...

We went to puppy class today and I was very pleased with how it went. Though we did not speak of it, I think the instructor realized that he had allowed frustration to take over last weekend, and while we can suggest that such a thing might make him unsuited to being a trainer he certainly was very positive and patient with Darby today and she responded well to him. In the absence of any similar incidents I'm inclined to give him the benefit of the doubt. As I said, 99% of what he preaches would pass muster here on these boards. So we'll see how it goes from here.

 

[jess2416]

I think the instructor realized that he had allowed frustration to take over last weekend,

I agree with Herschel (again OMG whats going on ) if someone that is supposed to be a "good trainer" and they let their frustrations get the best of them while they are AT a class, and takes it out on a pup...I wouldnt think twice about never going back...

but Im glad you said that she seems to be improving

 

[ToscasMom]

I would have hauled off on that instructor. What an idiot. Get rid of him please? If you can't trust a man in small things how can you trust him in the larger? Far as I'm concerned, he abused your dog with his power.

 

[StunnedMonkey]

I agree with Herschel (again OMG whats going on ) if someone that is supposed to be a "good trainer" and they let their frustrations get the best of them while they are AT a class, and takes it out on a pup...I wouldnt think twice about never going back...

If I only had other reasonable options for a class situation...the only other puppy class that would have been available to me wasn't starting again until July.

Honestly, puppy class (to me) is more about being around the other pups and allowing for some socialization at a young age. The information imparted isn't really any different than I've previously gotten from books like "The Power of Positive Dog Training." So to abandon class just means I'll miss some of that socialization. Heck, I can read about how to teach a "down."

I'm not going to allow anything like that to happen to Darby again. I screwed up the first time by not speaking up sooner when I felt uncomfortable. After today I don't think it'll be an issue moving forward. But for more advanced classes down the road, I'll look elsewhere.

 

[ToscasMom]

The information imparted isn't really any different than I've previously gotten from books like "The Power of Positive Dog Training."

You gotta at least chuckle at this, given that the trainer Positively dragged your dog by the neck though.

 

[StunnedMonkey]

You gotta at least chuckle at this, given that the trainer Positively dragged your dog by the neck though.

I know. That's what's so odd about it. His action there was completely different than what he tries to convey. It would be on thing if he advocated choke collars and things like that, but he's adamant that such methods are harsh and unnecessary.

Like I said, he was great today. There's no excuse for what he did last week, but so long as he doesn't have another lapse like that again I don't think it'll be harmful to continue the class. Of course I'll have my own guard up when he takes Darby's leash.

 

[ToscasMom]

LOL Stunned. Why use a choke collar when you can just drag the dog around with what he's wearing already. lol.

 

[squirtsmom]

You are a kinder person than me, but if things are going well now, then good. Good luck.

 

[LhasaLover]

I would've jumped in there & gotten my baby, then ripped that guy a new butthole right then & there, in front of everyone. He'd have wished I'd dragged him around by a collar by the time I was thru with him. Unfreakinbelievable. He wasn't frustrated - he was embarassed because your dog didn't immediately obey him in front of the class and he was determined to make her do so by whatever means.

If you're really only looking to socialize your puppy you can find a ton of ways to do it other than puppy class, in fact I think I'll make a new thread about it.

 

[ToscasMom]

LOL Lhasa!

 

[StunnedMonkey]

You are a kinder person than me...

I really seriously doubt that. Really. Seriously. Doubt it, I mean. "Kind" isn't a word often used in the same sentence with StunnedMonkey, and Mrs. StunnedMonkey is often heard to utter, "you're a mean man" on those occasions when I'm insufficiently sensitive...which is usually.

In this case it was more that I'm a new puppy owner and have no experience with training and so at the time even though I felt uncomfortable with what he was doing, I didn't feel confident enough to confront a trainer in front of the class. Later of course I was hacked off that I let it occur.

Fortunately he was very good with Darby this week.

 

[LhasaLover]

If he does anything like that again, I hope you kick his butt - verbally, of course.

 

[Herschel]

I'm glad he was better this week.

You might want to start thinking about your future classes now (instead of when this one ends). Wheaten Terriers can be the sweetest dogs in the world, but they can also be stubborn and strong-willed. The more classes the better in your case.

PM me your location and I could help you find a trainer.

 

[eddieman3]

My puppy did the same thing when we tried to take him for walks. He would start to walk and when we started to get out the driveway he would freak out and try to go home. Then he would just sit and not move. We would try to take him out and he would refuse to leave the house, then we got him to go around the court and then one day we drove him to the park down the street and played with him there he also met some other puppies there and played with them. The next day when we tried to take him for a walk he went. It had worked showing him what he could do if he walked with us. Then we walked him to that same park and played with him again. Now he's happy to go on walks everyday.

 

[girlbuffalo1]

Honey tried that too--she would drag and then fight the leash--all it took was a harness and there ya go! She is small so she has the type that goes on kindof like pants--over each leg with nothing around the neck--and it snaps on her back--with Wrigley he has the regular kind that goes on more like a shirt--helps tons with the pulling. I love my harnesses--I keep them on them pretty much all of the time! This way if there is any dragging or pulling there is less danger of any kind of injury,