having a hard time taking puppy on walks

[ZoesMom]

Hi everyone... Zoe is my new 11 week old pup, and I'm having a hard time taking her on walks. She loves the grass, but when I take her to the sidewalk to go for a walk and to check my mail, she will lay on the ground and won't budge. I have to scoop her up and carry her. Sometimes I will pull on her leash, but she makes a coughing sound, and I'm afraid I may be hurting her. If I tell her to "come!", and I reach out with a treat, she will take it, but she will lay there again and won't budge.

Any suggestions?

[chrismunkrn]

How about trying peanut butter glopped on the end of a wooden spoon dangled just out of reach by her nose for motivation as you walk? Let her get a lick now and then so she doesn't get frustrated.

[katie9137]

Hi! I had the same problem with Cooper. We got him when he was 9 weeks old. He is almost 16 weeks now and just started really enjoying walks in the last couple of weeks. When I tried walking him at first, it was really frustrating. Not only was he really slow, but he would stop A LOT. I was really consistent with walking him and giving him lots of treats and praise whenever he was moving. I was actually a little excited last week when he started to tug on the leash to get me moving.

[Meg]

I had the same problem with Kolby, I would give little tugs and say "let's go!" But he would still lay down on the job every few feet. It just takes practice.

[ZoesMom]

would picking her up and just carrying her to where we need to go (mailbox center -- vegas doesn't have individual mailboxes in front of homes or in this case our apartment building) be a bad idea? Will this teach her that she gets picked up each time she decides not to walk?

[Meg]

I picked up Kolby sometimes when he decided to lay down, and then after a couple of feet he would squirm to get down and he would walk some more. I just kinda let him do that and he went for longer distances eventually till now he never sits and expects me to carry him. I guess it depends on what you are willing to put up with.

[Peggy]

Originally Posted by ZoesMom

Hi everyone... Zoe is my new 11 week old pup, and I'm having a hard time taking her on walks. She loves the grass, but when I take her to the sidewalk to go for a walk and to check my mail, she will lay on the ground and won't budge. I have to scoop her up and carry her. Sometimes I will pull on her leash, but she makes a coughing sound, and I'm afraid I may be hurting her. If I tell her to "come!", and I reach out with a treat, she will take it, but she will lay there again and won't budge.

What she's doing is common. Walking on a leash is something new to puppies, and it's not something that usually comes naturally to them.

Put the leash on her and let her drag it at first. That gets her used to the feel of it. Then you pick up the leash and follow her. When she's ok with that use a treat and show it to her, with her walking towards you and you walking backwards coax her to you. As she gets to you you turn around so you're both walking in the same direction. Go only a few steps at first and treat and praise.

It won't happen all at once and may take a few weeks for her to be able to go for walks with you.

Peggy