leash walking woes

[amari_monet]

HELP!! my 6month old APBT is terrified of walking on a leash i have never been able to get him to do it. He sees the leash and immidatley drops to the floor sulking. I i try and force him he may walk a step or two then drops and wont move. Any IDEAS?!!

[Patch O' Pits]

HELP!! my 6month old APBT is terrified of walking on a leash i have never been able to get him to do it. He sees the leash and immidatley drops to the floor sulking. I i try and force him he may walk a step or two then drops and wont move. Any IDEAS?!!

How long have you had this pup? Was he in any way abused before you got him?
Have you reinforced the fear by coddling him?

Try just leaving a lead on him while he plays in the houe and in a couple of days try just walking vhim in the house using some food or toys to coax him

then as he is comfortable move him out doors and do the same

[Bonesdaddy]

Has he ever walked on the leash before this or is this a recent thing?

[amari_monet]

he has been this way since i got him at 6 weeks he is now almost 6 mos. Its sooooo aggravating, the puppy Marley a boxer mastiff mix does wonderful on the leash but Brody the pit is just happy to watch him go. He has never been abused, the crazy thing is when we go to the vet he is on a leash and more then happy to walk on it. I think he may just be a little neurotic about leaving the yard. Hes a great dog regardless. I will try your suggestions and if you can think of anymore i would greatly apppreciate them. Thanks for the help. Tracey

[Sibe]

You said, "...puppy Marley a boxer mastiff mix does wonderful on the leash but Brody the pit is just happy to watch him go." and your pit bull is fine on the leash when on route to the vet?

Maybe there is a pattern there that might help you. Is there a reward about walking alone, without Marley,and something special about the vet trip? Maybe the ride in the car or a treat, or special attention at the vet?

[amari_monet]

no special treatment for marley walking alone, but brody the pit does love the vets office he gets tons and i mean tons of other people attention (he gets mine all the time so i guess im boring) Marley loves to go for the walks though and Brody is just as happy to stay home i even thought Marley could get Brody to walk with us being they love being together but Brody was a no way jose not on a walk. I thought about trying the park maybe he will walk their being we get the car ride first and its unfamilier to him and of course tons of people the more the merrier for Brody

[Sibe]

Sounds like Brody loves attention! My old Siberian just loved people giving him praise, he was so beautiful. And it does make for a great reward. My puppies are not so easy. They will tug the arms out of your sockets if I try walking them at the same time. I have to try something new myself in leash training.

[amari_monet]

that would hurt LOL I just wish he would walk in the neighborhood with me. Marely does but i cant bribe praise trick brody into anything. Hes my dude though gosh i love that dog.

[TxDog]

Both my pups hated the leash at first. They would lay down, I would drag them, no help, I learned fast that was not the way to train them.

What I did was get a treat and coax them along slowly. It takes time. I would put their leash on, go into the yard, walk in front of them, hand out the treat and slightly tug. Soon they would follow me to get the treat and now they do great on leash.

Also taught the come command along those same lines. Would tell them to come, very slightly tug them with treat in hand, then after they got it I would take the tug away, then finally the treat.

[GSP4619]

How about if you walk one at a time and see how that goes?

All the other sugestions seem like they would do the trick also.

[Elyna143]

Hello,
I am a proffesional dog Trainer, email me your location and I might be able to help you. amante_animals@yahoo.com :)