Help getting beau to walk
My girl is 19 weeks and started to walk now has suddenly stopped I can't get her round without dragging her have tried treats toys she won't walk I understand there stubborn but she needs the exercise she can't be in the house all day! Please help!!!
Comments
I'm confident many others will chime in on this discussion to provide you with their advice on what worked for them. Time and patience will be big factors especially with a stubborn BT.
"It's not just a Dog, it's a Bull Terrier!"
www.bulliesofnc.com
There was a training book I was using about positive reinforcement. Well I'd like to positively shove it up the authors rear! Anyway, there were a few things that worked. Keep a few small treats in your pocket. I used little nubs of pup-peroni. Keep puppy in a sit position at your side. Throw one down the street where she can see it. Slowly walk towards it with her but do NOT allow her to have it and do not let her pull you. Keep throwing that same treat down the street until she walks, without pulling. The treat is motivation, and your still in control by only letting her have it when she walks and walks correctly. Before she realizes it, you've walked all the way down the street. That's how I get Apollo to walk, so now we're just fighting "I'm scared of everything". It sucks! If he hears a squirrel in the tree but doesn't see the squirrel it freaks him the heck out! (Case in point. Apollo had to go out in the middle of typing this. Figured I'd shoot for a walk since he didn't get one this morning. Dud! Something shuffled in the woods and he was done. Wasn't even off my property)
Keep a time log too. Apollo walks so much better at dinner time than he does in the mornings or afternoons. Always keep happy voices too. I can be so ticked off but I still say "come on you stubborn little rotten a$$" with a smile!!! The only time mean mom comes out is when he tries to play tug of war with his leash. Pinning doesn't work for me in this case. I can tell you how many times I have tripped and fell over Apollo. Then he thinks its for real play time. Now I grab hold of his snout and with my thumb use gentle but firm pressure on the underside of his jaw. I say a mean noooooo and he sits. He taught himself that and I'm not complaining! Lol! Shenanigans over!
Just have to say good luck! It's stressful, it hard and its brain wracking!!!!! Don't give up!!!!!! There are other threads on here about leash walking. I believe the thread I started was called "if the leash fits". Everyone on here has either been there done that, or are walking the same line we are!!! Not every suggestion will work, but try them all anyway!!! Not just one day either. Give each new lesson about a week!! Good luck luck luck!!!!
One thing I've been doing with Spud to get energy out is playing with a soccer ball in the yard. I will kick it around and he will chase it for 30-40 mins then follow up with a walk which I do about 30 mins at 1.5 miles.
Spud is stubborn to the day and he will be for a long time. I'm never going to be confident yet on his training but I just need consistency.
The other trick is to find a neighborhood dog that loves to walk and offer that neighbour that you'll walk their dog and take your kid(s) along with someone they're excited to see.
I know this doesn't answer any questions but maybe it could just be another perspective?
Unfortunately, this time of year, it gets dark too early for me to walk him when I get home from work (no street lights out here).
With me working 6 days most weeks, day-time walking is on Stoges_mom but I'm trying to make up for it with Sunday hikes
Maybe I'll try a day-break walk in the direction Stoges_mom is having difficulty and I'll report back.
How old is Oscar? I'm sure he gets pretty excited to go out when you get home from work. I've thought about leaving Apollo in his crate for a few hours then taking him right out for a walk. Hoping that not seeing me and being alone will make him more excited to go!
"It's not just a Dog, it's a Bull Terrier!"
www.bulliesofnc.com
Got to go out with the Poms and Trayler when they go out to potty at night.
You would think Stoeger would love to play with the local Fishers, Foxes & Coyotes!