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Pupforum presents your training questions answered by professional dog trainers.
Fran grew up teaching everything from chickens and goats to dogs and horses. These days, Fran works with DOG GONE IT rottweiler rescue, is registered with AKC as a Canine Good Citizen Evaluator and continues to train dogs in Las Vegas, Nevada. She also writes a canine question & answer column for a local news paper, The Hilltop & High Desert Shopper News.
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Fran Williams
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[Edit]
4/17/2006
My 11 week old Labrador puppy is reluctant to leave the boundary of the house for walks. He has been going out for 1 week now and apart from the first day where he was absolutely fine, now each time I take him for a walk we get about 100 yards and he stops behind me, whimpers and sits down refusing to go any further. If I then turn round to head home he's fine. Any ideas PLEASE?? (Muppley, Outside the US)
First congrats on your wonderful new puppy. This is such a important question because it can help form the rest of his life. This is what I talk about in getting your puppy used to the world around him. I have a couple of ideas so try them all or stop when you find the one that works for you. I will of course assume he is current on his shots!
Have you taken him out in the car? I would take him to some place safe (where at this time there is not a lot of dog traffic, like a empty school yard and with a leash and collar on him I would sit on the grass and just play with him-see how he takes being in different areas away from home, make it fun and start his training NOW. Take treats with you and teach him to sit-then give a treat - let him go a little ways from you and then call him back to you (if he don't come-reel him in like a fish) then give him a treat and make it lots of fun. In other words get him used to the idea
that new things and new places are FUN.
Now I would then take him for our normal walk and if he stops I would pick him up and carry him, oh maybe 100 to 200 feet further. I would have a toy and treats and just act like its no big deal I would even sit on the ground and just play with him, then make him sit and down etc. In other words what you are showing him, is that anywhere you take him is a fun thing and a good thing. Do this now while he is small.
Get him use to the sounds of traffic (make sure you have a safe collar that CANNOT slip over his head should he start backing up because he fears a noise, such as a big truck. Show him these things are just all a part of life and nothing to be afraid of. Show him as much and as many things as you can NOW while he is young. Get some bubble wrap and while playing with him start walking across it-if he gets scared just lay on it and play with him (do not baby him) make it all seem as normal as you can, the bubble wrap will help him over come his fear when 4th of JULY rolls around also helps him get over back fires and gun shots. Show him the whole wonderful world. Do so with joy and make it fun and you will have a wonderful well rounded friend who knows he can trust you for ever. Make sure you talk to your vet about getting him fixed as soon as it is safe.Take Care and enjoy the journey. Fran Dog Gone It
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