Hating the leash

[NcPrisonGuard]

So I am trying to get my new pup Folsom to walk on the leash.. and not having much luck at it, he just sits there and if I drag him he yelps and cries..and my wife freaks out about it. My other 2 took right to the leash so I didn't have to train them with it... Suggestions, ideas...HELP!

[Rottweilerlvr]

Have the leash on him around the house, and let him get use to it that way... He'll feel the tug and pull of it with him walking alone with it, and won't feel threatned by it. Another way to teach them to walk with a leash, is have like a milkbone box half full of milkbones, and shake it, and have him follow you with it... Then, move up to where he is on your left side, shake the box, and have him follow his nose, give a few tugs so he knows it's there... I've used the leash on my mine in the house, with huge success, so I would try that first. Good Luck!!

[laurajean]

Ernest Koehler, the old master of the "yank and crank" school advised one to put the leash on the dog and walk. He said the dog's head won't fall off and eventually it will come along out of necessity. BUT, personally, I think bribing the dog with food is a great idea. Why teach the dog that the leash and collar is the signal for a battle of wills? Why not bribe it with a little food to move forward? And let it wear the leash around the house (supervised, of course) so that it will learn that the leash is NOT some strange, alien, threatening thing.
Folsum is just a puppy, so I would try the patience and reward thing that Rottweiler lover suggested..you might shop around for even more yummy treats than Milkbones. My boyfriend and I use Natural Balance treats that come in a plastic casing like sausage. Blue loves them...We cut off a slice and cut the slice into tiny bits...this stuff is availiable at PetCo...We tried all sorts of treats on Blue but these are highly motivating for Blue. She will "look at me" and work for a smidge of this treat even in obedience class surrounded by other dogs...who may be circling her while she is in a down stay...
I had another "rescue" pit that I took to the same class and as I was very broke at the time, I used cheese from the "dollar store". I used little tiny peices of cheese. I used to call Chevy the "cheesehead" because he would do darn near anything for a bit of cheese...
I have no hesitation in giving Blue a "correction" if she is lunging at another dog, but to show her how to act...I prefer not to "manhandle" her.... luring with bribes is easy on my conscience. (Cause I am such a big softie tree-hugger)

[LegendsMami]

Wearing the leash around the house supervised and bribing with cookies/snacks is a good way. Thats how I taught my little munchkin. Folsom will be struting his stuff on leash in no time!:)

[Suki]

I used the "treat trick" as well with some of my dogs, when they were young. Initially, I did as was mentioned, starting with the leash in the house, and then "practiced" with it in the yard, to see how the dogs would react. Using the treats as a motivator was HUGE, and fixed any apprehension issues very quickly.

So, I would recommend them as well.