Danni is doing great, she is 95% potty trained and can sit on command. I am now trying to train her to walk on a leash, this is not going well however. I have her to the point that she will wear a collar, though reluctantly. However, when I put a lead on her she panics, she cowers and won't move. I've tried to just leave the lead on so she will get used to it, but she gets into panic mode and won't do anything and when I try to take it off she snaps. I so want to be able to take her for walks, but I don't want it to be a traumatic experience for her. Any suggestions?
DD, the last time we were at the vet 3 weeks ago Danni was 6.5 pounds and shouldn't get too much bigger, she's all legs.
I have had two dogs that hate the leash, but love the harness. You may want to try a good well fitting harness.
Parker practically puts his harness on himself, and has the harness associated with "good things to come".
They also don't choke with a harness, and I find them easier to control. Of course you can't discipline with a harness like the "dog whisperer", but then I find Parker doesn't need to be disciplined when he is wearing his harness.
Kelly
I agree about the Harness. Fin wont budge when you put the collar on him, but he sits up on his bum to let you but his harness on. I call it his bra. Ha ha
A harness and lots of treats :grin: that's the only way to go, our preferred harness http://doxidelight.com/hugadog.htm and if you put DRNA as your Rep ID you get free shipping and they donate $5.00 to Dachshund Rescue of North America.
The Hugadog harness is great! When we got the first one I thought that was a lot of money for a harness; but, now all of ours have one. They last well and they really work.
I can sympathize. Reilly hates ANYTHING put on her. Collar, harness, clothing-anything. When I bring out the leash and harnesses, she runs and hides :rolleyes: And yet, she loves her walkies-she just really wishes she could go naked on them. Nothing I've done has changed her mind. I've tried treats when I put her in something, praise, you name it. She just hates it and has since she was a baby.
I totally agree about the harness. Sammy will put his head into his own harness then sit down for me to buckle it. We have one from Hug-a-Dog that is mesh, and it works great.
If it were me I'd clicker train her, I saw a guy clicker train a nasty ol' llama who would kick at you and was a huge fight to get the halter on and as soon as you'd start to take it off he would throw himself backwards and wag his head back and forth to get out of it then take off. Within 2 days he had the llama walking up to him and putting his own head into the halter and also standing to take it off and no more kicking. I'm sure there are different ways to the same end but I'd rather help her to accept the collar and leash rather than switch to something else and avoid it (although I do prefer harnesses also!).
If you are interested in trying it I can give you more details (and if you aren't you won't hurt my feelings!) I am clicker training Hallie on a new trick now and it's a hoot she loves it. Anyway I would have the collar much bigger than her neck so her head can easily fit through it, then hold it up in front of her, don't force her or anything but hold a treat on the other side so she has to put just her nose through to get it. Have the clicker in your hand and depending on her level of tolerance, as soon as her nose is even with the collar or if that is too much for her at first, just when she even leans toward the collar, click her and treat. Go as slowly as she needs but the idea is she has to lean farther and farther into the collar to get the click and treat. From there you can go on to the leash just touch it to her collar click and treat. EVentually working up to hooking it on and light pull on it, etc. You should have her putting her own head through the collar before you figure she's gotten to the goal.
My gosh she is a tiny little toot isn't she! She is such a doll Marica. It's not often anyone on this board says "she is all legs." :grin:
Quote from: Dee Dee and Hallie on November 05, 2009, 01:35:15 PM
My gosh she is a tiny little toot isn't she! She is such a doll Marica. It's not often anyone on this board says "she is all legs." :grin:
Well we could if we all had a dachsi-pus.
Quote from: Dee Dee and Hallie on November 05, 2009, 01:35:15 PM
My gosh she is a tiny little toot isn't she! She is such a doll Marica. It's not often anyone on this board says "she is all legs." :grin:
:cussing: HEY, HEY, HEY!!
EXACTLY WHAT IS WRONG WITH BEING 6.5 POUNDS???!??? It works for ME!
Guinness :confused: