Dear Cathy, I recently "rescued" a six-year-old poodle from a neighborhood shelter that received over 30 dogs from a large puppy mill. I love him and am determined to give him the best in life. He is very fearful and emotionally starved, but we are slowly working toward making him feel safe, comfortable and loved.
The only problem I have is he won’t walk on a leash. He has a collar, a halter, and a lightweight leash. I leave the leash on him in the backyard so he can get used to walking with it.
When I pick up the leash, he immediately goes down to the ground. I put him on his feet, speak softly and lovingly to him, but as soon as I take a step, he goes down. He is not food or snack motivated.
I think it would be to his advantage to walk the neighborhood with me, especially since he has two canine "cousins" that he has come to love, and I would love to be able to include him in their neighborhood walks. Any suggestions? — Kathy, North Island Park, New York Dear Kathy, In a puppy mill, it’s likely he never ever walked on leash. To help your poodle become more confident on a leash, start by building positive associations.
When he is in the backyard, don’t try to walk him. Instead, sit on the ground and hold the leash. Just sit for a few minutes and then put the leash down.
Gradually increase the duration that you hold the leash over time, ensuring he remains calm and relaxed. Since he isn’t food motivated, find what he enjoys the most and use that as a reward, whether.
