Leash training a pup unmotiveate by food

So Archie (not a Lab) is only 8 weeks old. I never tried to train an 8 wk old puppy to walk on a leash. He's not really food motivated which has thrown me for a loop. He responds to some food only sometimes. He's no longer scared of the leash and doesn't freak out when he's on it outside so that's good. But he refuses to follow. He freezes and cries and wants to run in the opposite direction. I've tried putting a treat in front of his nose and then moving it a foot or two away but he takes ONE STEP, licks the treat and doesn't want to move. He just wants to run around like a maniac. He's more interested in fighting with grass and bushes than following me. I'm wondering, is 8 wks too young to teach to walk on a leash? He does not respond to forced behavior like pulling him (I really didn't want to do that but I had to try). Man, this dog is completely opposite from Jules!

Just let him drag the leash around for a while in the backyard...let him get used to its existence without you on the other end.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by SunDance

Just let him drag the leash around for a while in the backyard...let him get used to its existence without you on the other end.

---

We did that already. He runs around the house with it for a bit and ends up chewing it so I take it off. I can't really not hold on to him outside though. He's so little that he tries to squeeze himself into every hole. We have to patch those up. And he's a fast little bugger!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by annkie

We did that already. He runs around the house with it for a bit and ends up chewing it so I take it off. I can't really not hold on to him outside though. He's so little that he tries to squeeze himself into every hole. We have to patch those up. And he's a fast little bugger!

---

What kind of leash are you using?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by barry581

What kind of leash are you using?

---

He has a harness on like a really basic one because he's so small. And then a 6' lead.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Harnesses will generally cause pulling. It won't be popular with some people here, but get a small prong collar and fit it properly (high on the neck) and get a light weight leash and go from there. A small pop on the leash should make him go forward. Right now you are letting this puppy manage you, and you need to set the tone. Don't worry about hurting his feelings because you won't. You are just setting the standard for what you want/expect, and don't reduce your standards.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by barry581

Harnesses will generally cause pulling. It won't be popular with some people here, but get a small prong collar and fit it properly (high on the neck) and get a light weight leash and go from there. A small pop on the leash should make him go forward. Right now you are letting this puppy manage you, and you need to set the tone. Don't worry about hurting his feelings because you won't. You are just setting the standard for what you want/expect, and don't reduce your standards.

---

Ugh I hate those things. I'm hesitant to try it on him honestly. He's only 9 lbs maybe 10. The Welshies are more sensitive than Labs. I also read that the 8 week age is the fear stage. So I don't want to freak him out right now.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by annkie

Ugh I hate those things. I'm hesitant to try it on him honestly. He's only 9 lbs maybe 10. The Welshies are more sensitive than Labs. I also read that the 8 week age is the fear stage. So I don't want to freak him out right now.

---

You're correct in not putting a prong on an 8 week old puppy and taking the puppy's temperament into consideration before using that "tool".

My suggestion would be to not leash train the puppy at all at this age. Give him some time, then go back and try again, just letting him drag it for a couple minutes, but never unsupervised. If he is afraid, you just don't want to push it. He's little enough that you can hold him. I carried my Lab puppies around until I just couldn't anymore (and they came to me at 15+ lbs). I'd just put a very light leash on them, just in case. Typically one that is a loop so no hardware that makes noise or adds weight. I'd also nix the harness unless you find he needs one in the future. You can still teach him to loose leash walk without a leash by rewarding him for position with whatever is rewarding to him (toy, praise, food, etc.). Just do this for a couple seconds though. Keep sessions very short initially. You have plenty of time!

I put on the harness because the ring to the leash is on the back so it doesn't get caught under him causing him to trip constantly. I guess I'll take a step back and let him walk with the leash around the house. How long do I keep that up for?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by annkie

I put on the harness because the ring to the leash is on the back so it doesn't get caught under him causing him to trip constantly. I guess I'll take a step back and let him walk with the leash around the house. How long do I keep that up for?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

---

You can get really light leashes, like a thin piece of canvas. No hardware. I keep one for my puppies; had it for years. Does the tripping bother him? You only keep it on for 30 seconds, a couple minutes, several minutes, building up over time. And totally supervised so he's not chewing on it or hurting himself or getting hung up on something and scared further.

I never walked my dogs until they were like 6 months old. I just trained them. I never once gave them the opportunity to pull by taking them out too soon or allowing them to learn that pulling = moving. If I needed to get from point a to point b, it was usually luring with food, unless I could carry them. So, by the time they are 6 months, I can walk them on leash and a flat buckle collar, still training of course, but much less work and much safer for me as I walk two of them.

I tend to just use light slip leads for training. Try carrying him to the end of the driveway and then have someone at the door call him home and then walk home with him. Sometimes puppies don't like leaving, but they like going back home.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Labradorks

You can get really light leashes, like a thin piece of canvas. No hardware. I keep one for my puppies; had it for years. Does the tripping bother him? You only keep it on for 30 seconds, a couple minutes, several minutes, building up over time. And totally supervised so he's not chewing on it or hurting himself or getting hung up on something and scared further.

I never walked my dogs until they were like 6 months old. I just trained them. I never once gave them the opportunity to pull by taking them out too soon or allowing them to learn that pulling = moving. If I needed to get from point a to point b, it was usually luring with food, unless I could carry them. So, by the time they are 6 months, I can walk them on leash and a flat buckle collar, still training of course, but much less work and much safer for me as I walk two of them.

---

He seems to be ok with dragging the leash behind him. I got a really thin and light one. I think I'm going to take a step back and not even try walking him outside. I'll let him wander around the house with it for a few more days or so.

Luring him with treats doesn't always produce the desired behavior. He'll take one step and stops. I guess it's what I want but a few steps would be better. Maybe I need to be more patient.

I found this resource for training. Seems to have most of what you guys mentioned. Collar & Lead Training Your Puppy: Tips & Techniques


So the plan is to try and lure him with the leash on but not holding it. He loves his squeaky toys so I'll use that and see how it works. I don't want to wait until 6 months to leash train him. I had to carry him outside for like 3 minutes to the sidewalk yesterday. He could not sit still in my arms! He wanted to explore. This dog LOVES to be outside which is awesome. But just needs some training first. We start training classes in 2 weeks. Cannot wait!

We started at 8 weeks and i think it was okay. She did not mind it and during the chewing phase a couple drops of lavander oil on the leash near the part which is closest and get attacked resolved the issue when she goes on a chewing binge.she did drag a leash for a few months. gigi for 8 weeks had never been on a leash and ran around wild. so she was a bit tough to contain when young.

i do not think we used treats with gigi outside of training. she started training at 10 weeks. gigi was a toughy she went to a harness with a front buckle , now a prong collar at 1 yr [very rarely only when training] and is getting better with a neck collar but has her days. she gets very excited with kids are with us walking and forgets her leash manner. but she is alot better . Also we started camping when she was 8 weeks. think of a puppy at a campground on the beech with kids , other dogs and crazyness. she loved it. She toook off and swam with the kids in beach at 9 weeks. so its been a year but she was good on the leash as long as its long enough to explore.

Persistence eventually pays off and of course maturity.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by annkie

He seems to be ok with dragging the leash behind him. I got a really thin and light one. I think I'm going to take a step back and not even try walking him outside. I'll let him wander around the house with it for a few more days or so.

Luring him with treats doesn't always produce the desired behavior. He'll take one step and stops. I guess it's what I want but a few steps would be better. Maybe I need to be more patient.

I found this resource for training. Seems to have most of what you guys mentioned. Collar & Lead Training Your Puppy: Tips & Techniques


So the plan is to try and lure him with the leash on but not holding it. He loves his squeaky toys so I'll use that and see how it works. I don't want to wait until 6 months to leash train him. I had to carry him outside for like 3 minutes to the sidewalk yesterday. He could not sit still in my arms! He wanted to explore. This dog LOVES to be outside which is awesome. But just needs some training first. We start training classes in 2 weeks. Cannot wait!

---

A lot of puppies are too afraid to go on walks, so you don't want to make them do it. They are typically over it at a few months old. You don't really want to walk an 8 week old puppy anyway. Wait for second set of shots, for one thing, and for another thing you want to be able to control the environment as much as possible and slowly allow him to acclimate to things like kids, other dogs on leash, people, cars, dogs that jump at the fence, certain noises, etc. slowly and in a safe place.

I didn't wait 6 months to leash train my dogs. I was leash training them the entire time in my house, in the yard, etc. I waited until they were six months to begin taking them on proper walks. I set a strong foundation first so I wouldn't have to deal with pulling. Of course, I took them to playdates, to the river, on little off-leash hikes, classes, etc. but as far as neighborhood walks, I took my sweet time.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Labradorks

A lot of puppies are too afraid to go on walks, so you don't want to make them do it. They are typically over it at a few months old. You don't really want to walk an 8 week old puppy anyway. Wait for second set of shots, for one thing, and for another thing you want to be able to control the environment as much as possible and slowly allow him to acclimate to things like kids, other dogs on leash, people, cars, dogs that jump at the fence, certain noises, etc. slowly and in a safe place.

I didn't wait 6 months to leash train my dogs. I was leash training them the entire time in my house, in the yard, etc. I waited until they were six months to begin taking them on proper walks. I set a strong foundation first so I wouldn't have to deal with pulling. Of course, I took them to playdates, to the river, on little off-leash hikes, classes, etc. but as far as neighborhood walks, I took my sweet time.

---

Ah ok. Makes sense. The other day we were out in the front yard and a car drove by. He got a bit scared and I realized "oh yeah, then there's that..." He is just a little baby after all. I forgot how many things we need to teach him. So now I bring treats. Every time a car goes by he gets a treat and a pet.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by annkie

Ah ok. Makes sense. The other day we were out in the front yard and a car drove by. He got a bit scared and I realized "oh yeah, then there's that..." He is just a little baby after all. I forgot how many things we need to teach him. So now I bring treats. Every time a car goes by he gets a treat and a pet.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

---

Exactly, he is an infant. Enjoy the journey; it's a marathon, not a sprint...and all that stuff. ;)

Have you considered a Welsh Springer Spaniel forum too?

It seems this breed has a totally different temperament, personality and biddability than a Labrador puppy? You might get some excellent breed specific advice, that may give you some insight to training him differently, because his needs may be vastly different.