leash training stubborn pups

[FoxyWench]

i think chinese cresteds must be the most stubborn breed ive owned, even my pas staffy was less stubborn than this lol.
i love these 2 girls and there doing exceptionally well when it comes to everythign but housebreaking and walking on a leash.
housebreaking was expected, there cresties, like chis, notorious for housebreaking difficulties and thus far i must say they havent been bad, its only an occasional accident.

but leash...forget it.
gypsy the small one will kinda walk but drag behind then just sit...nice to see she can sit so prettily but come on...

Ruby the larger of the 2, forget it, she will lay down.

now ive delt with leash trainign in the past, usually lots fo encoraging words and some gentle tugs on the leash and forward we shall go...right now im not even looking for form...just to get them actually walking...

ruby being the worst we'll focus on her...she plants her body on the ground and will LITERALLY make me drag her to the destination...im getting worried about her poor tummy because she is quite honestly laying down and making me drag her fluffy butt...
Every dog ive worked with thus far gets the idea rather quickly, if your not up on your feet tummy or feet get dragged on the ground...Ruby seems to ENJOY it! she is very stubborn, treats, praise getting down low, grass, pavement, carpet, NOTHING seems to work, ive tried everythng i can think of including the forbidden treats of doom thay they wil usuallly do anytjhing for.

Gypsy is not quite as bad with the laying down being dragged thing, but theres no way in heck that girls picking up any pace, if i want to go anywhere at any kind of normal movement speed she is getting her little paws dragged.

its very frustrating, and weve been working with it since friday and there is honestly NO progress...

I know there not afraid of the leash, heck today i picked up the harness, (we tried collars, even MORE dragging to the point i was worried about their necks) and little gypsy came right over and sat nice while i put it on, as did ruby, i clip the leash to them, they dont care, its when we get to the point where they need to actually move while attatched to the leash while i have hold of it...

any ideas would eb greatly apreciated...ruby is 7lbs and gypsy is 5 1/4 and dragging them is not working for me, and caryring them is not gonna work either...i need them walking because they come to the store with me and i cant carry both of them plus all the other stuff...

I also want to start socilizing the shyer gypsy more, taking her to the park, to petco ect and mabe even a puppy class as shes so smart with everything else...but untill shes walking on a leash, its impossible...

any ideas would eb greatly apreciated!

[otch1]

Hi Foxy... are both of your Cresteds' powders or hairless? I find with this breed you need to be very patient. A sheepskin martingale collar often helps if they're hairless. Much like what you see on rescue Greyhounds. You can find them on-line. There should be no discomfort around their neck, as this is a breed that's quick to shut down, as you're experiencing. There has to be movement though, when you attach the leash, so if walking forward results in dragging, change your tactics and change direction. Try getting them to stay on your left while you take 2 steps to your right, patting your left leg, baiting them with food while giving command "lets go". Often, it's less stressful for the dog to move sideways, after they've experienced dragging. They should be able to see your face, no turning your back to them. Lots of praise for even just a few steps. Then stop the exercise. Go back to it later and ask for a few more steps. After a few days of this, then go back to moving forward. This is a breed you'll want to play confidence building games with and let them win! Tug of war, "find it" and "get it". (Toss food to the ground while giving command "get it"!! and you follow dog on leash, while he goes after treat. Should make a difference in the level of cooperation you get from them after a week or so. Good luck!

[FoxyWench]

thanks, both are powderpuff.

the confidence building is what were working on in gernerl especailly with gypsy who is much mroe reserved..
Ruby however is little miss trouble maker lol, shes outgoing and BOLD

thanks for the encouragment, we'll get there lol they are stubborn little ones though, worse than the chis, but smart...

they have a playpen set up for when i need to go bathroom and all i have to do is point at the pen and say "in" and in they trot.
sit is almost perfected after only a few days, down results in rolling over for belly rubs, but hey close enough for now...

its just those dang leashes lol

[otch1]

They sound like sweeties! Try the "get it" game to build confidence and encourage forward motion on lead. Are there pictures of them somewhere??!

[FoxyWench]

working on the pictures, for some reason my camera is currently hating me

but heres the only pics i have till then

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a38/GemsLilTreasures/crested.jpg
Gypsy, shes the smaller one at currently 5 1/4 lbs, shell end up around 6-7ish

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a38/GemsLilTreasures/crested2.jpg
and ruby, shes the larger and more outgoing and is currently 7lbs, shes going to end up about the 9lbs mark

[PWCorgi]

OMG, they're adorable :D

[malndobe]

Try a flexi. Most pups I've dealt with will try to fight the leash (opposition reflex) but if you can get far enough away from them without having pulled on them, they will suddenly say "hey, wait for me" and run to catch up. The flexi lets you get far enough away, without the dog being off leash and in a dangerous situation. This allows you to combine the small tugs on the leash with distance, so they decide to follow when you tug vs fight, because you are at a distance where they want to start following anyway. Slowly this distance will become smaller, until they have learned to follow when you tug, without fighting, and you can put them on a short leash. Or just keep them on the flexi.
I also take them to large fenced in areas and work this following off leash, turn them loose and just wander around. Every time they come up to me, I give them a treat, then walk off another direction.
If I have a pup who really doesn't care that I'm leaving, I'll put them on the flexi, and if they don't want to follow, I'll wrap it around something (ie tie them up) and leave. Head off a far enough distance that they decide they really did want to follow me. Let them worry just for a few seconds, then go back. With most pups if you do this once or twice, they decide they would much rather keep up with you than be left behind. It's a balancing act though, if you do this to often, or let the pup get to worried, you can create a pup that can get overly worried about you leaving it.

[FoxyWench]

lol, aint they cute...these are my first ever cresteds and are "rescues" im hoping to find a good home for 1 and keep the other

malndobe...im going to try it, thanks, i walk the chis on flexies, but dont have to worry too mcuh with them because i cant go 3 feet without them paniking im going to leave them lol the cresteds are much more independant so ill give it a shot!

[Zoom]

Or you could use a long line with the same exercises without inadvertenly teaching your dog to pull or running the risk of slicing yourself open on a rope burn.

[girlbuffalo1]

They are beautiful! Honey was exactly like this when we got her (would lay completely flat and let me drag her) but as soon as I got a harness she was fine--it was quite a suprise actually. Since she is small (as are yours) I got her the kind that you step both legs into and clip on the back (not the kind that goes over the head). She will now walk leash on regular collar but her tail will be down the whole time--so still prefers her harness.

[oc_spirit]

malndobe's trick has worked quite well for me with stubborn pups who refuse to move when other tricks have failed. Although I echo Zoom's advice to use a long line VS a flexi, or at least have the flexi locked at its longest length.

[dandandat]

I had the same kind of problem with my Basset Hound, after the dragging was not working, what I did was use a harness instead of a leash attached to the neck. When she didn’t want to walk with me, I would lift her slightly and he toes would drag on the ground but in more of a standing position instead of her being on her belly or resisting me by digging her legs in . She would then compensate the movement by actually walking on her own. I lost the ability to direct her head direction so things off to the side easily distracted her. But after minimizing even those things it went smother.

[PWCorgi]

im hoping to find a good home for 1

*jumps around* Pick me! Pick me!! :D

(I actually went on quite the little crested kick after watching some at an agility trial :))

[FoxyWench]

lol, ill admit, im already adicted to the breed and ive only had these 2 for under a week..there awsome little dogs, lots of personlity!

there currently being "walked" via harness, due to the treachea problems chis are prone to i had extra harnesses laying round and just felt more comfortable...so...

Im definatly going to give the long line method a try.

I actually have a 30ft training leash in my car, my sister will be with me this afternoon and theres a park on the way home...hmm, if the weather decideds to hold off mabe well go do some work at the park for 1/2 hour...

its impossible to work 2 at the same time so my sister can cuddle 1 while im working the other for a few mins then we can switch...they do seem to prefer grass on the feet over concrete.