Need help walking puppy

[stl]

My wife and myself recently purchased an 8 week old great dane puppy. Had him 10 days now and everything is actually going great except one thing.

He is very smart and is responding extremely well to basic commands such as sit, come, crate, etc. He is very protective of our home and is beginning to growl and such when strangers approach and are invited in our home. Basic, normal behavior that I expected.

He was raised on a farm and didn't get much socialization but is doing remarkably well with various noises, different movements, etc. For example, first time garage door was opened he was scared but second time he was fine.

The "problem" I have is that he won't go for a walk. He simply resists when I try to get him to go. He doesn't want to leave the home and I suspect it's because that's where he is supposed to be protective.

I've taken him on two walks and both times I had to carry him to the spot where we started the walk. 1st time was about 300 feet from out home and he simply wanted to walk back to the home. We didn't go any further from home but just walked back. Second time was the same except I took him about 1000 feet from home.

He actualy walks just fine with leash and without leash. As long as we're headed in the direction of our home he is perfect. He's a little nervous when away from the home but does very well in stopping and starting both on and off leash when we return.

Yesterday, we went to a park about an hour drive away and he did fine obeying, walking etc while we were away. No problems at all there.

I've tried treats, encouraging, praise, etc but nothing works. He simply does not like to walk away from our home, with or without leash.

Just can't get him to knowingly go away from our home. Any help?

[Xerxes]

At 8 weeks old you're expecting alot from this puppy.

He should be cautiously exploring his area, with gentle encouragement and lots of praise from you and the rest of the family.

You say he's growling? Is this when people come over? When he hears a strange noise?

You should definitely get him into a puppy class ASAP. And then start basic obedience afterwards.

[girlbuffalo1]

Can you practice standing 10 feet away with leash and calling him with a treat?--repeat repeat repeat? Or perhaps try walking with treat in hand luring him forward?

[malmo]

I agree. Go easy on the puppy. Most things I have read recommend that you wait to do serious outside leash walking until the pup is a little older. Plus, you have to think about vaccinations. I'm not saying don't get out there and socialize. Just that it's possible her little brain and body aren't even really capable of walking well on a leash yet.

Be patient. Enjoy the puppy and expose her to the world.

[Herschel]

You should ask your breeder for advice. Reputable breeders will help adopters with training issues and getting the puppy aclimated. ;)

Don't let the puppy win. Right now, he is training you. Great Dane puppies shouldn't be walking long distances as it is when they are so young, but everytime you carry him and let him walk home you're teaching him that you will cater to his requests.

Instead, you should first desensitize him to a leash. Allow him to run around the house with a leash/collar on so he can get used to the feeling. Then, take things outdoors and see if he is still OK with the leash. After that, use treats, food, or a toy to motivate him to follow you. Pick up one end of the leash and keep motivating him to follow you. Once you get 300 feet away from home, give him a lot of praise and give him a lot of treats. You want to convey the message that the place you are going to is more fun than just sitting at home.

[stl]

Thanks for the replies. Maybe I am asking too much as he's so young.

For those who didn't read entire thread, I didn't take him on long walks. 1000 feet for a puppy his size is nothing.

He actually does fine on a leash. Chews on the leash for a couple of seconds initially but after that he's over it. Probably one of the smartest puppies I've seen in a while.

Not too worried about full shots and stuff. We go early in the am when noone is around.

Guess I'll work on a little bit at a time. He's simply fantastic in other areas so figured this was a little strange.

Thanks again for the replies.

[MafiaPrincess]

parvo lives in the ground for years. It's not just an issue meeting dogs. It's an issue walking your dog in a possibly infected area.

[Herschel]

This site might be useful to you:

http://www.greatdanelady.com/

[Doberluv]

I would play with him in your yard. Find out what does motivate him and entice him to play hide and seek with you, to chase you when you run the other way, squeeking a squeeky toy. Use highly tasty treats (tiny) for when he does come along with you. Get him into the habit of walking or trotting near you and with you....just in your yard, as a game. Get a rope toy and wiggle it along the ground as you trot along. As he bonds with you and finds out that it works for him to hang around you, he'll get onto the walking on the leash thing.

Be careful where you take him until he's had a couple series of his shots. Then find a good positive method training class for him where he can socialize with other pups and people while you get some tips on training.

Very important: Let your puppy be a puppy. Let him play and romp, teach him things gently and gradually. Re-direct him to things you do want him to play with and reinforce, reinforce, reinforce for wanted behavior....even baby steps in the right direction. A reinforcer is something the dog loves. (from HIS point of view) Find out what it is in any given situation.

With walking away from home, if you just go two feet outside of your yard, stop there and make a party. Have fun, bring along a favorite toy that he doesn't get to play with any other time, bring tiny delectable treats and go home. Next day, go 5 feet out of your property and do the same. No force, no dragging....just gentle coaxing. Stop where he IS comfortable and turn it into a good thing and go from there.

He'll be fine. Give him time to mature.

He is not likely being protective of your house now at his age. That growling is likely a fear response at something novel. He has not reached the point where he knows anything about being protective. Try not to make a fuss about it with him. Just change the subject.

Congrats on your new pup. Hope we see pictures soon.

[adojrts]

A 1000 feet to a six wk old pup of that size is a huge distance, their bodies get tired very quickly. I just trained a Irish Wolf Hound pup this past spring, her owner was/is very knowledgable about the physical limits of her giant breed. The pup was 3 months old when I started working with her, no walks, but basic obedience with very limited work on sits (apparently that is very physically demanding of the giant breeds), leash work started in the house and then for short periods (10 mins) in the backyard. When she was 6 months old we had progressed to short walks on sidewalks, with many rest periods, that is when I did focus work. It was very easy to see how fatigued she got and how quickly. If the body is fatiqued then the mind can't learn either. It became a balancing act when training her. From what I understand Danes are not much different, you need to get on some Dane forums and talk to people who know the breed in detail. They will be able to give you the best advise as to how much is too much for a pup.

[smkie]

i was thinking too young too..this is still a baby. He'll be taking you for the walk in another month. lots of good advice on here.

[Doberluv]

Yes, at his age, lots of free play and romping in the yard is enough exercise. That way he can stop if he's tired. I don't see anything wrong with taking him a little ways out of the yard if you want to get him use to it, but just a little bit and come back. He really is young and when I picture 1000 ft, that's more than 3 times the width of my property and that's pretty far for such a tike. (I can only judge distance in ways like that) Like Smkie ways, it won't be long until you will have trouble keeping up with his energy. Enjoy this while you still can. LOL.

[blackcat]

When i was teaching Adi my doberman to walk on the leash I just attached the leash to her neck and had her follow me around the yard running and exploring making it all a big game. Gave me a good chance to go over the yard and pick up all the stray bottles and trash.

[malmo]

This is a great way to turn it into a game, blackcat. I like the idea a lot.