stubborn dog

[pixiepie]

my dog will not walk when on a lead. She lays on the floor looking like road kill and refuses to move. Its now becoming a battle of wills. tried taking her out with other dogs to encourage her but to no avail.

[Bigeye74]

What process is involved with 'trying to get her out?

[pixiepie]

we have tried encouraging her with lots of praise and treats

[Bigeye74]

Will she go out without a lead? You could try a different lead? Has anything happened to scare her when out walking?

[kita1]

What breed or how big is she?

Have you ever picked her up and carried her?

[pixiepie]

she is a shih tzu. She will quite happily run around the garden on the lead but as soon as we get over the front step she plays dead. Only took her out twice so far. She loves our other dogs (pug, Neo and Bull dog ) and thought they would encourage her but no

[NORMANTHEDOG]

us dogs dont have to go out you know,if you dont want to go out,we dont make you,do we

[kita1]

If you are giving her the praise and treats when she lays down then she probably thinks that you want her to lay down!

You could try laying a trail of treats from the gate up the road, then taking her out and telling her to 'find' (make sure there are no other dogs around to grab the treats though!

The other thing you could do to get her used to the lead is to carry her away from the gate then put her down and let her walk back home.

[wolf63]

How old is she? My first puppy didn't like to go walkies - but as he was a bullmastiff/GSD cross there was no way that I was carrying the idiot.

We took him 'draggies' (we were kids at the time) and after a bit he got the hint.

Maybe if she sees your other dogs having fun that might help. I found that with dogs bribery usually works - but you are already trying that approach.

[meltoadhall]

take out the others and leave her behind - dogs are pack animals and she shouldnt be happy with not being with the pack. how old is she?

[Clanad]

Another suggestion to try is take a ball or other object that you can throw in front of the dog. All dogs have the trait of chasing something, even the highly bred shih tzu. Throw the object, or let it roll just in front of the dog for a few feet, and let her chase it down. Retrieve the object and continue the process. She should soon gain enough interest to pursue the object longer distances, while still on the leash (one of the "extendable" ones would come in handy at this point)... Additionally, while still on the leash, carry her to where other dogs have urinated. She should sniff and mark the area and the next time she should seek out that area again... Best of luck!

[lankeela]

I would carry or take her in the car to where you exercise the others, then put her down with a lead on but let her run loose with the lead just attached. Pick the lead up and follow where she goes, not putting any pressure on it. Do this a few times and she will soon realise that being on the lead is not a punishment, but is in fact good fun and gets her to where she wants to be. Gradually try doing it at home and then progress to trying to leave the house with the lead on.

If you have only tried twice then its still early days. Let her wear a very short lead (or a bit of string) indoors to get used to having something attached. When she is eating or playing, hold the end of the lead for a few seconds and then let it go again.

Of course I mean you should only let her loose where it it safe - that goes without saying!

[pixiepie]

thanks for all your answers gonna try them all. She is only 4 months and the youngest of all my dogs so i know its early days. She is just so stubborn !!!!!!!!!!!

[pixiepie]

just to let you all know she has just been on field with other dogs and ran around like an idiot and really enjoyed herself. However we had to carry her there and back as she did the usual " road kill " stance. As soon as she feels the lead she freezes. We will keep trying and get there in the end