My Dogs Scared!

[PiNKFaITH]

I just got this new puppy, and my dad got a choke chain for him, because he would never go on walks, just sit there and make us pull him, So we got him the choke chain, my dad took him on a walk, and yanked to hard, the dog whimpered, and wouldnt move, now the dog pee's everytime he sees my dad even holding the chain, and we dont know what to do cuz the dog just runs away after seeing it, How can we get him to walk without being scared half to death, and how can we get him to not be so scared of taking a walk...PLEASE HELP!!!!
God Bless
_CrYsTaL_

 

[jenptcfan]

I'm not a big fan of choke chains for little puppies. I know some people swear by them, but it takes awhile for a puppy to get used to a leash, period. When I got my puppy, I would put a leash on her when she was in the house and let her get used to having it on. Then we would go outside for a few minutes and I would just let her walk wherever she wanted to in the front yard and I would follow her around. Eventually (after she got used to the leash being attached to her and stopped trying to eat it!), I would guide where she went by walking in front of her and calling her to me.

Also, it's best to let young puppies walk on grass and not asphalt. For some reason, walking on asphalt is harder on them. Don't worry about taking your puppy on long walks. You can gradually build up to getting her to take a real walk. For my dog, she wouldn't even go all the way around the block until she was probably 6 mos. old. We just worked on walking down the street a little ways and back.

I'd ditch the choke chain. Especially until the dog is a little older. It's just not old enough to understand yet.

 

[PiNKFaITH]

Yea, thats what everyone was telling my dad, stubborn man! LOL, But yea he doesnt want the dog to even look at it anymore, he feels horrible, But thanks for your help, i thought my dog was abnormal or something so i guess its normal.So thank you TONS!!!!

 

[seebs]

The cool thing is, even if you get more dogs later, you only have to train your dad about the choke chain once.

 

[ShetlandRose]

Appears your father and you have learned a lesson. Never put a choke chain on a puppy (would you on a child?). The good news is that puppies are forgiving in time, unless they are abused. The only way to train a puppy is with love, patience, kindness, gentleness, and self-control (the owner's self-control, by the way!). Does this sound familiar? These are some of the fruits of the Spirit in Galations 6.

ShetlandRose

 

[Blessed75]

Appears your father and you have learned a lesson. Never put a choke chain on a puppy (would you on a child?). The good news is that puppies are forgiving in time, unless they are abused. The only way to train a puppy is with love, patience, kindness, gentleness, and self-control (the owner's self-control, by the way!). Does this sound familiar? These are some of the fruits of the Spirit in Galations 6.

ShetlandRose

I agree.........poor pup.

 

[ShetlandRose]

But I don't believe anybody meant to be mean to the puppy, they just didn't know the consequences at the time. Puppies are like children, they want their way too. Ya' just gotta' be gentle and patient.

ShetlandRose

 

[Norrisk]

What kind of puppy is it?

 

[PiNKFaITH]

Yes, if we would have known that it would hurt my baby so much, we would have NEVER done that EVER, But yes we did learn a lesson, Norrisk, its a Black Lab, mixed with Rot Weiler. Man you guys are making me feel worse then i already do.. IM SORRY NONNY!!!!

 

[BeanMak]

Pink, with a lab puppy, a choke chain once they reach 7 or 8 months is the ONLY way that you are going to be able to train her. I have a big dog, and we went to obedience class when she was 10 months. She learned very quickly! She learned to sit, stay, heel, and NEVER pulled me when we walked. She is the greatest dog. She is 14 now and will soon be leaving us; I will miss her.

 

[DJBelieves]

Get the dog a HARNESS!!!! Those work WAY better than collars or choke chains. I have a Basset hound, and it's impossible to walk her on a collar with a leash. The collar slips completely off her heck...

The harness works GREAT on big dogs... I would highly recommend you all getting one for your dog and trashing the choke chain.

 

[Dagna]

I would never use a choke chain on a dog. But it does sound like you and your dad learned a lesson. It will take time and patience, but your dog will go back to normal soon. And harnesses are great. If you begin training your dog now, when he's still a puppy, you'll have no problem as they grow older. Just remember, patience, patience, patience.

 

[PiNKFaITH]

Yea, My dad bought the harness, havent yet used it. Yes we know we have to have patience..Thanks for the reminder Man puppies get big soooo fast it so incredible, and you guys have to remember, this is the first puppy or dog that we have ever had, so were learning right along with Nonny... Thanks for the tips too. If theres anything else i should know...Post it!

 

[Dagna]

There's a book called "The power of positive dog training". I got my copy at Petsmart. It goes step by step training of your dog, using only positive methods. That will help your puppy gain confidence, and it gives you something you can do with your puppy to keep him entertained.

 

[Tsaxgurl317]

Hey! I used to train puppies before I moved, mainly just to lead lol...Try getting a leash and hook it to the coller, and tie one end of the leash to something sturdy, and walk away, don't aknowlege the dog if it cries or whines, make sure it has water, and just leave it for a while...eventually it will stop fighting the leash, when it stops fighting take it and play with it, do that once a day for a few days, you'll come out with a dog who won't fight the leash! Worked for probably 20-30 puppies that i've trained! Good luck!

 

[PiNKFaITH]

Wow, Thanks, Ill have to try that, ill keep u up on the progress

 

[FoogieFighter]

Okay I don't know if people have already told you this ... sorry I didn't feel like reading all of the responses so if this was already said I apoligise!. But choke chains are one of the worst things to have for an animal....There has accually been dogs that had the collar cut into them and they had to get it surgically removed. What you should do well first off, is get a new collar, one completly different then the one that you have now ( so the dog would know it was different) . Mabey even a harness. And just slowly try to get the dog back in action. If there is a problem with the dog pulling on a leash, don't resort to that. There are classes and books that you can get to help train the dog to not pull . If you have any further questions please feel free to IM me

 

[SnowOwlMoon]

Pink, with a lab puppy, a choke chain once they reach 7 or 8 months is the ONLY way that you are going to be able to train her. I have a big dog, and we went to obedience class when she was 10 months. She learned very quickly! She learned to sit, stay, heel, and NEVER pulled me when we walked. She is the greatest dog. She is 14 now and will soon be leaving us; I will miss her.

Not necessarily. I trained my GSD mostly with a flat, buckle collar. He was 10 months old when I got him from rescue.

I prefer a prong collar to a choke collar, if a training collar is needed at all (not all dogs need them). A choke collar can damage a dog's larynx; a prong collar works by leverage, not choking, and won't do damage. Our Airedale mix needed a prong collar.

There are also head collars--the Halti and Gentle Leader--that will prevent a dog from pulling. I've used both; the GSD worked better with the Halti, the Airedale mix did better with the Gentle Leader.

It sounds as if the OP has a soft, submissive puppy. I'd use nothing but a flat, buckle collar for a pup like that, for as long as possible.

 

[Key Of David]

The only way to train a puppy is with love, patience, kindness, gentleness, and self-control (the owner's self-control, by the way!). Does this sound familiar? These are some of the fruits of the Spirit in Galations 6.

ShetlandRose

Amen to that!!

 

[Key Of David]

I've never had to use a collar on a puppy anyway....maybe its the type of puppy you have? Every puppy I've had never strays too far away from you...and God forbid it should think you are about to walk away....they can't run to you fast enough.