"Dragging - not walking!!!!!"

[feefee]

Hi All

Any suggestions please - Monty is such a lazy boy and despite being tempted to go out for a walk by treats - he has to be dragged.

We have tried with/without harness..... with/without jacket..... with standard lead/with retractable lead.... treats/no treats....... but to no avail.

He is a strong boy and my right arm feels like rubber by the time I get 100 yards!!!!!!!

He seems to know when he is going home and drags me.... Our dog walker at lunchtime is having the same problem and he sits down and refuses to budge.  Please help - i dont want Monty to resemble a sumo at 3 of months old

[Karma]

How old is he now - if he is not yet 3 months, he is still very young, and the outside world is probably quite intimidating...
I wouldn't drag him at all - just take it at his pace, and make sure it is fun.  It doesn't matter if you only get 25 yards, as long as he learns to enjoy it. 
Personally I would go armed with treats and lots of praise..... even if you just sit 10 yards from your front door and play for a little bit, then go home... Monty needs to learn that the big outdoors isn't all that bad, but in his own time.

Honey still pulls more on the way home, as she always gets a treat after being dried off, but she adores her walks. 

[Abby]

Agree with Karma - its no big deal at that age, so long as he gets experience of the outside. If it is an issue with the dog walker, you could always ask them to spend some of their time playing with Monty instead (in the garden perhaps if you have one). That's nmore than enough for the exercise - just make sure he is seeing the outside world too.

[JaspersMum]

One tip we were given when we had Louie as a pup was to walk backwards, encouraging the pup forward towards you with the treat or a toy and when moving confidently to then turn to face forward so that the pup is walking alongside you IYSWIM

Heidi wasn't very confident out to start with so we carried her to somewhere she felt comfortable and then worked from there but she could get used to the sights and sounds from a better height on the way.

How much were you able to take Monty out and about when you brought him home, I am a firm believer that the first few weeks, even pre vacination make a huge difference to their confidence in going out for the first walks.  Must admit Heidi has the advantage for the boys with her for confidence too.

[feefee]

Thanks - Monty (13 weeks old)  went out with us to see the sights - pre vaccination -- went to school, the shopping centre and the park ( all in his rucksack!) - He doesn't seem to get spooked by hige lorries/cars etc and loves all the attention.

My dogwalker has the patience of a saint and Monty likes to meet her other dogs - socialisation doesn't seem to be the problen.  He plunks his backside on the ground as soon as he gets out of the car for a walk and she perseveres with him too.

Will try all your suggestions and get back to you..   

You can imagine the looks you get from passers by - my neighbours think its hilarious seeing a pup the size of nothing taking the mickey...  Oh the joys!!

[Adrienne]

Ella was like this, I tried encouraging her but I found the best thing was just to stand with my back to her and eventually she got bored sitting and would start to wander.  For the first few days out she would only go up and down our drive, which is long, after 3 days she went about 10 yards from the end of the drive then she was off and now loves her walks. 

She is still not sure of cars and occasionally still plonks her bum down, but I just ignore her and wait for her to start walking again, she even went to my sons rugby club on Sunday which she loved and lots of people and cars there.