How do I leash train my dog who is deathly afraid of leashes?

Question

I have a 2 year old mini schnauzer who is scared to go on a leash. My family got her a year ago and we think her previous owner beat her with a leash that traumatized her. If we put the leash on her she starts trembling and shaking uncotrollablly.

Answer 1

start by using it in the house, letting them drag it along when they walk, secure it loosely and keep it on for short periods..its the same training as with a show dog, they need to know that it's okay.. increase the time wearing it, then hold onto the lead as they go around the house, work on the same with in the backyard and finally outisde..with an abused dog it takes a lot of patience and time..they will come around..oh and never yell while you are doing this, it will only make them regress.

Answer 2

Dog Scared Of Leash

Answer 3

There are a few real keys to dog training, whether you are trying to train your dog to come when called, sit, stop barking or any other behavior. Understanding their importance is critical to achieving rapid results that are long lasting and help develop the bond between you and your dog. Read more here https://bitly.im/pHOr6

The first is simple; you must win your dogs mind. If you don’t achieve this first then you will be struggling the all the way. When I talk about winning your dogs mind what I really mean is that your dog looks to you for all the decisions. Before you do anything else watch one of the amazing video sites that show you the 5 Golden rules to establishing yourself as the pack leader. If you aren’t putting these in place then you are setting yourself up to fail. Just at the crucial point where you really want your dog to listen they will go and do their own thing. For sure your dog may play ball occasionally or even most of the time, you may even have a dog that is obedient 99% of the time, however if you want a dog who always listens to you and does as you ask then you need to win your dogs mind.

The second key to success is to motivate your dog. It is really important that you discover what it is that your dog enjoys both in terms of exercise and play but also in terms of a reward. If you can make the experience enjoyable then you will both achieve more and look forward to training.

Some dogs love to fetch, others love agility, and other dogs simply love obedience training, or swimming out into water and retrieve. At least to start with find out what your dogs love is and help them develop this, what I am saying is work with your dog. The other point to recognize is to make training enjoyable reward your dog.

Answer 4

that link redirected me to how to build an atari laptop.

but basically, how do you get an animal used to anything? Slowly, in small increments.

anyway, I would leave leashes lying around the house, without touching them, until the dog is indifferent to them. then put them in places where the dog goes a lot - put them around her food and stuff. then carry it around with you and ignore her - not like in a mean way, but just so she gets used to people with leashes being nice to her. Give her a treat whenever you are walking around with the leash, snuggle her (if she will come near you), talk to her nicely. Last, you have to put the leash on eventually, but give her treats and talk in soothing voices and start with short periods. put the leash on for a minute and then give her a treat and take it off and tell her what a great dog she is. Do this every day until she starts to get used to it and then try and take her out in the yard with the leash, gradually keeping her on the leash for longer periods of time and going further from the house.

Answer 5

The first step in leash training that I recomend is to put the leash on the dog and then play with the dog while it drages the leash. after this the dog will associate the leash with play.

the next step is to teach loose lead walking with short walks and lots of praise, (Fun, or food). Don't use leash correction types of training on a dog which is scared of the leash.
use lure type of training for this dog.

for more information on training techniques I recomend reading Don't Shoot the Dog by Karen Pryor. This is a good book for understanding the basics of training with out force.

Answer 6

I am having major issues with my new dog. I have tried first just seeing if I could lead her (my last puppy was fine walking with me on the lead within ten minutes) but this one instantly went into panic mode as soon as the leash was attached she jerked violently, screaming and began peeing everywhere and took off. She continued to thrash around and scream when I tried to take steps with her, speaking calmly and praising her, bending down to take a break and comfort her. None of this helped. I then tried clipping the lead on her and then leaving it attached to her so she could get used to it, I used treats to try and entice her to take some steps. I thought this was working until she jumped off the couch, got a fright from the lead and then took off, screaming and peeing everywhere until ending up hiding behind the couch, frozen. I eventually got the lead off her and she then went and hid under the bed.
I feel awful for terrifying her so much but Its so important that she learns to be on a lead otherwise I really don t know what to do with her. I even tried getting my other dog involved, walking her on the lead while my husband had the puppy on her lead. Nothing seemed to help at all. I don t want to end up with an adult dog who will not lead. She also reacts this way when introduced to a strange dog so i m worried she is going to be a real problem if we cant stamp on these issues now. Have inquired about puppy pre- school hoping someone can help me :(

Answer 7

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Unfortunately what I think you needed for this situation, in terms of another dog, was an older stable dog. Bulldog pup is probably a bit full-on for your Maltese (as would any puppy be really). She doesn't know how to deal with any dog, never mind a puppy who won't know when to back off. This is now a difficult situation because no way would I suggest you take the puppy back. I think you need to set up a puppy area, and a Maltese area and let her get 'used' to having the puppy around without having to actually confront the puppy face to face. If you let them learn to live with each other for a while, having them together only while you are there to oversee what's going on, gradually, with luck, she should adjust to the puppy - and remember, puppy teeth HURT. Last thing she needs is to get hurt by another dog............... This needs a lot of careful handling but with time, taking it very slowly, hopefully she will come round. Do you know any other older 'nice' dog you can perhaps meet outside on a regular basis, so she gets to know strange dogs aren't going to hurt her? And is this b itch spayed. It might help (although b itch spaying doesn't usually alter temperament, it might settle her a bit?) Good luck

Answer 8

Through extinction:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extinction_(psychology)

Simply put the leash on the dog for a couple of minutes, several times a day. Make it a little longer each day for awhile.

Eventually, the dig won't be afraid of the leash anymore.

Answer 9

A dog should be trained on how to eat, walk with you, not to bark, potty training and sleep on its place etc. You can teach anything to your puppy, dogs get trained easily with some good instructions. If you want some good training tips visit https://tr.im/s0crv

If properly trained, they should also understand whistle and gesture equivalents for all the relevant commands, e.g. short whistle or finger raised sit, long whistle or flat hand lay down, and so on.

It's important that they also get gestures and whistles as voice may not be sufficient over long distances and under certain circumstances.

Answer 10

My dog was the same way at first, but it wasn't because she was beaten, I just don't think she understood what was going on. I had to put the leash on her and carry her (and she weighed 50lbs) until she understood that nothing bad was going to happen. Now whenever she hears the word "leash" she gets all excited knowing she gets to go for a walk.