The worst walk so far.

[621mum]

I took Luna out for a short walk (about 4 blocks out and then 4 back). I was prepared with treats so that I could give her them any time she approached walking the way I want her to, rather than lagging or pulling. It happened only 3-4 times up to the 1/2 way point, so she got treated those times, but that was, of course, not enough to make anything click. Then, just past the 1/2 way point, she freaked. Her tail went under, she started whimpering, and she was pulling so hard and scrabbling so furiously that her belly was about 1/2 inch from the ground. I tried luring her back with a treat. Nope. I tried calming her. Nothing. I tried having her sit and giving her a treat and then resuming, but as soon as we would resume she was right back at it. I tried turning and walking the other way and she would just keep scrabbling in the direction away from me. I tried stopping and just waiting for her to stop. She did not. I tried walking very slowly and calmly. No. She was just petrified. She is so scared of noises that I wonder if we will ever learn to leash walk well.

Just had to get that out where people would understand!

[Kade]

But she made it halfway there! That's really not so bad. I'm sure that before you know it, she'll be an expert.

Do you have friends with dogs who could walk with you? If your pup sees an older dog walking ahead, she may forget about her fears in her desire to get to that dog.

[621mum]

Hmmmm... that's a thought. Now to find another dog she isn't scared of. More and more I wish we would have gotten a puppy while our previous dog was still alive and well. She was such a good good dog that I think she would have been very helpful in training.

[mrsgrubby]

Don't worry, she'll be fine, just keep taking her out for walks, as she gets a bit older her nose will develop and then she will become interested in smells and will find things interesting. Walks are often scary for puppies, also I thought I read a post saying you were taking her to Puppy Kindergarten soon, that will do wonders for her. Normally at the end of class they turn all the puppies loose and let them romp around. Even the shy puppies will eventually join in, even if it takes a week or two, the lure of the fun will help overturn their shyness and they won't be able to resist.
My mom recently adoped a really shy, scared puppy, who was afraid of everythign and all dogs, but by the end of kindergarden he was always on the top of the puppy pile during play time and my mom ended up bringing him over to wrestle with my dog so he wouldn't always get used to being on top. (talk about a change in personality)

By the way, having treats on a walk is really smart, I still carry them to reward my dog for good behavior on a walk.

[621mum]

Thanks, MrsGrubby!
I've taken her out since then and just avoided the "main road" through town area so that there were less cars etc. and she has done pretty well except when scared by another dog or truck. I'll keep at it.

[mistyd5770]

I would maybe reduce your walk to two blocks one way and then back. If she is doing good at that length maybe that would help. Then you could increase a little at a time.