My puppy Corgi of 4 months won't walk with me when I take him out. He'll walk his own way, but when I want to lead him somewhere he just stops - one second he'd be walking next to me and the next he would just stand there. I don't think he's tired because he'll stand and not sit and it's only in certain situations (like when he doesn't like where I'm taking him), so I think he's just being rebellious.

My question is - how do I change this behavior? I've tried ignoring him/looking away but he's very persistent and just stands there. I don't want to drag him on his leash, so what else can I do? Right now what I do is just pick him up and carry him but I don't think this is helping either, since it's more me running out of patience then teaching him something.

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What you can do is get a six ft leash, tie it around your waist when you're in the house, this will teach him to pay attention to you and understand that when the leash is on, he will need to follow you. be persistent! exercise , discipline then affection. Good luck!
have you tried enticing treats to reward him for walking with you? Just little bits of cooked chicken and the like? Start small and soon he ought to go crazy as soon as he sees you pick up the leash!
Yes, small healthy treats are the way to go in rewarding a young pup to leash train. See, it's not their instinct to be tethered. Start out with five minute training sessions in your yard before going on walks. Also, do not use a retractable lead. A fixed lead will give you, the leader, the control over the walk. Use a rolled leather collar, flat collar or harness (if your corgi is a real puller). Don't use a choke chain collar. Also, from the get go, keep your corgi to the left and use "heel" command starting off with YOUR LEFT FOOT. Corgis will (eventually) follow your left foot. Reinforce heel command. Lots and lots of praise (meaning you get down corgi level with puppy). Good luck! From: Bear, Tasha and Linus (who are walked simultaneously as a "corgi wedge").
Is there a reason that it should be the left? I've always walked my dog on the right because if I pass someone I want to be between my dog and the person, or have both people be between the two dogs, if we're both walking dogs.
Thanks for the advice, everyone. I'll start using it today.

Sarah, I think it's the left because that's how it's done in shows. I don't think there really is any other reason besides that... when mine does want to walk next to me, I try to keep him on the right because that is easier for me too.
That makes a lot of sense to me now because in a show ring, the left would be to the middle of the ring and the right would be to the outside of the ring. On a sidewalk though, the left is the center of the sidewalk and the right is the outer edge.
It's all coming together. ;)
Your dog can get comfortable being on either side of you. Ideally you want the dog walking along one side or the other, not pulling on the leash and following commands if you're changing direction.

I agree with the yummy treats idea - some dogs just have no idea what you want them to do on the leash. Treating them for walking beside you and paying attention to direction changes will be key.
Dear Sarah: Hi! The reason dogs are usually on the left goes way, way back. The sheperd holds his crook on the right, the hunter shoulders his gun on his right and so on - dogs waited on the opposite body side. Dogs are frequently trained to follow the heel command on the close left foot and halt on the right. Happy corgi walkies from Bear, Tasha and Linus!!!
I would have to repspectfully disagree that choke-style collars are bad...I have found them to be much better for giving corrections that regular collars, and harnesses seem to encourage pulling. Chokers don't have to be a chain, either. A nylon one (or even a leash pulled through it;s own end loop) can also give you more connection with your dog.

I have a 4mo as well, who also started stopping, laying down, and dawdling on the leash. I just had to give him a few bumps on the leash (no constant tension) to get him up and walking again. No stops anymore! You just have to show them that walking is directed by you :)
Treats worked pretty well for us with Vash. We would hold one out to him, and he would get it at the end of every block we walked. Eventually, he just started coming with us & we no longer need the treats. He still isn't great on the leash-he does try to eat stuff and smell things, and occasionally will just suddenly stop, refusing to walk (usually this is only when it's hot/humid). I keep a tight leash, with him very close to my body- a very quick tug & some excited praise will get him going again. If this doesn't work, I'll let him relax for a bit, then give some more excited encouragement and actually start jogging. Even if I drag him for a few steps, he does start following and catches up to me (he kinda has no choice lol). Good luck!
when i first got my pembroke welsh corgi he would make me drag him around the block when i first got him . believe me it will stop now he runs me up the block! they are just lazy and want to be held ! he is still young!
Not sure if it's too late to reply to this thread.. but i have the same problem too, so i need some help. Bandit would walk, stop, sniff around, eat some grass, lay down for a while, jump around to bite the leash, tug it.. and then he would go. A 10 min walk takes us about 30 because he does this routne every few feet. Granted, he's only 12 weeks old, so he has lots of growing up to do. All i am doing right now is to stop when he pulls and praise when he follows me. Will he ever get out of this phase??

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