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Permalink Reply by Cindi on March 8, 2009 at 8:02pm

Some dogs just don't like the feel of the collar, especially if they are pullers on a walk. Did the harness cause him to walk better, or is he pulling more with the harness? I'm curious.

As for walking...if he walks well on a harness, by all means use one! I'm a Gentle Leader fan. It works great at teaching dogs to not pull. I've used it on each of our dogs and they all walk very well on a leash. And if Dale yelps like he's in pain, get it looked it.

Good luck in class!

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Permalink Reply by Kelly on March 9, 2009 at 11:24am

How old is he? Gibson freaked out when I tried to walk him on a leash until he was 11 weeks old, which was about a week before he started obedience class. He would get these "crazy eyes" and get really straight and pull back as hard as he could and sometimes barrel roll trying to get the leash off. The class helped him a ton and he then started walking normally. A lot of times it is a confidence thing. Gibson just did not want to leave our yard, he was afraid, but as he grew more confident he started enjoying going to new places and exploring!

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Permalink Reply by Monica on March 9, 2009 at 11:43am

Dale is 11 weeks old. I’ve tried leaving the collar and leash around the house and he does ok walking around with it. He also does ok if I follow him around the house/yard holding the leash, letting him lead. It is when I try to get him to go where I want to go when the trouble starts. He throws a tantrum and yelps when I try to get him walking. I thought it was just that he was really stubborn, but the obedience instructor said that she has never seen a dog do that…I am going to mention it to the vet when he goes for his next round of puppy shots, just in case. I’m not sure if he is really in pain, or he is just being a bit of a drama queen.

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Permalink Reply by Kelly on March 9, 2009 at 12:13pm

Gibson was the same way. I actually resorted to picking him up and carrying him the first block or so so he would be away from our yard and then he would start walking. I really think it is just a age/confidence thing! :)

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Permalink Reply by Sam on March 9, 2009 at 2:08pm

Try rewarding him with treats whenever he follows you instead of tugging on him or even bating him with treats. A LOT of obedience instructors do not know how to teach a corgi as most books that are specifically about corgis will mention. Use the fact that they are chow hounds to your favor and you'll find that you are almost instantly rewarded.

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Permalink Reply by Apartment #15 on March 9, 2009 at 9:36pm

Ruby HATED walking on a leash. It got to the point where she'd just lay down and stretch out, refusing to budge. I tried a harness but that didn't get her going. I tried just a regular collar and leash but she flat out refused. I used treats. I begged. I even bought a feathery cat toy for her to chase but then she'd forget to go pee or poo.

Eventually, I got up the nerve to try one of those scary pinch collars, the ones with the teeth looking things. OMG. After a few weeks of this we are trotting along and she's fantastic on leash now. I've tried going back to a traditional collar and leash but this stubborn Corgi just does her usual move and lays down. I think though, after a few more months of training, we'll be able to use just a plain old leash and collar. Ruby is six months old and we just got her walking like this. Your puppy looks so young, he's probably just in full revolt rather than in pain. I'd just keep coaxing and hold some tasty treat over his head so he's motivated. Also, if you have a friend with a dog who walks really well on leash, walk with them. Ruby learned how to walk on leash from her Golden Retriever friend Willie. She loves trotting next to him and walking became a fun game:)

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Permalink Reply by Wendt Worth Corgi's on March 10, 2009 at 1:04am

I first put a collar on and let them get use to it before hooking leashes to it. Before hooking a leash I've already started working on coaxing them to me and to follow through play and noises to attract curiosity. By the time I hook a leash onto them they are getting the idea to follow me. There will be moments where they will want to go another way or go out and around that the leash doesn't allow. I try to coax by kneeling down..making noises..baiting while I tug the leash ever so gently to release it immediately. If they fight it and start flopping around or pulling I just stand there and let them figure it out. I don't pull back or give in. They have to learn to give to that pressure. They will catch on very quickly. Once they calm down congratulate them and try again. Before you know it..they will be walking and getting the idea of it. All of my dogs have done extremely well w/in 1-3 times. I don't work on it for a long time...once they get it then we go for walks. As I'm walking the first couple of times i will allow investigation and side changing but after that I just walk and if they lag when the leash tugs they will come...once they get to stay w/me but keep switching sides then I work on staying to one side. Don't walk slowly once they are getting the hang of it..this causes for investigating..walk at a good pace for the size of your pup constantly encouraging and coaxing if needed. Congratulate periodically and even stop to reward.

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Permalink Reply by mosesbotbol on March 10, 2009 at 7:49am

We tried the harness on Camber and initially I thought it was better as she wasn't choking, but it made it harder to walk as she'd pull more. Just out of nowhere, she got it and walks fine with a regular collar.

When we first got her (she was around 6), she had never been on a leash! I'd drag her in our yard, she'd be on her back getting pulled across the lawn! So sad, and my girlfriend took Camber to a park, and Camber was a good girl and the rest is history.

I'd put Dale's crying to as an act. Bring plenty of treats and just start walking with him. Take him to a place not near the house to start off.

Eventually he'll see walking along is a lot easier than fighting it.

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Permalink Reply by Corgibyassociation on March 12, 2009 at 10:50am

I got Freya at 6 and half weeks old. She got a collar that night and wore it home. I only take it off for bath time and occasionally just cause. She's been on collar and leash from get go--and when I woke up in the middle of the night, she was leashed and we would go outside so she could potty and I took her on a quick walk in hopes it would get the pee or poop out of her system faster.

She's been really good about the leash--she watches her brother excited and she get's excited though she's never entirely sure as to why she should be excited. Our problem is how hard she pulls, even at 4 months, and she does this cause she wants to be near her brother even if it means she's practically choking herself with her martingale.

I suppose treating her and praising helped a lot in her walking. But also, I picked Freya cause she was the only one out of the liter to come and investigate the shaking of the keys and walked off. The others couldn't figure out how to get away on their own. So maybe it's the lack of confidence that's the problem.

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