Challenging Times!!

[Helen Ruth Wilson]

Hi everyone I am Helen the owner of a 12 week old Welsh Border Collie (although I feel he owns me!!)

Ellis (the dog) is very good in lots of ways, but he will not go out for a walk. He sits down and refuses to budge!! I have tried treats to entice him, but he is not interested.

I have him booked in for puppy classes, but not for another 4 weeks and I am starting to feel like a prisoner in my own home!! I can leave him in his cage for short periods, so can go for short walks myself - but that defeats the object of me getting Ellis.

Any advice, help, support, counselling )) would be greatly received!!

 

[JoanneF]

At 12 weeks old, the outside world is a big scary place but there are a few things you can try.

First, if he wants to turn for home, just let him. That will show you are listening to him and respecting his worrying, which in turn will build his trust in you not to put him in scary situations. And that will develop his confidence, so he will be more keen to go further. While you are doing that, I suggest you don't think of it as ”a walk” but just as a training exercise.

You could also sit on your doorstep and let him get used to sights and sounds, or take him places in the car and just watch. Or, if he isn't too big, carry him tucked into your jacket or in a sling so he can observe from a safe place.

 

[Helen Ruth Wilson]

At 12 weeks old, the outside world is a big scary place but there are a few things you can try.

First, if he wants to turn for home, just let him. That will show you are listening to him and respecting his worrying, which in turn will build his trust in you not to put him in scary situations. And that will develop his confidence, so he will be more keen to go further. While you are doing that, I suggest you don't think of it as ”a walk” but just as a training exercise.

You could also sit on your doorstep and let him get used to sights and sounds, or take him places in the car and just watch. Or, if he isn't too big, carry him tucked into your jacket or in a sling so he can observe from a safe place.

Joanne thanks so much!!!

 

[Inka]

When I first get my pups I teach them collar and lead acceptance in home/garden so they already know how to accept the weight/feel of a collar and trailing lead...which is very useful as you can let the lead trail , step on it to gain control and gently pull them towards you as you call their name or say come, you can walk for a few steps holding the lead so they get well used to it before dropping the lead and telling them 'free'..so lots of new commands can be learned using this and learning it where they feel most comfortable...... and I carry them when walking from day one, tucked into my jacket so they get socialisation of all the new smells, sounds, sights of out in the big world, as they get bigger I have a baby carrier wrap as they are heavy, I sit in the park, look in shop windows, stand and let them see/hear traffic, walk in rural lanes so they see sheep, cows, horses, chickens and ducks in the farm yard....so by the time they are fully vaccinated and can go outside they already know what to expect, they have smelled, heard and seen lots already and also already know how to walk on a lead, so walk are far less stressful for them and me.

BCs are VERY observant, they miss NOTHING so when young can easily be overwhelmed by all the new things he is hearing, seeing , experiencing...so make it easy for yourself and your BC get yourself a cheap secondhand baby carrier, charity shops or gumtree are a good source for less than £5 and get out walking and visiting all the places you want to visit with your BC feeling secure/safe and know you are teaching him and he is taking in everything around him...Oh I am jealous you have a new BC pup...my youngest BC is now 3yrs old

 

[Helen Ruth Wilson]

When I first get my pups I teach them collar and lead acceptance in home/garden so they already know how to accept the weight/feel of a collar and trailing lead...which is very useful as you can let the lead trail , step on it to gain control and gently pull them towards you as you call their name or say come, you can walk for a few steps holding the lead so they get well used to it before dropping the lead and telling them 'free'..so lots of new commands can be learned using this and learning it where they feel most comfortable...... and I carry them when walking from day one, tucked into my jacket so they get socialisation of all the new smells, sounds, sights of out in the big world, as they get bigger I have a baby carrier wrap as they are heavy, I sit in the park, look in shop windows, stand and let them see/hear traffic, walk in rural lanes so they see sheep, cows, horses, chickens and ducks in the farm yard....so by the time they are fully vaccinated and can go outside they already know what to expect, they have smelled, heard and seen lots already and also already know how to walk on a lead, so walk are far less stressful for them and me.

BCs are VERY observant, they miss NOTHING so when young can easily be overwhelmed by all the new things he is hearing, seeing , experiencing...so make it easy for yourself and your BC get yourself a cheap secondhand baby carrier, charity shops or gumtree are a good source for less than £5 and get out walking and visiting all the places you want to visit with your BC feeling secure/safe and know you are teaching him and he is taking in everything around him...Oh I am jealous you have a new BC pup...my youngest BC is now 3yrs old

Inka thank you SO much for your advice I will certainly take this on board.