Issues with hubby(not me, our Ruby)

[Ruby Ann]

Here I am again. Our rescue if almost 3 months Ruby won’t allow my husband to put her lead on, even just over her head. She used to until he struggled one night to unclip from her collar and that was it. She growls and backs away towards me. I put it on and off she pops with him. Generally they are getting on a lot better on the whole. He has tried holding it using treats when she looks and gets near then the barking starts. He’s unsure whether just to carry on and ignore the barking. Anyone any thoughts

 

[Jan Woodhall]

I guess, the honest answer would be - without seeing what is going on exactly i.e. eye contact, areas of body/emotional tension, and when exactly they occur and to what , it is going to be very difficult for anyone to answer your question. You will get some very good broad based ideas and some information, but perhaps a video might help someone to answer your question more fully? I have masses of difficulties with my pup Robin, but slowly and surely we are overcoming things, I am sure you will too!

 

[JoanneF]

I wouldn't ignore the barking, she is trying to communicate that she is uncomfortable and you don't want her to have to escalate that to a more forceful message.

What about trying a harness? It might be different enough. And maybe have a strong loop on the harness and clip the lead on to that, to create a bit of distance between Ruby and the lead? Like this? Black Diamond - 12mm Dynex Dogbone

Also, could the actual sound of the clip be a problem?

 

[Tinytom]

Have you tried a slip lead he can just pop over her head ...

 

[JudyN]

If you try a slip lead, rather than him popping it over her head, maybe he could teach her o put her head through it, by holding it in a loop and holding a treat just the other side. Only once she sees the loop and automatically sticks her head through it (treated as new 'clever trick') should he progress to picking up the other end and leading her by it.

Is she 100% happy for you to put the lead on and go for walks? What if you put the lead on and hubby then leads her? What if hubby pets her round the neck, gently holds the collar loop etc., when he isn't holding the lead? If she has anxieties about hubby in general I'd work on this before worrying too much about the lead aspect.

 

[Hemlock]

I train them to put their slip leads on as well, but the trick is to let them put their head through a really large loop, reward, then take the lead off again. Rinse and repeat a few (2 or 3) times a day in the home as a separate exercise.

It's worth remembering that rescue dogs have usually had a lot of unpleasant things done to them which started off with a lead being put on, so they often have to be desensitised to this.

 

[merlina]

Our corgi x is exactly the same. I used to put the lead whenever possible- all good advice above too. The other thing is to attach a larger ring to the collar. Our corg was so head shy at first he wore a cheap metal bottle opener on his collar which was much easier/quicker to snap the lead on. He did clink around the house like Marley's Ghost but it gradually de-sensitised him. And yes a number of people asked : Does he have a drink problem? So hilarious- they thought.

 

[Buddy1]

And yes a number of people asked : Does he have a drink problem? So hilarious- they thought.

I apologise @merlina, but that did make me laugh

 

[merlina]

 

[Ruby Ann]

I train them to put their slip leads on as well, but the trick is to let them put their head through a really large loop, reward, then take the lead off again. Rinse and repeat a few (2 or 3) times a day in the home as a separate exercise.

It's worth remembering that rescue dogs have usually had a lot of unpleasant things done to them which started off with a lead being put on, so they often have to be desensitised to this.

Thank you I’ll give this a try