[nshotwell]

My mom is giving me my dog that is about 10 years old and this dog is very well behaved. I want to train her to walk on a leash but she does not like leashes. How would you recommend me to do this ?

Nshotwell

[twinkiedooter]

Start by just hooking the leash on her collar and have it drag behind for awhile. This should preferably be one of those real long, long leashes. Then after a few days of dragging behind, just pick up the end and keep holding it letting the rest of the leash drag. Each day make the leash "shorter" until she gets used to the leash. She won't even notice.

[labman]

First you need to establish you are in charge. Dogs see all the people and dogs in the household as a pack with each having their own rank in the pack and a top dog. Life is much easier if the 2 legged pack members outrank the 4 legged ones. You can learn to play the role of top dog by reading some books or going to a good obedience class. A good obedience class or book is about you being top dog, not about rewarding standard commands with a treat. Start at http://www.dogsbestfriend.com/ For more on being top dog, see http://www.dogbreedinfo.com./topdogrules.htm

Walking on leash is fundamental to obedience work. I would start much the same as with a puppy. 10 is getting sort of old for some dogs, so I would be quite patient and gentle with my corrections. If she won't move on leash, running by a puppy calling ''Go, go, go!'' in a happy, excited voice gets them moving, and should her too.

Start with a good 6' leather
leash and a sturdy slip collar, the metal chain ones with the rings on each
end. You want the shortest one that will go on and off easily. If you walk
with the dog on the left, pull the chain through one loop forming a "P".
Facing it, slip it over its head. The free end should come over the neck to the leash, and the other end should drop slack when there is no pull on the leash.

Easier dogs will give up their pulling with a few good snaps of the leash
combined with a stern "Bad dog!". You can work up to forceful corrections
with the leash doubled up in both hands and your whole body behind it. But
you don't want to use any more force than you need. One gentle technique I
like is to just stop when he pulls. He wants to go. If you move forward when
the leash is slack, and stop when he pulls, he should quickly figure out the
only way to get to go, is not to pull. This is about teaching him not to
pull, not getting somewhere. The man that taught it to me said "If in a half
hour you haven't made it out to the front walk, fine, you have taught him a
lesson. Pulling the dog backwards is a good technique too

Still, you may want to switch to a head collar. The leading brands are Promise, Haltie, and Gentle Leader. They have a strap going around the dogs nose looking something like a muzzle. They work by pulling the dogs head around. No other way gives you such great control with so little force. The prong collar is now a
dangerous relic of value only for its macho looks. Do not consider using one
without hands on instruction from somebody with plenty of experience with them.

[JudyKayTee]

Start by just hooking the leash on her collar and have it drag behind for awhile. This should preferably be one of those real long, long leashes. Then after a few days of dragging behind, just pick up the end and keep holding it letting the rest of the leash drag. Each day make the leash "shorter" until she gets used to the leash. She won't even notice.

Assuming she doesn't hang herself on the trailing leash in the meantime - I thought this worked with a short leash so the dog doesn't get tangled up and become ever more fearful - ?

[ellarocks]

Just put out treats and such!

[twinkiedooter]

Contrary to what you say, I used the long leash with great success as I was not in any area to have the dog get tangled up as I kept the animal moving. I would not go on sidewalk areas but stay in a fenced in yard to do this training.

[labman]

Assuming she doesn't hang herself on the trailing leash in the meantime - I thought this worked with a short leash so the dog doesn't get tangled up and become ever more fearful - ?

In fact they do make a special short leash with no handle called a drag line meant for getting a dog used to a leash. Even with the shorter one, it is still important to keep a close eye on the dog in case the it tangles on something.

It is just so much easier to start with a 7 week old and do things right. Some times we can't do that. I am very glad nshotwell gave the 11 year old dog a home and is trying to teach it.