Help My Rot Wont Walk On A Leash

[jpq]

I have a 3 month old rottweiler that i have had since she was 8 weeks old. When she was 11 weeks old i started taking her out for short walks only 5 to 10 minuts. My problem is ive been at it for about 2 weeks and she will walk on the leash in directions she wants to go wich is usually left then right then left and so on kinda a zing zag pattern back and forth across the street. The only way i can get her to walk down the block is by draging her wich i dont like to do beacuse the choker then stays locked around her neck for too long. I know i need to get het to a puppy class and then on to obedience training but how could i even make it in the class if she wont walk on a leash. She wont respond to small tugs on the choker. So what im asking is how can i get her to go whear i want to go when we go on a walk.

[RottiMomCT]

First, take the choke collar off of her and put a regular nylon or buckle collar on her. Let her drag the leash around inside the house and while you supervise her so it doesn't strangle her if it gets caught.

Don't expect perfect walking out of her until you have both been to classes and she LEARNS how to walk on a leash without pulling. For now, just go with her pace and call her to you with yummy treats and praise her when she comes to you.

Unless she's had all of her vaccinations (the last of which should be at 12 weeks), she should not be out and about as who knows what kind of unhealthy stuff she could catch...

Have fun and don't expect perfection unless you've trained her for it....if you don't train her she'll never learn.

[Rott-Wiley]

Yes, you do need to get her into a class yesterday.

[Judi W]

Because you waited (yeah, I believe in getting the leash on those little buggers really early when they want to be under or attached to your feet anyway), you need to make it worth while for the pup.

A couple of suggestions - one have some tasty treats in your pocket and give the pup one each time it turns to follow you.
Second, get a long line rather than the 6 foot leash. When the pup is going in one direction and you chose the other, make big noises of running away from the pup and calling it to follow you. Two things happen this way - one, the pup's natural inclination to chase and two, the pup's concern that you are leaving it. You want that line to be loose. A 30 foot tracking line is excellent for this.

Also, go someplace that is safely fenced (a schoolyard works well). With the pup dragging the leash, drop the leash and watch to see what the pup does. When it gets very involved in sniffing or wandering away from you and not paying any attention to you, go hide. Stay hidden until you see that the pup notices your absence and then until it becomes a bit worried. Then you can call the pup and it will have to learn to locate you. If it has too much trouble (dogs do not naturally know how to locate the source of sound), you can peek out and call some more. When the pup finally locates you and comes running you should make a big deal out of it with lots of praise.