RussBrown72

We have a 13 week old dog who is great walking in dry conditions but as soon as puddles appear he pulls back on the lead and as soon as you apply and pressure to the lead he sounds horrendous with his howls and whins. Which is quite embarrassing at times as people assume you are being cruel but infact its the pup just not wanting to move. Has anyone got any good tips or had a similar sort of response in the past to walking in wet weather? Thanks

LottesMama

Charlotte is over a year now and wont go outside (unless forced) when it is raining. She doesn't mind snow or puddles on the ground but if water is falling from the sky she digs her huge paws in and refuses to move an inch. I had to carry her from the car to the front door the other day because she wouldnt get out in the drizzle.

SophieB

How far are you walking a 13-week old puppy because from what I understand, we are not to walk pups very much until they are older to give their joints time to strengthen (knit together etc). Ours aren't too keen on wet walking yet they'll walk in the sea by our beach!

When mine were young, I used to drive them to the local park and only walk them for a few minutes at a time, at their speed and I would often sit on a seat with pups beside me and let them meet other dogs, to help get them socialised, and I didn't take them on what I call 'proper' walks until they were about 10 months old when they were nice and strong.

Tuesday

Maybe you can create some sort of positive association to the rain/puddles. Give an extra special kind of treat that wouldn't otherwise be given when outside. Have some patience, it will get better. Have fun with the puppy stage.

Mikey T

not necessarily but it certainly won't get better if the dog associate a leach correction with a puddle . THe first thing is to associate wet weather not puddles with something better and out of the ordinary with special treat etc but at the same time allow the dog to avoid standing water by waking around puddles or on absorbant surface like turf where puddles do not form If and when it step in a puddle or even approaches one reward witrh a jackpot multiple treat. create a positive experience approach a puddle and the dog will move close and close as you up the criteria for the big reward.

Keep in mind it appear the vast majority of basset do not like standing water/swimming etc

western blot

I normally do not recommend a prong collar for puppies that are this age. Your case requires a prong collar. On your walks, let the pup determine how hard his corrections are by holding the leash and letting him pull into the collar. You do not need to jerk him when he is walking, his pulling will result in a self correction. He will quickly learn that it is not fun to pull into a prong collar. This is why I like to call a prong collar "Power Steering for Dogs." If they are used properly, they are a godsend.
One of the things to keep in mind is "do not use the HEEL command" during this process. We are not trying to train the dog to HEEL, we are trying to teach him to not pull us down the street on our stomach. So use the SLOW command. This just means slow down. He does not have to walk by your side, he just needs to stop pulling. So as he begins to pull, you simply say SLOW in a normal firm voice (not mad).
The car chasing is a different matter. This needs to be stopped. You can try a few sessions with a self correction, just before the dog chases, give PHOOIE command or a NO! If this does not eliminate the behavior, then you need to give the PHOOIE command and enough of a jerk to make the pup yelp but not cower for 2 blocks. This is a life and death learning experience for our dogs, they must learn that cars are to be left alone. If it involves humane corrections, then so be it. The key is to correct to the point of a yelp and not to the point of a screaming cowering dog. Always remember to praise the pup right after a correction. This shows the dog that you do not hold and grudge and that you have forgiven him for screwing up.
If you can not find a prong collar locally, we sell them here at Leerburg.

Matthewop

i think he should have some time to walk himself.. he must grow!

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I'm baffled as to why so many people recommend the leerburg site as a resource if this is the sort of advice they give out.

First of all, the problems you are "solving" weren't even mentioned in any of the posts, much less the original one. Car chasing?

Secondly, while I don't have a problem with a properly used prong collar, to use one on a 13 week old Basset is absolutely ridiculous. Bassets are not Shepherds and don't think like Shepherds, and trying to train them the same will give less than optimal results (not that I would use a prong on a 13 week Shepherd either).

Correcting a puppy for not wanting to walk through a puddle? Sheesh!

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