Leash Training

mtbazz · Puppy Joined: 20 Sep 2008 Posts: 37

Hi all

I just brought home an 8 week old weimaraner puppy, and have a question on leash training.

One of the first things I did was to buy her a buckle type collar, and a 6 foot long nylon leash. For the first ew hours I just let her run around the yard with both on (me following and keeping a watchful eye naturally).

I than started walking (not dragging, but I make it clear that I am in control) her around the yard with about half the length of the leash in my control so that she would stay by my side. She is actually doing pretty good. Id say that 75% of the time on leash she walks next to me. 25% of the time she refuses to budge, and either bites the leash or tries to run in the other direction. I dont force her, I just let her get it out of her system. After a minnute or two of this she resumes the walk again.

Is this a correct approach?

Also, in the mornings she really does not want to walk except to go potty. She just wants to do her business and than come back inside. Could this be because it is getting cold here and the grass is dewy?

I am also crate training her. She is actually doing well. When she cries I let her go until she stops, than wait a couple of minutes and take her out to potty. If she doesnt go after 5 minutes, I bring her back in.
Is that correct?

She really only does seem to cry if she does need to potty. Her schedule seems to be once every 90minutes to two hours. Is that all that she can control her bladder for at this age?

Thanks....

DukesMom · Posted: Sun Sep 21, 2008 9:20 am Post subject:

Congrats on your new puppy! It sounds like you are doing things right! With the leash you should just be getting her used to it at this point and gradually start walking. Like you are doing (around the house and such). Coax her to walk beside you rather than pulling her.
With the crate training you are doing great. They should be able to hold their bladder for about an hour per one month of their age. So a 2 month about puppy should be able to wait 2 hours, a 3 month old 3 hours etc. When I first got my pups I took them out about every hour the first few days and gradually built up from there.
Good luck! I'm so glad you're started out right from the very beginning. You and your pup will be much happier if there are clear rules from the start.

PamK · Posted: Sun Sep 21, 2008 9:29 am Post subject:

Congrats on the new puppy.

It sounds like you are doing great. I wish I knew all that when I first got my boy.

Allyson · Posted: Sun Sep 21, 2008 2:52 pm Post subject:

Congrats on the good head start, but watch your leash. Nylon does not hold up well to Weimaraner teeth! Wink

singsmom · Posted: Sat Sep 27, 2008 6:03 pm Post subject:

When I was training my first weim puppy, my trainer suggested a leather leash and I really like it. I also got a nice hands free non-leather leash recently so that I could run with my bigger dog and you can tether a puppy to you in the house while potty training. I had trouble with pulling on the collar as my puppy got older and I tried the gentle leader and it worked ok, but the gentle leader harness is terrific. They can't pull, but it doesn't hurt them, it only turns them back to you.