[Miracle1986]

My husband and I have a dog named Sugar.
She is Spitz-mix.
We adopted her from a shelter like 4 months or so ago.
The shelter they picked her up as a stray.
And now... we are contemplating taking her back.

This dog is terrified of the leash.
We put the leash on her, and start walking, she PLANTS her paws in the ground and will not move,
and if we try to tug on it (just gentlely...just not hard enough to hurt her) she will pull back against
us and yelp bloody murder like we are choking her to death... I ain't never heard a dog yelp like her before!!!!!!
She actually makes me want to cry when she does it.

We have tried using a harass instead, she acts the same way.
And because she acts this way, we can't take her anywhere, and we are pretty active people.
Out and about a lot. A dog needs to be able to travel with us.
And Sugar simply can't without being on a leash. (Isn't it illegal for dogs to be unleashed in public?)

Last night, my husband, came up with a compromise "if she does good off the leash this next two days, we can keep her."
because she does fine when we take her "outside potty" without a leash, but I don't know about being actually out in public.
Is that a good compromise or no? Should we still get rid of her?

I can't deal with this.... we started talking about our opinions yesterday morning, and I cried all day yesterday,
and I have cried off and on today.

[TheDeliciousDish]

Oh dear... It sounds like she's been abused a little bit. I'm guessing she might have had a previous owner who abused her somehow with the leash (maybe pulled too hard, I don't know). Try bringing out treats with the leash to show her it's okay. Maybe get lots of small treats, and walk ahead of her, giving her a treat every few feet to show her that the leash is not a bad thing.

Being off a leash isn't *always* illegal (might vary by state, I don't know), but you'd need to make sure that she wouldn't just run away if you let her loose. I'm pretty sure the leash law applies to places like parks, but I could be wrong.

Hope this helps, and I hope you get to keep your puppy, since it sounds like you love her a lot

*Hugs* and good luck!

~TheDeliciousDish

[Kiya]

yeah.. and time.... let her know how much you love her. hold the leash in your lap when sitting and let her get to know it.... let her walk with you for a bit and pretend about the leash - like hold it next to her. show it to her. walk with her with it trailing along the ground... so she gets used to it and sees it moving as a part of her even tho it isn't actually on her. best!!!

[gimmeice]

((((((((((( manda )))))))))))))

I agree with kiya it sounds like your puppy needs some time to adjust to the leash. You may even try getting her outside without the leash and then put it on her somewhere that you are able to sit with her until she is ready to move. The more you pull, even though you aren't pulling hard the less likely she is to tolerate the leash. Try to be patient with yourself and the puppy, Rome wasn't built in a day and puppies take a while to train.

[Broken65]

Manda86 I read your post about Sugar. Coming from someone who is introducing a new 4th dog into my home who has been abused I understand your struggle and pain and I’m so sorry But I truly believe Sugar can be helped with lots of love she needs to know the leash is a positive thing giver treats when you put it on don’t force her to walk with it don’t nudge her just let her be with it on and play with her give her kisses and talk to her and re assure her it is ok it sound like maybe she had a really bad experience with the leash you CAN turn this around but it will take a lot of LOVE from you both don’t give up on her it sound like you have bonded with her no need to cause you or her the pain of separation it can work she needs the same attention and love we do I bet one day she will be there for you as you have her she is a special dog and very ,very luck to have a good home.. You might try taking her to a dog park if you live by one I have done this with my new one. I truly wish you the best of Luck I say don’t give up on her it will pay off.

[katheryn]

why not contact the shelter explain whats happening and do they have any advice

[silver_queen]

Yeah I think you need to help your dog re-associate the lead with more pleasant things. Like somebody else has said, it does look like your dog has been mistrated with the lead. Actually it is, in my opinion, not a very serious problem: at least your dog isn't showing any aggression. Could you ask your vet for any advice? Or maybe search online for teaching abused dogs new behaviour? If your dog is fine and fits into your family otherwise, I wouldn't consider giving her up because of her fear of the lead. It is humans who have made her scared of the lead, it isn't her fault. Hopefully with kindness and understanding you will be able to help her learn that nowadays it isn't to be feared but that happy events occur when she is on it.

[Broken65]

Manda86 I read your post about Sugar. Coming from someone who is introducing a new 4th dog into my home who has been abused I understand your struggle and pain and I’m so sorry But I truly believe Sugar can be helped with lots of love she needs to know the leash is a positive thing giver treats when you put it on don’t force her to walk with it don’t nudge her just let her be with it on and play with her give her kisses and talk to her and re assure her it is ok it sound like maybe she had a really bad experience with the leash you CAN turn this around but it will take a lot of LOVE from you both don’t give up on her it sound like you have bonded with her no need to cause you or her the pain of separation it can work she needs the same attention and love we do I bet one day she will be there for you as you have her she is a special dog and very ,very luck to have a good home.. You might try taking her to a dog park if you live by one I have done this with my new one. I truly wish you the best of Luck I say don’t give up on her it will pay off.

[Einna]

Try putting a little treat by the leash - just roll the leash up or make it as small as possible and put a treat near it - start as far away as you need to and then each day, set the treat a little closer till you get the treat on it. I don't know if it'll work, but it's worth a try. We have a dog (a rescue) who was scared of men... except for my husband. We ended up hiring someone to come in since our dog wouldn't have survived obedience school. Any way, the trainer had us dice up a hot dog to keep in the fridge to pull out whenever any of our male friends would come over. We'd dash to the fridge and grab some bits to have our friend(s) stand in the doorway to give her goodies. We kept it up until she got used to the fact that not all men are ogres.
Just thought maybe it might be a way of getting Sugar used to the leash. I suspect whoever had her before used a leash to punish her and that's why she's terrified of it.
Another thing to try, and it'll sound corny, but maybe braid a leash out of many strands of yarn with her watching?
I applaud you for adopting a rescue!
,
Einna

[Rosie7]

That's so sad. Given patience and understanding that pup may learn to be okay with the leash. There are some dog training behavior modification techniques that were used in making Disney films and I can't remember the name of the book but I know they have some pretty good ways to change an animals view of things. Good luck. I love my doggie. I'd hate to have to make that decision.

[Co(ping)Dependent]

Manda86

i'm so sorry to hear of your troubles with sugar. Looks like you've already received tons of great advice, i'll just say give it time and have lots of patience. In the end WHEN you succeed it will be soooo worth it.

all the best

[ECHOES]

Your vet might have some ideas for you. The poor puppy is just scared. I hope you don't have to take her back.

[Miracle1986]

I just don't know how we can train her...
since she is a full grown dog. (approx. 1-2 yrs.)
It'd be easier if she was a puppy...

[Einna]

At this time I wouldn't worry about training her, just love her up lots - the training can come later.
Einna

[Miracle1986]

Originally Posted by Einna

At this time I wouldn't worry about training her, just love her up lots - the training can come later.
Einna

but I am paranoid she is gonna run off when I take her out to go potty or whatever.

[Einna]

Do you have a fenced in yard? How 'bout trying something like this - when you let her out... go outside with her, but before you do, take some treats out with you when you go out with her. When she goes potty, praise her lots and give her a little treat. Step inside the doorway and call for her - as soon as she gets in and the door is shut, praise her lots and give her another little treat. Love her up lots. Just remember some of this may take time like someone else said earlier - but it really is worth it. Stick with it and heap lots of love on her.
Einna

[Miracle1986]

Originally Posted by Einna

Do you have a fenced in yard?

no... we live in an apartment complex.

[Einna]

I know this is going to sound pretty silly, but maybe try a string? You've had her for 4 months thus far, right? Maybe if she can't feel the weight of a leash? Someone suggested asking your vet - that may do the trick.
Einna