My new dog sits down and won't walk on his leash. What can I do?

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Zuko. This is completely normal behavior for a puppy his age. It takes young dogs several weeks if not a month or two to become accustomed to a harness and leash. Keep practicing with him, but do not become discouraged if he is uninterested. He will eventually figure it out. You can start by just trying the harness and not attaching the leash in the house. You can also try outside in a grassy area with both attached. Throw a ball or toy and see if that encourages him to walk. Good luck!

If your new addition is otherwise feeling well (eating well, interacting and playing with you) she may be a shy puppy and/or adjusting to her new home. Some puppies are more confident than others and it can take some time for them to figure out their place in the new house. If you got her from a breeder you could certainly contact the breeder to ask about her personality previously with her littermates. The breeder will likely know if she was one of the more timid puppies. As most dogs are food motivated using treats can be really helpful. Or if she has particular toys she loves these can be used as well. Basically it's important to make her home a positive and not scary environment for her right now. For example if you get her to leave the house on her own show her praise and give her treats so that she knows this was a good behavior. It can take some time for some puppies to develop confidence. The other really important thing for puppies is a consistent routine as far as when they are fed, when they go outside, etc. Dogs are very smart and will learn a routine quickly and gain confidence in it. The other option is that she may not be feeling very well and that may be why she's reluctant to do some activities. It would not be normal for a puppy to just want to sleep all the time as they should have more energy then an adult dog. This would be even more concerning if you feel like she is not eating well. If any of these seem to be the issue, or just to ease your mind that what you're seeing at home is normal, then having her checked out by your family veterinarian would be a good idea. I hope this helps and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

Buddy probably just needs a little time to get used to his new surroundings. Don't try too many different things at once. Let him get comfortable with you and your routine; then you can gradually include him in your activities. I would recommend a good obedience training school, where he can learn to walk on a leash in the company of strange dogs and people. This should build his confidence. If you feel that you are continuing to have problems, you can click on the prompt ro start a consult, where we can discuss it at length. Good luck with your new puppy!

This type of behavior can be really frustrating! If you aren't already doing so, try walking Kiba on a harness and leash rather than a collar and leash so you aren't needing to pull on his neck. If he is willing to walk for a treat, try teaching him a "watch me" command so that he learns to keep his eyes on you and will follow your lead. In the beginning, reward him with a small high value (small piece of low-sodium deli meat, chicken, etc.) treat every time he looks at you and walks with you on a leash. Once he starts responding to the commands, stop giving treats every time he listens and begin only rewarding intermittently. Hope this helps!

Congratulations on your new dog Hazel. New situations can be very stressful and it sounds like she may have not had a lot of training or exposure in her previous home. Find treats that she really seems to like. You may need to experiment around with different ones. Once you find the treats, reward her for approaching you with a treat. Reward her for sitting next to you or any other healthy activity that involves her being interested in you. This will quickly form a positive association. You will not always need to reward this behavior but for right now, it’s important. To train her to use a leash, hook it to her collar and allow her to drag it around. She will eventually move and get use to the weight. Then start to pick up the leash and slowly follow her as well as encourage her to walk with you. The key is to use high value treats, talk softly, keep things positive and be patient. I hope this is helpful and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Patience and time and lots of loving and treats will help him grow to trust you. Since he's worried on walks, I would keep them short for now, carry treats or a favorite toy with you and when he follows you or comes when you call, even just one step, reward him and give him lots of praise. Find out what he likes to play with, teach him tricks or little tasks, take him for rides with you, whatever he seems to like, do that. As an adult dog in a new situation, it can be overwhelming. Make sure he gets plenty of exercise, play fetch or get him involved in dog agility of some other social activity to help boost his confidence when he's ready.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Kodi. At only eight weeks of age, most puppies have no idea how to walk on a leash. It is a skill that takes time and practice to learn. Her behavior sounds every normal for her age. Ar this age, you can begin teaching her basic commands such as "sit" and "down". Continue to expose her to leash walks, but it will most likely take a month for her to start grasping the concept. Good luck!