"OUTSIDE THE HOUSE?" NO WAY!

[Tararifik]

Angel is 4 months. Every time I try to put a collar and leash on her she just sits there. I have tried to get her to walk with me. Is she to young yet? I also take her out to potty after naps, meals, before and after bedtime and she goes most of the time but I have to literally pick her up and take her outside. I have been trying to get her to walk out herself but as soon as she sees the door she runs the other way. It is very strange. I am affraid she will not train easily because she doesn't go to the door by herself. Have any suggestions?

 

[Tulsa-Dan]

Maggie went through a phase like that at about 3 months old. I thought I had done something wrong and made her afraid of going outside. I was very worried too. But, I found that if I gave her a treat at the top of the stairs, outside of the apartment, she'd come outside without much struggle. She seemed to get over this phase after about 2 or 3 weeks. Sometimes she's still a little stubborn, mainly because I want to go out more often than she does, or if she's tired. But she'll trot right along now without any problem. Every once in a while I'll have to offer a treat to get her lazy bum off the couch, but she comes and once she's outside, I can hardly get her in again DOGS!!!!!

Good luck!

 

[Bob B]

I agree with Dan. Boomer went through the same stage at about the same age, where he seemed to not want to go outside without me carrying him.as he got closer to the door we would say "good boy" and encourage him to walk to the door on his own,treats also helped.Also each time before we went out we would have him sit in the kitchen( or where it is convient for you)for a second so that when he had to go potty he will set in front of the sink so we knew he had to go out to do his business.Hang in there and good luck....

 

[Tararifik]

Well I am relieved. I was feeling that I did something wrong for her not to want to go outside. I will try the treats. Thanks.

 

[LMS]

Max did the same thing. I carried him outside a lot and when he was about 5-6 months I almost had to push him outside to go potty. Max would never bark or let me know when he had to go potty during this time so I would contantly watch to see if he went by the door. I always went outside with him though, if I stayed inside he would just stare back at me and not go potty. Now that he is 11 months old, if I am not paying attention he will walk right up to me and whine and look over at the door. As far as going for walks, it took Max awhile to like to go for walks, he would either drag behind me or sit and look up at me to pick him up. I would say he finally go the hang of it maybe around 6 months, but it was well worth the wait. He is the first dog I can take for a walk with out a leash and heels the whole time. I think all of it is normal though.

 

[Catherine]

harry does the same thing

Our little guy, Harry, is 11 weeks old and he does the same thing. I was attributing it to our cold and snowy weather but it sounds like it might be just normal puppy reticence! He's getting big though - he weighs about 19 pounds now so just this morning I decided that I would try to entice him out the door with a treat and it worked!
I'm really hoping to rid him of his reluctance because my chiropractor asked me this morning if I had children that I was picking up all the time. I replied no - just a 19 pound puppy!

 

[Kim Y]

Oscar went through the same thing. In fact, on his lazy days (although rarely) I still have to employ what I call "the treat train" Grab a treat and hold in front of his nose -- almost touching -- and lead him to the door and outside with the treat saying the command for outside to him. When he follows you out--praise and reward with the treat. The treat train works every time! I rarely have to fire up the treat train now. Choo choo! Onward ho!