Potty breaks on walks start with comfort with a leash
Dear Cathy,
We recently adopted a 1-yearold greyhound with vision problems and slight weakness on her right side. She is a great girl. Watching her play, you would never know she is handicapped.
One problem we have, however, is that she won’t go potty on a lead. We take long walks and short walks, but she never goes. We want to travel with our dogs, but that will not be possible if we can’t get her to go on lead.
The foster who had her for three months said she would come in from a long walk and “go” in the house, so they would just put her in the yard before coming inside. Can you give us some ideas on how to train her to go on lead?
Dear Rosie and Brian,
It sounds like she is a little afraid of the leash even if she doesn’t outwardly show it. First, teach her to “sit” using a clicker or reward word, like “Bingo,” followed by a treat. This will lay a basis for the training.
Second, introduce her to her leash by putting a treat in your
hand and then the leash in the same hand. Encourage her to lean in and sniff the treat. Do not give her the treat from your hand. Instead, say the reward word and give her a different treat so she knows you approve of her checking out the leash.
Reward every positive interaction she has with the leash.
After she appears nonchalant or comfortable around the leash, put the leash on her collar and supervise her while she wears it around the house. Whenever you see her ignore the leash, say your reward word and give her a treat. The idea is to get her used to the leash so she won’t think about it when
she is outside.
Next, take her outside on the lead when she is most likely to have a full bladder, like after she wakes, after she eats, after she plays and just before bedtime. Do not walk her. Instead, take her to a part of the yard where she has urinated before and stand there and wait.
When she finally relieves herself while on the leash, say
the reward word and give her a treat. Once you reward her a few times, she will understand what you want.
At this point, train her to relieve herself on cue with a phrase like “go potty.” Say the phrase at the moment she relieves herself and then say the reward word and give her a treat.
If you think she might be fearful of having someone close
to her while she relieves herself, start with a long retractable lead and work backward to the shorter leash. Keep me posted on her progress.