My 6 m.old dachshund is hiding when it is time to go outside.

Each time we - my boyfriend or me - dress to go out for any reason -
she is jumping under the couch just in case - to avoid being harnessed.

Nothing helps to break the negative attitude. No treats or toys.

She is very active and brave with other dogs in the park so I don't
think she is afraid of being outside.

We tried 2 harnesses and 3 collars and it is the same to her so I don't
think it is the matter of comfort.

I thought that may be I am pulling her too much on the leash. But I am
really careful and try not to force her at all. So we end up always
doing what she wants when we are walking her.

When I actually catch her and put harness on her - I feel like
betraying her. I keep talking nicely and praising her but you can say
by the way she looks - she is not happy. That unhappy face is gone the
moment she steps away from home.

I think it may have something to do with the fact that the first time
she was wearing a collar - it was for her first vet visit.

Also I am more inclined thinking that it is protest, not the fear.
I thought if I will keep her harnessed inside - this should go away but
my boyfriend thinks that this would just delay the solution of the
problem.
He thinks we need to change her from and to harness more often during
the day so that she will get used to it. She did not get used to it in
6 months so I don't think she will unless we do something different. I
need to know how to make her want to come and let me harness her.

From reading this forum I can expect you to say that all problems are
caused by mishandling. I understand it myself but I wish I could know
what exactly am I doing wrong.

On 11 Jan 2005 07:32:43 -0800, wrote:

My 6 m.old dachshund is hiding when it is time to go outside.

Each time we - my boyfriend or me - dress to go out for any reason -
she is jumping under the couch just in case - to avoid being harnessed.

Nothing helps to break the negative attitude. No treats or toys.

She is very active and brave with other dogs in the park so I don't
think she is afraid of being outside.

We tried 2 harnesses and 3 collars and it is the same to her so I don't
think it is the matter of comfort.

I thought that may be I am pulling her too much on the leash. But I am
really careful and try not to force her at all. So we end up always
doing what she wants when we are walking her.

When I actually catch her and put harness on her - I feel like
betraying her. I keep talking nicely and praising her but you can say
by the way she looks - she is not happy. That unhappy face is gone the
moment she steps away from home.

Do you mean that she is still wearing the harness when she steps away from
home, but it doesn't bother her?


I think it may have something to do with the fact that the first time
she was wearing a collar - it was for her first vet visit.

That could make sense. Do you take her to the vet in the car, so when she
goes out of the house but not to the car, she knows it is just a walk?


Margaret

She stops while walking and chews on the harness but she is in general
happy walking.
We usually walk to the vet - so she probably thinks it can happen every
day.
But she does not mind going to the vet anymore - even wanted to stay
last time and play with other dogs.

On 11 Jan 2005 07:32:43 -0800, wrote:

/snip/

When I actually catch her and put harness on her - I feel like
betraying her. I keep talking nicely and praising her but you can say
by the way she looks - she is not happy. That unhappy face is gone the
moment she steps away from home.

/snip/

Also I am more inclined thinking that it is protest, not the fear.
I thought if I will keep her harnessed inside - this should go away but
my boyfriend thinks that this would just delay the solution of the
problem.


I don't know about a harness inside constantly, but what about a soft
collar? Many people keep a collar on their dogs at all times, just in case
they were to run outside. Or in an emergency, some disaster damaging the
house, it would be good for her to be wearing ID with your cell phone
number.

My feeling is like yours -- that if a comfortable collar is left on, she may
get used to it, and this will be less stressful than your boyfriend's
approach.


Margaret
----------

wrote in message
oups.com...
She stops while walking and chews on the harness but she is in general
happy walking.
We usually walk to the vet - so she probably thinks it can happen every
day.
But she does not mind going to the vet anymore - even wanted to stay
last time and play with other dogs.

Well, in your earlier post, you said your puppy hasn't gotten "used to it"
after 6 months. Blows my theory all to hell! I just moved from the country
to the city. My doggy is not used to wearing anything - well, a collar
every now and then. Since we've moved to the city, I've been trying to get
him "used to" a harness --- never mind the leash. He cows down as soon as
he sees the harness - then, we go outside and he runs under the house and
won't come out until I start up the engine in my car and he thinks we're
going someplace. In order for me to get him to take care of his business,
I've had to take his harness off and let him run into the woods naked. So,
he's training me? Yes, I want to know what's the best way to acquaint the
fella' with a harness because a leash is next.

Carol

"SerafinaDllRose" wrote:
Well, in your earlier post, you said your puppy hasn't gotten "used to it"
after 6 months. Blows my theory all to hell! I just moved from the country
to the city. My doggy is not used to wearing anything - well, a collar
every now and then. Since we've moved to the city, I've been trying to get
him "used to" a harness --- never mind the leash. He cows down as soon as
he sees the harness - then, we go outside and he runs under the house and
won't come out until I start up the engine in my car and he thinks we're
going someplace. In order for me to get him to take care of his business,
I've had to take his harness off and let him run into the woods naked. So,
he's training me? Yes, I want to know what's the best way to acquaint the
fella' with a harness because a leash is next.

If he doesn't mind a collar, why not go straight to the leash instead of
getting him used to two new pieces of equipment?

I have a student with this same problem. You have to break it down into itty
bitty steps, the goal being for him to change his association that leash = bad
to leash = good.

Take out the leash and put in on the floor next to him. Then get out his
favorite treats, that he doesn't get any other time, praise him and feed him.
Then put the leash away, and the praise and treats also disappear. Do this for
20-30 seconds as many times a day as it takes until the leash on the floor
produces excitement instead of wariness.

Then clip the leash to his collar, but still just place it on the floor next to
him. Rinse and repeat until the clip onto the collar produces excitement.

Next step, pick the leash up. Next step, require him to take a step. Etc. Go
at his pace, never moving forward until you have a 100% positive reaction to
the last step.

Chances are it will not be as long and drawn out a process as this sounds. At
first it may take a lot of repetitions, but normally each successive step moves
along more quickly.

---
Family Dog Trainer
"It's A Dog's Life"
http://hometown.aol.com/dfrntdrums/m...age/index.html
Get Healthy, Build Your Immune System, Lose Weight
http://www.re-vita.net/dfrntdrums

Take out the leash and put in on the floor next to him. Then get out his
favorite treats, that he doesn't get any other time, praise him and feed
him.
Then put the leash away, and the praise and treats also disappear. Do
this for
20-30 seconds as many times a day as it takes until the leash on the floor
produces excitement instead of wariness.

Then clip the leash to his collar, but still just place it on the floor
next to
him. Rinse and repeat until the clip onto the collar produces excitement.

Next step, pick the leash up. Next step, require him to take a step.
Etc. Go
at his pace, never moving forward until you have a 100% positive reaction
to
the last step.

Leah:

Appreciate the step-by-step instructions. I have realized that I tried to
introduce way too much change into Snoopy's life in a very short period of
time. I am taking it much slower now and will put your direction into
practice - makes sense to me. For the last 3 weeks, though, I haven't
messed with a leash at all and he wears a collar occassionally --- I'm just
letting him get used to the new place. I realize, now, that was enough
stimuli all by itself. Every day that we take a walk he ventures a little
further away from the house, investigating every piece of grass and perking
up his ears to each little sound - going at his own pace seems like words of
wisdom to me. Thanks!

Carol