How young is TOO young?

[scottielover]

Okay, as you already know, I have a 19 week old Scottish Terrier puppy. It seems that the more I work with her, the faster we are NOT learning....

I'm trying to take one step at a time and right now the big issue is walking on the leash. If we are coming back toward the house, she does GREAT....but....going away is another story. She gets distracted SO EASY....bugs....itty bitty bugs....if there is a bug, she IS going to find it, track it, and eat it if I let her....
If she is not tracking bugs, then she is determined to carry her leash herself. I guess she thinks she can do it better.... She does not do the tug of war thing, she only carries it in her mouth..... Most of the time she lags behind and I don't want to drag her.....I try to give tugs, from the side, and I get so discouraged.

Now I "know" that Scotties have a reputation for being stubborn, and she "is" young, so am I expecting too much???

Thanks for your help,
Marti

[MissDolittle]

No, she is not too young, but she is discovering the big world. Are you sitting
her down before you put the leash on her, make sure she is calm before
you leave the house (in front of her)?

Here is what I would do:

I'd go with her every day at the same time. I'd sit her down and make sure
she is calm before I even put the leash on her. If she gets excited I will keep
her in a sitting position and give her the stare in the eyes until she looks away.

Once she is calm and has the leash on her, I open the door and leave first.

I'd go with her for ten minutes and then find a place where I would allow her
to chase bugs and play and discover and sniff around. I'd give her 10-15
minutes for that.

Then I repeat the sitting and calming her down before I continue walking
with her.

If she takes the leash in her mouth, again, sit her down and sshhht her
and claim the leash back. Each time she does something you don't want
her to do, repeat it. It takes time and patience for sure.

Are you praising her when she is doing the right thing while walking? If so,
that's not a good idea. Her mother wouldn't praise her either for
sticking around and not wandering off playing.

How long and how often do you walk her?

The praise will be when you get back home and you feed her and then
give her affection.

[scottielover]

I can see that right now, and yes, I think I'm talking too much....LOL...

Actually, we live on a small farm so we do have lots of places to walk. Our walks could be longer... We walk in the morning before it gets too hot (Texas, ya know!) and in the evenings for about thirty minutes. Sometimes she just freezes up on me....and of course, I think "oh, she must be tired"......

I'll try the calm advice you have given....

I'll let you know how that works..

Thanks...

[MissDolittle]

I hear you on the heat! I live 80 miles west of Dallas..105 today.