My dog is frightened of the lead

The problem

My new rescue is terrified of the lead and won't let me put it on.  She is like a bucking bronco when it is attached. Many new rescues have never worn a collar and lead before and are absolutely terrified.   Worse still, some have been tied up or dragged along on chains,  so they have a really bad association with anything around their neck. 

Getting a collar on and lead attached

Because some of our dogs have a negative association with a collar or lead, the first challenge is to be able to put the collar/harness/lead on. This may take some time depending on the level of fear. For some dogs its hours, for some days, and for some it is weeks. Here’s how:

1) get some high value treats and only get them out when the lead is in sight and only give the treat when the collar/lead/harness is in view. When the lead goes out of sight, so does the reward. They need to make a positive association that when the lead comes out, good things happen.

2) don't attempt to put the collar/harness/lead on straight away, just gradually move it closer and reward each positive interaction with it. 

3) touch the lead against the body and reward, but still don't attempt to clip it on

4) clip on but don't hold onto the end, reward. 

5) reward each time you touch the lead, but don't restrain or hold onto the lead

6) unclip the lead and reward.

7) repeat until there is no fear of the lead being clipped on.

Getting used to the lead

When my foster dog, Millie arrived home with me, she was like a bucking bronco on the lead and absolutely terrified. I knew there was no chance of putting a lead on her collar and we would need to get her a well fitted harness that she couldn't back out of.

We worked on the lead anxiety over a few days this week. Here’s how:

1) first get used to wearing a harness

2) attach a 5 meter line but don’t hold it - practice walking up and down in the garden with lots of treats, make sure it doesn't get tangled and cause a scare

3) walking up and down the garden with all 5 meters keeping it nice and loose - lots of praise and reward

4) gradually shorten the lead but keep it nice and loose

5) gradually start to walk to other places with lots of praise, keeping lead nice and slack, be happy to turn around or change direction if necessary, but don't drag her if she wont come and try not to let her pull