housebreaking/leash training

Question
Dear Trish:
My family recently purchased a new Pomeranian puppy about two weeks ago.  Her name is Molly.  We believe that she is 4 months old, even though the pet shop owner told us that she is two months old.  
We have had about 4 dogs over a span of 15 years but yet this one seems different from the others.  She is more quiet and calm and seems shy at times.  
My question for you is about housebreaking her.  She sort of has the idea when it comes to going on the paper, however, whenever the leash is attached to her collar she freezes up.  She will not walk on the leash at all. Inside the house or outside.  In fact she will pull away from you whenever you try to pull/coax her towards you.  Furthermore, when she gets outside, she shows no interest in using the bathroom or being outside period.  She doesn't get excited or even sniff around at all.  I will take her outside after meals when I know she should be ready to relieve herself and she will just lay or sit on the ground and look around as if she's being tortured and wants to go back inside. Sometimes she'll just stand there.  I've tried coaxing her with treats, toys, etc.---but nothing has worked.
I am hoping that you have some kind of advice to help with this problem.
Thank you so much for your time.
Sincerely, Leslie

Answer
Buying a puppy from a pet shop is always a bad idea since most shops get thier puppies from puppy mills where babies are produced at a very high rate and only to make money-the welfare of the aniamls and the quality of the puppies is not a concern to people like that.  Having said that I will let you know, also that your puppy probably had virtually NO socializing and was probably not even held much as an infant.  She may be a frightened dog all its life.  All puppies need to be around people and stimualtion at a very young age or they will never get over thier fear response to new envirnments.  You may be able to make a difference in your puppy by TAKING HER EVERYWHERE YOU CAN.  Introduce your puppy to lots of people, carry around treats for strangers to give her, introduce her to all kinds of new envirnments and give lots and lots of praise.  She is still young so I am hoping with the proper socializing you will be able to change her scared view of the world.  
At this age your puppy is still very young and learning about the world around her.  One of the great ways to teach a puppy to walk on a lead (never use collars with Poms-only halters) is to MAKE IT FUN.  Take treats with you and walk backwards facing the puppy, bending way down with the treat out and give her a treat every few steps.  After a short while you will be able to take more steps with fewer treats, then you will be able to walk facing forward and just bait your puuppy every few steps while she is walking well.  Soon she will understand that it is fun to go for walks and before long you won't need treats at all. :)If one kind of treat doesn't work-try others(boiled chicken, chewy cat treats are good, boiled liver, cheese...).
To entice her to explore her world, you can place treats around the ground and let her find them.  It's something to try. *shrug* but I would expect once she gets over being so afraid she may want to check stuff out, more.
The housebreaking may take more time since she is afraid to be outside.  Puppy piddle pads may be your best bet for a while till you conquer her fear of the out doors.  One lesson at a time. :)
Best of luck!
-Trish
Gemini Poms
www.geminipoms.com