She's Driving Me Mad! Won't Walk When We're Out!

[Kyra]

Alright, I've held off from posting this because I know she's only little and might not seem like a big deal to most people but I'm at my wits end!

MY PUP HATES WALKING!!

As soon as I get the harness and lead out, she runs. Upon catching her, she puts up a fight while I'm trying to put it on. Once we get out the door, she sits down and won't move. After a tug on the lead she starts walking, only to stop for god knows how long as soon as she sees another person on the foot path - which you generally do, everyday. After they've passed, it's another battle to get her to walk again! and same goes, as soon as someone else walks by, she stops! she watches them, nothing else, just sits there and watches them until they move on. If i try and drag her along, she makes us both look absolutely pathetic, so that soon came to a stop.

What can I do?? I've been practising lead walking since the day she came home, she's fine at home but when we're out, the problems start! someone please give me some ideas, it's driving me nuts. :shakehead:

[TerraNik]

Alright, I've held off from posting this because I know she's only little and might not seem like a big deal to most people but I'm at my wits end!

MY PUP HATES WALKING!!

As soon as I get the harness and lead out, she runs. Upon catching her, she puts up a fight while I'm trying to put it on. Once we get out the door, she sits down and won't move. After a tug on the lead she starts walking, only to stop for god knows how long as soon as she sees another person on the foot path - which you generally do, everyday. After they've passed, it's another battle to get her to walk again! and same goes, as soon as someone else walks by, she stops! she watches them, nothing else, just sits there and watches them until they move on. If i try and drag her along, she makes us both look absolutely pathetic, so that soon came to a stop.

What can I do?? I've been practising lead walking since the day she came home, she's fine at home but when we're out, the problems start! someone please give me some ideas, it's driving me nuts. :shakehead:

I don't think I can help you Kyra! We had the OPPOSITE problem! Wouldn't walk at home, but as soon as Jedi went outside I couldn't stop him!!!!

Have you tried treating her or luring her into a walk with treats? Or taking her to a park just to play with her favourite toy while her lead/harness is attached? I don't know if any of these would work?!?

[belznp]

Hi,we have the same problem.I have posted the problem on here before.

Would love a solution because I think it will be lovely to go for a nice walk with our Puppy!

Judith

[persephone]

Any reason you're using a harness?

A harness can feel very restricting to some dogs... maybe try her on a flat collar, and see if there is a difference?

Have you tried only feeding her once she has her harness/collar ON?

That may well make her see them in a different light... when I have THIS on.. I get something yummy

has she seen many people before?

Maybe she would benefit from being carried around your area a couple of times.. walking briskly past people..so she sees/smells the area, and gets used to the fact that people are everywhere

[Kyra]

I use a harness because she absolutely HATES a lead attached to a collar. And I feel I have more control of her in a harness where as she might be able to pull out of her collar if she tried hard enough.

She's been carried around the neighbourhood a few times. She's been socialised with quite a few people, friends/family and such. And no I haven't tried feeding her when it's on, I'll give it a go.

[Wobbly]

She's only a baby, maybe her pads are a bit tender still? If you're walking on concrete it might hurt - check her pads out.

She'll need some really big positive associations with walking. Maybe put a lead on in a really fun place like a beach or a big grassy park with lots of things to sniff, and let her take the iniative in what to sniff for a bit, and lead you around where she wants to go so she learns walking is full of fun interesting stuff.

Edited June 2, 2008 by Wobbly

[ruthless]

Angel used to refuse point blank to walk. She wasn't a puppy though, she was about 2 when we got her so it may not be the same. She was a stray and we figured out she's terrified of traffic. Maybe she was hit by a car or thrown from a car. Who knows. She loved going to Centennial Park [not many cars and 30kph speed limit] but hated leaving our house on Anzac Parade [v busy road]. She's a little better since we moved house, but walking towards the busy road she walks way behind the rest of us.

Have you tried walking her somewhere quiet?

[persephone]

she absolutely HATES a lead attached to a collar

and she makes the rules???

I can appreciate you worrying about the slipping of the collar.. but what about those limited-slip ones? I use one on one of my boys.It is terrific!!

good for you in doing the socialising bit!

[Kyra]

Aww what a shame.. poor girl.

Yep we have walked her in a quiet place, the local lake, it is very quiet during the day, no traffic around and hardly any people.

Haha no, she doesn't make the rules but it's more of a fight trying to get her going on collar and lead than harness and lead. And limited slip collars? never heard of them where can you find them?

[DeltaCharlie]

I would try putting the lead for every meal. You want her to associate the lead with really good things. Start off allowing her to drag it behind her to the food bowl then progress to actually holding it and walk with her to the bowl.

If it were me I wouldn't be going past the front door for quite a while. Put the harness and lead on and go and sit in the front yard (or front step if need be) and just play some games with her. Make going out the front door the most fun thing in the world to do without actually pushing her too far out of her comfort zone. Wait until she is really comfortable with going out before you go further, then progress to the footpath, the neighbours tree, etc.

[TerraNik]

Haha no, she doesn't make the rules but it's more of a fight trying to get her going on collar and lead than harness and lead. And limited slip collars? never heard of them where can you find them?

You could try a martingale collar? People use them on keeshonds a lot because they have small heads compared to their neck, so they slip out of their collars easily!!!

http://www.absolutelygolden.com/Products/C...mier_collar.htm

[persephone]

http://www.windchill.com.au/collars.htm#Limited

Like a martingale .. tightens..but not a 'choke' collar

[Jigsaw]

As Delta Charlie said just try being out the front door. Make it a positive thing, lots of treats and praise. Some dogs just want to observe the world first before joining in. The martingale/limited slip collar is very good, very hard to slip out of (although mine managed once!). She loathes a harness and will brush up against walls trying to push it off. The world is a scary place to a pup or a dog that hasn't been out much.

[Lillie]

Alright, I've held off from posting this because I know she's only little and might not seem like a big deal to most people but I'm at my wits end! :rolleyes:

MY PUP HATES WALKING!!

As soon as I get the harness and lead out, she runs. Upon catching her, she puts up a fight while I'm trying to put it on. Once we get out the door, she sits down and won't move. After a tug on the lead she starts walking, only to stop for god knows how long as soon as she sees another person on the foot path - which you generally do, everyday. After they've passed, it's another battle to get her to walk again! and same goes, as soon as someone else walks by, she stops! she watches them, nothing else, just sits there and watches them until they move on. If i try and drag her along, she makes us both look absolutely pathetic, so that soon came to a stop.

What can I do?? I've been practising lead walking since the day she came home, she's fine at home but when we're out, the problems start! someone please give me some ideas, it's driving me nuts. :shakehead:

You must be getting frustrated. Have you tried keeping some treats in a bum bag? Leave the zip open a little so she can smell it while you are puting on her harness( it should keep her occupied till you are done). As for the walking maybe lett her sniff a treat and toss it a metre up the road, for her to chase it. make a game of it . then slowly reduce the amount you toss to every ten steps then 20 steps and so on. Hope this helps.

[Gayle.]

Just be patient, she is only a baby, and make everything about collar, lead and walks lots of fun. Very positive, gentle coaxing, let her have the lead on without you holding it. And as soon as you feel yourself getting frustrated, remove the lead and put it away.

Even if you try not to show it, she'll pick up on your frustration and will associate it with having a lead on and going for a walk.

She doesn't *need* to go for a walk just yet, she's still too little to be walking far so keep the sessions with collar and lead short but frequent and lots of quiet, gentle fun with positive rewards each step of the way.

Edited June 3, 2008 by GayleK

[Miss Helena]

Looks like you've already gotten some excellent advice above....I just wanted to share my experience:

When I first had Bonnie I had a similar problem. She was 10mo and hadn't had much socialisation. I gradually introduced her to the harness etc and she was quickly fine with it and with following me around the house/yard on leash. No problems there....

However, when I took her walking around my suburb, she would freeze at any little noise or the sight of a person and not want to move. She seemed overwhelmed at the big wide world. When she was moving forward she would constantly look behind her for the "boogieman"!! She seemed terrified and it didn't do my nerves much good either - I found myself looking around too at times for "stalkers"!! It did get wearing and I found myself pulling her along a few times.

Anyways, it took ages but she gradually improved. I found the things that helped were:

- Ignoring any fearful behaviour and praising when she looked a bit more confident.

- Let her take her time to look and sum things up before moving on.

- Walking with another person/dog - this seemed to increase Bonnie's confidence. I think my energy changed too, as I was more focussed on the

other company, rather than on how sucky Bonnie was being :-)

- Gently persist, take it slowly and don't expect overnight miracles - I think they pick up on our "vibe" and if you are stressed she will detect that.

I suppose on the bright side, at least she isn't charging at everyone/other dogs she sees and barking madly, that would be worse IMO.

Bonnie is now a bit over 2 and loves her walks!! She never stops now and walks really nicely and briskly (I went for a walk on Sunday with a friend whose back was playing up - he struggled to keep up!). She does still occasionally get a bit of a fright if something sudden or loud happens, but that's okay. She even gave a couple of barks for the first time out recently!