Dog Refusing To Go To The Dog Park

[fainty_girl]

Jessie, my stumpy tail cattle dog X (who is nearly 5 years old) has recently started refusing to go out with me to the dog park.

Jessie has always been reluctant to leave the house when my mum is around, because she is extremely close to my mum and is protective of her (follows her around 24/7). But now she is refusing to come along to the dog park, regardless of whether my mum is home or not. At first she acts like she wants to go, then when I tell her to get in the car, she goes back to the front door of the house and wants to go inside again.

I normally take the dogs out 1-2 times a day...perhaps Jessie is just a bit overwhelmed with Tilly, because Tilly is always excited about going anywhere, but i'm not sure.

My parents have both been taking her out for me without Tilly (for walks on the lead, or a play at the park) and she is happy to go with them, so she is still getting out of the house, but not as much as she usually does with me. She normally enjoys going to the dog park too.

Should I put Jessie on the lead and walk her to the car, so she does not have the option of wanting to go back to our house again? Or should I just leave her at home and let her get her exercised by my parents.

It seems rather strange for a dog to not want to go out, especially Jessie's breed!

[poodlefan]

Are you sure its the dog park that Jessie doesn't want to go to or the car that she doesn't want to get into?

Is she reluctant to get into the car all the time?

[persephone]

Ok... how recently?

Is she otherwise happy and doing everything she normally does?

Can she sit/jump/twist/turn/walk up steps happily?

Does the other dog carry on and overwhelm her in the car?

has she had any run-ins at the dog park? or encounters with unfriendly people?

Will she happily walk around the block with YOU instead?

If she doesn't want to go to the dog park... why don't you just walk her on lead?

[Kavik]

Are you sure she isn't sore?

ETA: just thought of something else. Have there been any disruptions in the house? Renovations, workmen over, work happening on nearby houses that is loud etc? When I lived at home and my parents were renovating the kitchen, Zoe went really strange and didn't want to leave the house, and she is usually keen to go anywhere!

Edited April 14, 2009 by Kavik

[fainty_girl]

Are you sure its the dog park that Jessie doesn't want to go to or the car that she doesn't want to get into?

Is she reluctant to get into the car all the time?

She has never been reluctant to go in the car before. She has always loved going in the car.

Ok... how recently?

Is she otherwise happy and doing everything she normally does?

Can she sit/jump/twist/turn/walk up steps happily?

Does the other dog carry on and overwhelm her in the car?

has she had any run-ins at the dog park? or encounters with unfriendly people?

Will she happily walk around the block with YOU instead?

If she doesn't want to go to the dog park... why don't you just walk her on lead?

I suppose for about the past 2 weeks or so at most.

Yes she can sit, jump, etc happily. About 6 months ago she was showing some signs of arthritis in her leg, but after going on glucosamine and losing some weight, she hasn't limped since.

When Tilly knows we are going out she gets excited and happily runs around the yard a few times. She calms down when she gets in the car though. Jessie is a much quieter dog than Tilly though, so this could be bothering her. They have been happily going out to the park every day for the past 5 months though. Perhaps I should try putting Jessie in the car first, then bring Tilly out afterwards.

I will have to try walking her around the block on the lead instead. I just try to avoid taking Jessie out separately, leaving Tilly at home unless Tilly is tired and has someone there to distract her, otherwise she wants to come along too.

Are you sure she isn't sore?

ETA: just thought of something else. Have there been any disruptions in the house? Renovations, workmen over, work happening on nearby houses that is loud etc? When I lived at home and my parents were renovating the kitchen, Zoe went really strange and didn't want to leave the house, and she is usually keen to go anywhere!

She hasn't shown any signs of being sore anywhere. On the weekend she went to the dog park with both of my parents and apparently she ran really well.

Yes we have been renovating, but nothing major - just some decking being installed by a family member who Jessie is very familiar with.

Edited April 14, 2009 by fainty_girl

[fainty_girl]

Ok I just took the dogs out a short time ago...I put Tilly in the backyard while I put a lead on Jess and then walked her out to the car and she got in with no problem.

Then I brought Tilly out and put her in the car too.

Jessie did a few protesting type barks for the very short car ride and then played happily at the park with Tilly. I guess getting in the car the same time with an excited Kelpie X wasn't Jessie's idea of fun.