My 4 month old Maltese puppy loved to walk on a leash until a few weeks ago when he suddenly refused to walk more than a few feet at a time when we were walking away from my apartment. If it has no medical condition, you should follow these recommendations to correct and resume the walk. So, if you’re the owner of a new puppy or an older dog and they are refusing to walk on a dog leash, it can be frustrating and concerning. When we walk away from home she resists, she'll walk but I have to pull her. I want my dog to stop barking at everything. I often wind up picking him up and carrying him, but even that freaks him out. About two months ago, I got a puppy. On a good day, she'll walk the usual short loop around the neighborhood paths, but usually refuses … You’re using new puppy gear. She is used to both her coller and leash. I hope that your future includes many happy walks together! You also don’t want to acknowledge your puppy’s resistance with coddling, or you’ll create a … Training your puppy to not run away from home is important for several reasons. I have a three month old female beagle. Perhaps he doesn’t like to leave anyone behind, or is just more playful in a larger group. After about 50 yards he will just lie down and refuse to walk if it leads away from our property. Articles Index Beauregard the French Bulldog makes it clear that now is not the time to walk home. When your puppy will walk with you in the house, try the backyard before moving to the sidewalk. The problem with her is that she doesn't want to walk outside our house. If you’ve never put a leash on your pup before, or you’re using a new harness or collar, there’s a good chance your puppy just doesn’t know how to move in the equipment you’ve put on them, says certified professional dog trainer Nicole Ellis.. “Often a dog in a new harness or collar will freeze unsure he’s able to move,” she explains. If your dog refuses to walk, it may be due to a medical issue, lack of leash training, too much exercise, or fear, which may require desensitization and counter-conditioning. Encourage him to go a short distance (even a few houses down the block), then return. No treats or affirming will change his mind. Your dog should associate walking with positive things, therefore always carry with you a bag of treats and a toy.A very effective way to make your dog walk is to motivate it by showing it the toy.Show it to your pet and take small steps forward to force your dog to stand and walk. If they’re still off the lead at the dog park and you’re trying to leash up and go home. Coming home. Wandering off can be a death sentence to a puppy on his own. About 50% of the time, I notice puppies and dogs refuse to move forward due to fear. He’s learned that by putting on the brakes, and that if he refuses that he gets to stay out longer, and it buys him time, even though the end result is inevitable. Hilarious! Visit a veterinarian to help with serious issues, or allow the dog to heal before resuming leash training. Dog Grooming Index This happens because a puppy or dog is scared of whatever he is approaching at the time. Many dogs, especially puppies, are more enthusiastic walkers when the route is taking them to a familiar place instead of away from that familiar place. Facebook Page You want a collar that is a good fit. Puppy won't walk away from home on leash? They could be afraid of being in a new place. Before you start worrying about any dog training or behavioral issues, get him checked by a vet. Expectations. A gradual reluctance to walk over time could mean that your dog is developing a pain point, so make an appointment with your vet to discuss … Puppies who refuse to walk away from home may be fearful of their environment. Teach “Let’s Go” by saying it just before your dog is about to walk anyway. We have taken to driving to a nearby park to walk her. All Content Copyright © 2006-2020 by Anton Hout, Australian-Shepherd-Lovers.com. Dog Training Videos Free Newsletter NAS/Mini Breeders Dir. My kelpie and I walk 3-5mi a day. Usually, their bodies are lying backwards away from whatever is frightening them. So number two on our list of why your dog suddenly refuses to walk where going to take a look at why your dog might stop mid-walk. Simply click here to return to Australian Shepherd Q & A. If you have stopped trying to walk your puppy or dog because its does the ‘flop’ or digs in and refuses to ‘budge’ I do have good news for you… Because dogs live in the moment it is easier to change a dog's 'bad habits' than it is a human's. If your pooch occasionally turns a walk down, don’t force it. When your dog does move, click and toss a treat in the direction you want to walk. Ask him to stay, then release with “Okay!” and see if he bounds forward. Many puppies freeze up a little when they wear a leash and collar because they’re not used to them. Use Verbal Commands. I have tried various tips that people have recommended including trying to force him by pulling up on his harness (not an option for me), coaxing him, following other dogs. Australian Shepherd Art. As soon as we turn around to walk home, he is a new dog and is perfect. How? (Pushing him may cause him to be fearful, which is definitely not the goal.). Reward by tossing the treat in the direction you want to walk. Puppy-size pups need puppy-size leashes and collars; for very small puppies, a cat leash may be the best option. Begin by walking around the inside environment using something to motivate the puppy, something that gets him excited. Sometimes, a dog's resistance to walks relates to equipment. What's New? Harnesses are easier to fit and don’t go around the neck in a way that could potentially cause harm. by Will Guide To Australian Shepherd Training & Care, Join in and write your own page! She is the author of six books about canine training and behavior, including her most recent, Treat Everyone Like a Dog: How a Dog Trainer’s World View Can Improve Your Life, Copyright © 1997-2020 The Bark, Inc. Dog Is My Co-Pilot® is a registered trademark of The Bark, Inc. What do I do when my puppy won’t walk outside? Both of these are perfectly normal, developmentally appropriate behaviors. From dog training issues to dog health issues, a pet owner’s mind can run the gauntlet when their dog refuses to walk … And she had much longer legs than a mini. Alternatively, they could get into a fight with another pet or a wild animal. If it’s too big, it will slip over your puppy’s head. Equipment. However, when going away from our house she doesn't want to walk. I want my dog to listen and come every time I call! I have a 13 week old flat-coated retriever who wont walk with me away from the house. We have tried treats, changes in leads/harness, etc, but she is very stubborn and heads for home at the sight of other dogs or people. And again, make sure you rule out any pain related problems such as arthritis, age or illness. Breeders—Get Listed Here It's easy to do. Puppies are genetically programmed to stay close to home/litter. She seems fearful of wandering too far from home and wants to get back to the house as quickly as possible. Sniffing and exploration is also great for building confidence. What can I do to get him going à deux? If it does, it may translate to greater willingness to walk when it’s just the two of you. Then slowly bring the puppy out into the yard, and eventually outside of it. After about 50 yards he will just lie down and refuse to walk if it leads away from our property. He is 90% house broken, sleeps 8 hours at night and after a week at home and he already knows the command “sit”. Let your dog have their downtime if that’s what they want. Dear Bark: Why doesn’t my puppy like walks? If I drive to a park or a new place and walk with him he heels very nicely, if I carry him to the end of the street then walk with him he starts pulling to get to the house. #2 – Stopping Mid-Walk. You should at least be happy that they love it there so much. The most important thing I can recommend is that you be very patient. Many dogs require and enjoy daily strolls with their owners. (Don’t try this if he dislikes riding in the car.). So most likely his impulls will be to follow you as soon as you are out of sight. You'll also notice that when he gains a bit more independence and experience, he'll still likely run toward home when you head back. Her behavior seems very anxious, almost like she is having a panic attack. Agree 100%. Of course, the puppy won't be able to do that but he refuses to walk on a leash for more than five steps. Medical Reasons. Tho Sled dogs advice is spot on, I'm jusy adding a few little tweaks/tricks to your bag, of out thinking puppy. Tell Us About Your Aussie Health Issues Index Help him get accustomed to the walking gear by putting it on him inside the house. It’s not at all unusual for puppies to resist going on walks. How? However, he doesn’t enjoy going on walks around the neighborhood. Karen B. London, Ph.D. is a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist and Certified Professional Dog Trainer who specializes in working with dogs with serious behavioral issues, including aggression. Join in and write your own page! via GIPHY. Breeds and Behavior: How Closely Are They Linked? Puppies For Sale While they may not be a satisfying for you, short, pressure-free walks will go a long way toward making him a more willing walker. Expectations. Don’t bring out a treat to lure your dog forward, as that rewards your dog’s stopping behavior. Still developing and finding their personality, puppies may not be comfortable outside of their home. Do this periodically, varying the location, direction and distance so you don’t end up with a dog who’s only interested in going one way. Some dogs find walks a bit intimidating, perhaps because everything is new. Most puppy's hate it when they can't see you. He just sits down and refuses to budge. There’s nothing wrong with missing a walk or two during the week. Karen writes the animal column for the Arizona Daily Sun and is an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Northern Arizona University. Cataract: Keeping Puppy Dog Eyes Clear and Bright, How to Help With Separation Anxiety in Dogs. If you have relatives or friends with a dog that is more comfortable or experienced with the process of walking, you can bring him in to teach the puppy. Make the walk manageable by setting reasonable expectations. Practising walking with your puppy, and talking obedience or puppy preschool classes are great ways of encouraging them. I don't think the leash is the problem because the moment we start to go back home she walks immediately. They are afraid to wander too far away from home. It obviously is not laziness or fear — he just has a strong urge to be near our property, As he grows, we look forward to walking a lot with him but his instinct to not leave the property may put a kink in our plans.WillMW, Boston. Many puppies’ walking skills improve with short, positive experiences; walks that are too long or too fast can overwhelm them. Dog Training Index If this issue seems to pop up only when it is time to go home from the dog park or out for a walk in the rain, your pup might be trying to tell you he doesn’t want to go! My 5-year old rescue Aussie also refuses to walk more than a block from our home. That your puppy is more enthusiastic when the whole family is together leads me to think that he’s pretty social. These actions reward his resistance. While most dogs get more enthusiastic about them as they get older, there are 7 things you can do when your puppy doesn't want to walk to help your puppy get moving. He loves to play inside the house, and to sit in front of our house. When I turn around to go back home halfway through our walk, she walks right besides me, sometimes runs with ease. Take a very very long leash and walk away from him when he lays down. One issue we are having is that when we walk with him down our country road, he refuses to walk away from the direction of the house. Many dogs are very enthusiastic to move at the end of a stay. Training & Care Ebook, Deal Alerts, Coupons If this is the case, you might see your pup lay down, or run away from you. You wake up at 7 am on a Saturday, jump into your clothes and head to the back door to take your dog for a walk. He will sit down every 5 seconds until we are about half way round and then he will trot home happily! Agility Training Index, NEW  Dog Product Reviews  NEW  Aussie Clubs, Template Design by Cre8ve Online  |  Mega Menu by Gerry Davis. Play or do a little bit of training with yummy treats while he’s suited up. Just wait. when teaching lead near/outside home, if your puppy is reluctant to LEAVE home, carry a few metres AWAY from home, and encourage lead work TOWARDS home ie if you want to go home, we'll go home together, wearing your collar and lead. Don’t push the pace—let him amble as slowly as he likes. Nothing happened to scare or hurt him and offering treats does not help. As soon as we turn to go back to my apartment he runs all the way home. Make the walk manageable by setting reasonable expectations. If this works with him, you can use the technique a couple of times on a walk (but not too often, or it may stop being effective). They may just rather a home day, especially if you have an older dog whose joints and muscles aren’t what they used to be. However, if we try a walk from home he’s like a different dog. Beauregard the French Bulldog makes it clear that now is not the time to walk home. 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