Help my dog won't walk!

janie1234

janie1234

Cathlete
I'm sorry, . .I know I keep asking for doggie advice, but I need help. My puppy won't take walks. He sit right in the middle of the road. He started off wanting to take walks but now he just does not want to. He is not acting scared. He thinks everyone is his friend. I'm bummed because I really wanted a running, walking, and hiking partner.
 
Janie: Sorry he's being like this! I'm not sure what's going on, but how old is he? If you started him too young, that might be why. Has he been startled by traffic noise or is there anything else that happened on an earlier walk that might have scared him?

You might want to try just taking him in your back yard and walk in circles and see if he likes that, then give him lots of praise and a treat!

Have you checked his paws? Maybe something hurts or is stuck and that's why he won't walk? You also might want to have the vet check him. There may be something else going on and once it's resolved he'll walk again.

I hope you figure it out!
 
Don't panic! This is a totally solvable problem.

How old is he? And how far have you guys been walking? My dogs still act reluctant if I've been taking longer walks than they would like to take.

Combine things he likes with walks. I have established "cookie places" along all our walking routes. So, we walk for about 10 minutes, and they always get a little treat at a particular location. They know exactly where the cookie places are, and they walk a little faster when we approach one. If he has a toy, that might be good to bring along, too.

Other possible factors: is he too cold or too hot? Does he stop at a particular location? My dogs dig in and refuse to walk if they get overheated, and are sometimes stubborn around other dogs. They also make it clear that they would just as soon sleep until the snow is all gone.

Whatever happens, don't get too impatient. You might have to work with him to make walks fun and enjoyable, but all hard work pays off with dogs.

Take him someplace safe and comfortable and walk back and forth with him on a leash, Set it up so he can't help but succeed - i.e., take him somewhere where you KNOW he will successfully walk with you for a short distance. When he does it, praise the heck out of him and give him a small reward. Repeat for about 10 minutes, then stop. Repeat with longer and longer distances in subsequent training sessions and he'll pick it up. Don't worry! Dogs love walkies! He'll come around!
 
Afreet said:
Don't panic! This is a totally solvable problem.

How old is he? And how far have you guys been walking? My dogs still act reluctant if I've been taking longer walks than they would like to take.

Combine things he likes with walks. I have established "cookie places" along all our walking routes. So, we walk for about 10 minutes, and they always get a little treat at a particular location. They know exactly where the cookie places are, and they walk a little faster when we approach one. If he has a toy, that might be good to bring along, too.

Other possible factors: is he too cold or too hot? Does he stop at a particular location? My dogs dig in and refuse to walk if they get overheated, and are sometimes stubborn around other dogs. They also make it clear that they would just as soon sleep until the snow is all gone.

Whatever happens, don't get too impatient. You might have to work with him to make walks fun and enjoyable, but all hard work pays off with dogs.

Take him someplace safe and comfortable and walk back and forth with him on a leash, Set it up so he can't help but succeed - i.e., take him somewhere where you KNOW he will successfully walk with you for a short distance. When he does it, praise the heck out of him and give him a small reward. Repeat for about 10 minutes, then stop. Repeat with longer and longer distances in subsequent training sessions and he'll pick it up. Don't worry! Dogs love walkies! He'll come around!
Click to expand...

I can't tell you how much this helps! He is only 3 months old. I don't really understand him, . . there are days when he has so much energy he wants to play all the time but with walking, . . .to cover a 1/4 of a mile takes 30 -40 minutes because he stops all the time. I'm trying to be patient. He is a rescue puppy and I know he comes with some emotional scars, . . but my patience is wearing thin. I love your idea of "treat" breaks at certain spots. I'm deffinitely going to try that. I'm also having trouble with mouthing and nipping. Any advice? He has enough chew toys to last him till rapture. I switch them out all the time. Kong yes I have a Kong, . . and rope toys, . . . but I think I'm his favorite chew toy, . . well me and all my clothes. I'm going to need a new wardrobe and NOT because I've lost weight but because my puppy is making swiss cheese out of everything. Please feel free to PM me Afreet, . .or anyone out there. Someone for the life of me please tell me this gets easier. I'm committed to him 100% but I swear this is harder than raising a newborn baby.
 
Janie, I sent you a PM. I'm sure you'll get lots of good advice here. Just keep your training sessions fun, consistent, and positive. Set aside training time and remember - he won't really be all grown up for about a year or so, so he's really in his formative years right now. Be kind and patient and you'll soon forget that there was ever a time when he wasn't your best friend. :D
 
Afreet is correct, dogs are not considered adults until the age of 2 up to 3 years according to Cesar (depending on the breed). Dogs go through a teen stage too.:eek: Some are rebellious, some are not. I don't remember Mercedes as a rebellious teen, but she was always trying to please me. Maximus was around a year- 18 months.:eek: He was such a cute stinker though.:p

For puppy nipping, biting...yelling "ouch" and ignore approach worked for us too.
 
Hi Janie - Has anyone mentioned NILF (Nothing In Life is Free) to you?

It's sort of a method of establishing a position of control with your dog. The name may sound mean, but it's really a great (and really easy IMO) technique that uses lots of rewards. The rescue that we adopted Rascal from highly recommends it. It's great for rambunctious-full-of-themselves teenage dogs.

http://www.pets.ca/articles/article-dog_nilf.htm

For example, once Rascal learned the "sit" command, we'd make him "sit" before all "rewards", i.e. meals, treats, toys, petting, etc. It makes you the source of all good things.

ETA - I like Victoria Stilwell, too.
 
Cynthia - Greta and Afreet DEFINITELY had a rebellious phase. They ate books, forgot how to walk politely on leash, and generally acted like a mob of unruly teenagers.

There was one especially memorable occasion when they were staying with my parents (I was working out of town). My dad had saved a donut from a morning meeting, and when he came home, he placed it in the center of the dining room table. He and my mom went out to dinner, and decided that rather than ordering dessert, they would split the donut. They came home to discover that the dogs had chewed up a spool of expensive silk embroidery thread and had somehow gotten on top of the table and nabbed the donut.

When I came home, I asked how they had behaved. My mom told me they had destroyed her spool of thread, and informed me that it cost about $12.00. Then my dad chimed in, "That's nothing...they ate my DONUT...and it was priceless!"

I still can't figure out how they got up on the table. It seriously should have been impossible.

Gayle - YES. I didn't realize that I was actually doing it, but I do use the NILF method. G&A are terriers, and they have a keen understanding of how to seize and exploit power. If I forget to make them sit before dinner, they immediately begin plotting the end of my reign. My boyfriend is a marshmallow and they walk all over him - so now I'm working on training him to prevent a total Schnauzer takeover.
 
My advice would be enroll in a puppy class asap!!! From what I gather you are a first time dog owner and unless you get the puppy off to the right start you will have lifelong problems with destructive behavior. When I got my first own dog, I did everything wrong that I could possibly do wrong. I would have to drag the dog behind, or later on the dog would take me for a walk :eek:, not really recommended with a big dog.

As others have mentioned, Victoria Stillwell is a great source of information as is Cesar Milan (I know some people don't like him because they think dog training should be all rewards based, I don't agree, I believe it depends on the dog's personality).

As to your current challenge with the dog not walking with you, I find that a lot of times the problems occurs because people don't see themselves as the leader of the dog and instead of taking the leash confidently and start walking with the attitude: "Let's go, you follow ME", they will let the dog take control, stop when the dog stops and level with the dog :eek: Treats are fine and may be helpful but I think 90% will be your attitude. You are putting a roof over your dog's head and food in his bowl, might as well call the shots :p So, keep you head up, straighten your shoulders (don't slouch :D) and start walking, you may be surprised because sometimes that's all it takes. Project in your head what you want the outcome to be. If your dog doesn't follow, give a short pull on the leash and keep walking, repeat if necessary but don't struggle with the dog like a tug-of-war!!! You can make it more enticing for your dog by keeping a treat in your hand. Clicker training is really great as well. One book that I would highly recommend is http://www.amazon.com/Click-Train-Y...=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1265675003&sr=8-1

Congrats on getting that puppy!!! I know you were waiting for a long time!

HTH
 
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Janie...you've received some really great advice from other posters...and you and I have talked about the walking and mouthing, as well. But I wanted to ask...are you crate training the new pup? It was the BEST thing I did with Willoughby...the BEST. I didn't do it with my beloved (and former) dog of 18 years...and it was miserable for him towards the end of his life when he had to be in a crate for short periods (for safety reasons).

You can see another thread posted by BuffyR, who had a dog bite at a party when the dog wasn't crated. I just think there are some times when you will need and want to crate, for their comfort or that of visiting guests...and it seems to be a welcome haven for dogs who have been raised to love their crates. My guy often goes in his crate during the day just to sleep...with the door open.

I have LOTS of info on crate training, as well as some companies that make beautiful crates to look like furniture. If you're interested, just let me know. And as Carola suggested, a good puppy training will change your life...and really bond the two of you. Kiss George for me (It's George, isn't it?)

All the Best!

Jonezie
 
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hiitdogs said:
My advice would be enroll in a puppy class asap!!! From what I gather you are a first time dog owner and unless you get the puppy off to the right start you will have lifelong problems with destructive behavior. When I got my first own dog, I did everything wrong that I could possibly do wrong. I would have to drag the dog behind, or later on the dog would take me for a walk :eek:, not really recommended with a big dog.

As others have mentioned, Victoria Stillwell is a great source of information as is Cesar Milan (I know some people don't like him because they think dog training should be all rewards based, I don't agree, I believe it depends on the dog's personality).

As to your current challenge with the dog not walking with you, I find that a lot of times the problems occurs because people don't see themselves as the leader of the dog and instead of taking the leash confidently and start walking with the attitude: "Let's go, you follow ME", they will let the dog take control, stop when the dog stops and level with the dog :eek: Treats are fine and may be helpful but I think 90% will be your attitude. You are putting a roof over your dog's head and food in his bowl, might as well call the shots :p So, keep you head up, straighten your shoulders (don't slouch :D) and start walking, you may be surprised because sometimes that's all it takes. Project in your head what you want the outcome to be. If your dog doesn't follow, give a short pull on the leash and keep walking, repeat if necessary but don't struggle with the dog like a tug-of-war!!! You can make it more enticing for your dog by keeping a treat in your hand. Clicker training is really great as well. One book that I would highly recommend is http://www.amazon.com/Click-Train-Y...=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1265675003&sr=8-1

Congrats on getting that puppy!!! I know you were waiting for a long time!

HTH
Click to expand...

Thanks so much everyone!! Hi Carola!!!! I was hoping you would chime in on this. I kept thinking about you while on my search for a border collie! It is so funny we ended up with a mutt. I have no idea what on earth he is, . .everyone keeps telling me that he is going to be huge because his feet are mamoth sized.

Right after I read this I took Georgie out for a walk being confident and firm. It took 45 minutes to walk 1/2 a mile. When he would tug I would stop to show him that he was not going anywhere till he followed my rules. Every step I took he would dart off to pull and I would give a short pull on the leash. The little guy is smart but stubborn as an Ox! Towards the end he was getting really frustrated but I held firm he's making progress! At least he hasn't sat in the middle of the road for the past few days. Now we are working on the mouthing and nipping. We took him to the vet today and he reccomended a time out crate, . . .so I just got that and we'll see how it goes. I'm nervous the Dr. was saying that he is alpha and that we are going to have our work cut out for us. He also seems to think Georgie is Akita and lab. Funny about the lab part because he hate rain and baths.

I've grown up with dogs, . my sister had the most unruly pomerainian and corgi. They were the worst behaved dogs ever, . . the pom actually bit me. I promised that I would never be a doggie parent like that. I saw first hand from my sister how not to be a doggie mom.

You are so right I've been on the search for a very long time. I am so grateful for all the advice I've received here. Hopefully George will be jogging along side me soon.
 
Well that sounds like good progress, Janie!!!! You go girl! Just be consistent and it will work out. And get that book :D!

I am sure you already know that but I just wanted to point it out. Don't start him on the jogging too fast. It can cause a lot of damage to their joints and bones (particularly with large breeds) if you start running with them on asphalt at too young a age. I would wait until he turns 12 months. The bones are just too soft before and the result may be injury and high vet bills. If you have softer trails where you live you might be able to start short distances around 9 months and gradually increase.

Don't get frustrated, puppies are a lot of work and it requires a lot of dedication, repetition and patience. And even then there will be days where you just want to pull your hair out. My dogs are not perfect by any means. There are days where they get into a fight, one of them just chewed up my favorite jogging pants and they still get into stuff that they are not supposed to. It gets better / easier of time and some days are worse than others but in the end it's all worth it. I can't imagine my life without my dogs!

Keep us posted on how things go and feel free to PM me if you have any questions.
 
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