You are calmly walking your dog on a leash when suddenly he refuses to move forward. She decided that her ass would remain tied to the ground until she wanted to move again! All dog owners have already had to deal with this situation, sometimes funny and sometimes awkward. When faced with this, we don't always know how to react because we are afraid of upsetting our dog or hurting it. Don't worry, these few tips will teach you how to behave when your dog refuses to go for a walk!
Something terrible happened
Dogs remember negative experiences well and try to avoid repetition. Remember, perhaps something unpleasant happened on your last walk: the pet was frightened by a sharp sound, another dog, a neighbor who sharply slammed the door in his face. If the puppy has not yet been socialized, anything can be a deterrent. Also, if a dog cuts its paw while walking, it may associate the street with a source of danger.
There is no need to try to drag a frightened and whining pet out the door by any means. Try to defuse the situation. For example, first put on the collar casually to try it on. Let your pet run around the house wearing a collar. Then fasten the leash, then get dressed, but don’t go out right away. Open the door, evaluate the pet's reaction. Close it, and after a while, go out with the dog on a leash. If she resists, lure her with a treat in your fist or a toy. Try not to put pressure on the dog, speak in a calm, gentle voice and show that it is safe behind the door. If something really happened on the street, try to avoid this place in the future until the pet forgets about the trouble. If necessary, consult a zoopsychologist.
Psychological
Fear
Dogs can be afraid of walking for various reasons, for example:
- low socialization of the dog caused by too early separation from its mother or life in a shelter: a puppy, and sometimes an adult dog, is afraid of the outside world and hides behind its owner at the first opportunity;
- stress during one of the previous walks: the dog was scared and does not want to repeat the negative experience (a car honked loudly, there was a clap of thunder, fireworks flashed brightly, there was a conflict with another dog - there may be plenty of reasons);
- change of place of residence - even moving out of town can be the reason for the dog’s reluctance to leave the house and go out to where everything is so unfamiliar, and there is nothing to say about changing the place of walks from a quiet park in a residential area to a busy boulevard in the city center.
There is no need to scold or feel sorry for a frightened dog, especially if we are talking about a puppy. A calm, friendly attitude and encouragement at every part of the path traveled in the form of praise or treats will help the pet regain self-confidence and calmly leave the house. If your attempts are unsuccessful, seek advice from a competent animal psychologist.
Mirroring
You can often hear from owners that the dog doesn’t like to walk in the rain. They've already bought her clothes and shoes, and wash her paws after every walk, but she still doesn't really like walking in the rain. Of course, not all dogs love high humidity, but the owner should ask himself a question: does he really like walking his pet in inclement weather?
It is quite possible that during such a walk the owner is either in too much of a hurry to cover the route faster, or does not go further than the yard and is counting the minutes until the end of the walk. In such conditions, the pet is unlikely to enjoy being outside, and if a similar scenario is repeated every time you leave the house in cloudy weather, then it is not surprising that sooner or later the dog will refuse to walk in the rain.
Boredom
Excessive predictability can play a cruel joke on the owner of an inquisitive dog, when walks in the same park along the same route become no longer enjoyable for the pet. If your dog looks like he's serving his duty on a walk, try changing the route or trying new types of activity (training on the playground or learning commands, for example), and then perhaps your stay-at-home pet of yesterday will turn into an ardent supporter of walks in the fresh air.
Unsuitable weather
Just like people, pets do not like to go outside in bad weather. Moreover, not only memories of the previous wet and cold walk can affect, but also the mood of the owner. If you try to take a walk as quickly as possible in bad weather or even stand near the entrance, waiting for the dog to do its business, do not be surprised that at some point the pet will refuse to go out in the rain and will remain at the entrance door.
One of two things: either you walk as you should, even in bad weather, follow your usual route, or you stay at home and go for a walk when it clears up. Take care of your dog's clothes: perhaps your pet is just cold. In the rain, by the way, you can have fun at home, for example, create an obstacle course from improvised objects or play tug of war.
The need for dog walks
Walking a pet dog is a necessary event, thanks to which the pet gets to know the world outside its home, gets acquainted and in contact with its relatives, splashes out accumulated energy and relieves its natural needs.
Any individual, no matter what breed it belongs to, needs daily visits to the yard. Small breeds such as Spitz, Yorkshire terriers or Chihuahuas can make do with occasional walks. They can easily relieve themselves at home in a tray or on a disposable diaper. The street for them is a way to spend leisure time and exercise.
All other breeds need regular jogging in parks and training in special areas. If a dog of medium or large size does not have the opportunity to splash out energy and give vent to his emotions, then he may become inadequate and even dangerous to those around him.
Enclosure animals need walking no less than their indoor counterparts. At least once a day they are taken on a long promenade so that they can go to the toilet and run around to their heart's content.
It's boring to walk
Active dogs that love to run and explore may stop loving walking if they walk the same route every day exclusively on paths. Even if they don’t refuse to leave the house, getting ready for a walk is perceived without much enthusiasm and willingly turns back.
In this case, it is imperative to diversify street activity. Dogs that do not fully satisfy their hunting instincts can become depressed, get sick, and change their behavior beyond recognition (become uncontrollable and irritable). Try to take a new route each time. Play outdoor games with your pet even in winter.
What to do when the dog doesn't want to go for a walk?
Your dog should associate walking with an enjoyable time where he spends time with you and has fun! Try to be as playful as possible, because by sensing your desire to go out, she will be even more motivated. Likewise, change your walking places: if you always go to the same place, your dog will become bored and will once again refuse to see and smell the same things.
Finally, your dog may simply be scared. In this case, try to identify the object or noise that is repelling him and then divert his attention. Play with him, give him pleasure... in short, equate his fear with something positive. This process takes time, and sometimes it is better to contact a specialist who can advise you according to your dog's personality.
Inconvenient equipment
It happens that the muzzle presses, the collar rubs, the clothes press, and therefore the pet does not want to go for a walk, since for him every step promises discomfort or pain. Most often, hostility to equipment is accompanied by growling and refusal to put on ammunition.
Calluses and sore spots on your pet’s body will help you figure out what exactly you don’t like. If there is nothing, try loosening the collar, discard the muzzle, unfasten the raincoat and watch your pet’s reaction. In the future, purchase more comfortable equipment.
Let your walks be a joy!
As already mentioned, a full walk is a necessary condition for keeping a dog, which has a direct relationship with its health and development. If the owner is attentive to the needs of the dog and is ready to devote time to it, then the problem of reluctance to walk in most cases can be solved quite easily. Make walks comfortable, useful and interesting for your pet - and then both of you will enjoy them!
Source
Feels bad
In this case, you will have to carefully observe your pet to understand what is hurting him. Some small breeds, for example, pugs, French, English bulldogs, due to the peculiarities of the spine, cannot go up and down stairs on their own. Walking begins to be associated with back pain, and therefore the desire to go out the door disappears. It is better to carry such babies in your arms or ride them in an elevator.
The pet may feel unwell due to infection, problems with the digestive system, or joint pain. Usually, malaise is accompanied by other signs - loss of appetite, apathy, vomiting. Refusal to go out for a walk may be a symptom of a false pregnancy. If you suspect your pet is not feeling well, consult your veterinarian.
Be sure to find out the reason for your reluctance to go out and try to correct the situation. Don't force your dog outside: this will only make the problem worse. Lure him with treats, toys, affectionate words, and commands. To overcome your fear of the street, first walk in the entrance, then nearby and in the yard. Don't forget about training and positive reinforcement.
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Causes
- Your dog is tired . Walking your dog every day is good for you, but don't forget to relax. Fatigue can be explained by hot weather, intense physical activity before going out... This behavior is especially observed in puppies, who have a very intense energy expenditure. Indeed, they learn a lot every day, which is very tiring for them.
- Your dog wants to get your attention . Some furry friends are ready to do anything and everything to have the constant attention of their beloved owner. If your dog goes to sleep in the middle of a walk, and this happens very often, it is because he wants you to show interest in him. Puppies and small dogs are waiting for one thing: to be carried!
- Your dog is not used to going outside often . The dog should walk every day for at least 30 minutes. She needs to push herself physically and mentally, discover new things and communicate. A dog that is not used to visiting the outside world to begin with may subsequently experience a kind of “blocking”. She then makes you understand by refusing to walk while walking!
- Your dog is afraid of something . While walking your dog, you might come across something that he didn't like or even scared. It could be a noise, a person, a place... anything that causes the dog stress. Although he knows that the fateful moment is approaching, he refuses to move forward, lest he face what left him with bad memories.
- Your dog is in pain . If you notice that your dog's behavior has changed, that his gait has changed, ask yourself if he is injured. It could have been a simple scratch on the pillow, but it still hurt. During a walk, your dog will most likely not want to go for a walk because he doesn't feel well. Don't hesitate to handle her to see what's wrong or take her to the vet. Finally, if your dog has recently suffered an injury, prepare him for walks that he can safely go on.
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Posts 1 page 20 of 23
Share11/11/2010 12:04:29
We started taking the puppy outside at 2.5 months! but he doesn’t want to go for a walk at all, he sits and sits and doesn’t want to go anywhere, he whines! He doesn’t even want to go to the toilet there either! If only he would at least go for a walk, you could walk with him longer, but he doesn’t do this and he has to go home. As soon as we enter the threshold of the apartment, he immediately does all his business and pees and poops! Please tell me how to teach a dog to walk and have him go to the toilet there.
Share219.11.2010 12:54:29
- Author: Konopik
- Newbie
- From: Perm
- Registered: 04/14/2010
- Posts: 4
- Last visit: 09/13/2013 09:27:40
We had the same thing, he went out into the street, constantly trembled, and asked to be held. Now we are almost 5 months old and he runs like a bullet, but he’s still not used to walking in the morning, apparently he doesn’t like being woken up and taken out of his warm master’s bed. In the morning he just goes out to run errands and runs home)
