Rebellious walker

[LukeyLuke]

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Hello to those reading,

We've encountered a problem with our dog, she is a shar-pei cross with a staff aged at roughly 1 1/2 year old. She is really well behaved and house trained in the house she's an absolute angel. However, when it comes for that time of day when the lead comes out and it's time for her walk, she becomes a bundle of nerves and this is just the beginning of the problem. I'll break the problem down into numbers to make it easier to read and understand.

1. The word 'walk/walkies' will perk her ears up and she'll immediately become nervous about the idea

2. She'll see the lead and cower away but won't resist it being put on

3. The lead clips onto her collar, she then seems to calm down and follows whoever may be leading her

4. As soon as we exit the house together, we make it down our steps and as we approach the end of our drive-way she pulls back with all her strength close to what seems like strangling her self, she is absolutely reluctant against walking off of the drive-way and will fight with all her might not to walk off of it.

I'm absolutely sure the wrong way to solve this is to drag her off of the drive and literally force her to do it as she would end up severely injuring her neck or worse off than she is now

I am literally lost at what to do to solve this, she is absolutely fine in all other aspects but besides a run-around in the garden and playing she isn't getting the proper exercise she needs, this isn't something I can let go so anyone with experience, knowledge or any input please do so, I'd really appreciate it

Thankyou

 

[BarrettBabies]

Hello

I would buy a harness for her (personal preference both my dogs have harnesses and my foster dogs have to) I think they look so much more comfortable and I find it easier to manage my two when walking, cleaning up after them or going to training class etc. The harness always seems to calm my JackX down bit like a thunder jacket. (my two have fleece lined harnesses)

How about just walking up and down, around the drive, then maybe just hanging around the bottom of the drive a few times so she can see the world go buy?

Have you tried coaxing her off the drive with extra special treat chicken, sausage etc?

Sorry no expert just something I would prob try

 

[LukeyLuke]

Hello

I would buy a harness for her (personal preference both my dogs have harnesses and my foster dogs have to) I think they look so much more comfortable and I find it easier to manage my two when walking, cleaning up after them or going to training class etc. The harness always seems to calm my JackX down bit like a thunder jacket. (my two have fleece lined harnesses)

How about just walking up and down, around the drive, then maybe just hanging around the bottom of the drive a few times so she can see the world go buy?

Have you tried coaxing her off the drive with extra special treat chicken, sausage etc?

Sorry no expert just something I would prob try

Thanks for your input towards the problem. Sadly I own 4 different leads and a harness and different collars, It seems as if it's not the equipment involved although yes the harness is safer as she is less likely to cause any harm to herself. She's more than happy to walk around the drive way and weirdly enough she walks towards the car and is happy to go in the car for a drive. Just won't walk away from the house.

I will try and lure her out with her favourite treats. Perhaps the best bet for her is to seek professional advice and take her to a few dog training sessions so she can find her way with walking.

Thanks for your time really appreciate that you got back so quickly

 

[Oreo]

Hello!

Has this problem always been there or has it developed quickly?

Do you have a back garden, is she scared to go outside into the back garden?

If you have a back garden, how does she react to the word walkies while outside?

Does she have a doggie friend close by that she can walk with to 'learn' from?

There are numerous avenues to go down with this so it is very difficult to get a straight answer. I think my first stop would be a vet to rule out any medical problems and I would make sure that there are no issues with the leads/collars etc.

My Oreo is the complete oposite, if she sees her lead she goes mental and runs around like a loon.

 

[hanneroon]

ooh hello, my dog used to be scared of going outside, i've got to go off to work in a second, but i will come back to you later, to let you know what i tried.

You are right that just dragging her, while she is in a state isn't going to be very helpful, you will end up having to go back to the house, so in effect she panics, it is horrible, then its all over and she's back home safe. A cycle that you can't keep repeating for ever.

Your goal is to get her walking out of the house and down the drive completley normally. So accepting that, you can see that she will have to cross those barriers eventually. Breaking the problem down, as you have into points is a brilliant first step, and this will be your theme. Tiny tiny steps, making her realise that its not so bad after all, first off, i would stop saying the word walk or walkies, ever again. And i would pop a lead on her straight away with out holding it or doing anything, just let it trail around, in the house (obviously whilst you are there to keep an eye), and i would take it off and put it on again at random so it begins to mean very little to her. Lots of praise and treats when she is acting normally and calmly, ignore her if she worries.

Right'o off to work i go

 

[lurcherman]

go into the garden say walkies and.walk.road the garden. let her walk alone with lead on and let her get confidence. this will.need to be ingrained into the dog with lots of prasies. over and over again slowly slowly catch the monkey as they say.

walk round the garden lol

 

[hanneroon]

hiya back again, you didn't say whether she was rescue dog, or you've had her from pup, maybe the rescue centre might be able to help you out or advise on a suitable behaviourist.?

My dog would perk up at the idea ,or word walk, then we would get to the door and he would turn round and try and go back in. To be honest i did pull him, and encourage him over the threshold, then it was all systems go, and he'd be off... Top speed, pulling like a train, and scanning for danger constantly, spinning to every noise. He would go to the loo, then quickly turn around and try to power home, i would hold on, and eventually he'd be off again, toilet, turn repeat.... He would only panic, at certain things traffic, building sites, noisy things, other dogs, etc, then he would leap around, pull backwards, leap toward things, or lean away from me and refuse to move. He would also stop and smell the ground ENDLESSLEY: in contrast to your dog, he didn't really want to go in the garden either, i would bring him out or call him, and he would come out and squeal, and try and get me to come back in. He did not relax outside ever for a good six months after i got him.

I have to admit that i didn't understand some of the signals he was using to show me he was stressed. I'm telling you this, as every dog is different, different fears, different responses to triggers. Even just routine, if this is how things have always gone for them, then that is what they will do until you show them differently. As cadac has said, i would take her to a vet to rule out possible medical reasons, and i probably would try and get a behaviourist to visit, as they can see what is happening, and much as we all want to help, a professional will be able to advise you with certainty.

That said, as i said before, breaking the whole thing down into tiny steps will help. First try and get her to not care about the lead going on and off inside. Then perhaps try leading her to the door, if she does that calmly then, lots of praise and unclip the lead. Then again getting to the door, opening it, and when she looks calm, close the door, lots of praise. Then get over the door step, and back in. Lots of repetitions and praise for looking bored, then further and further down the drive. Reward can be going back inside, but only if you choose to, not her. No being dragged back in!

You say the threshold of the drive is where she pulls backwards? Is there anything there that you can think is scaring her? When you say she'll happily jump in the car to go for a drive, will she get out and walk at the other end? Does she ever walk anywhere else on a lead?

I believe that a dog can only remain scared of something, that isn't going to hurt them, for so long. That is, if you know something isn't dangerous, and they are frightened of it then its up to you, to wait it out with them till they realise that whatever it is, isn't that bad. I would therefore, get to the point on the drive that she doesn't want to go any further (or maybe just before it) and i would stop and sit down, or crouch (in this weather) till she came round to the idea of being there. Then back home. Then repeat. Is there anything your dog really loves? Will she chase a ball, or a favourite food or person? Any of these things can be a reward or a carrot to tempt her onwards. My dog wouldn't respond to food outside, he loves people tho, so someone calling him from up ahead did help.

With my dog, if he gets scared and does not want to go forwards (as he sometimes still does) i just stay put with a slight pull on the lead, eventually he relaxes a bit and i can gently pull him on a pace, and repeat. I've done this with scary noises and things and he does trust me now, it does take time, but he knows this is what is going to happen, and that i can outstubborn him! I have also learnt to read him a bit better, so i now know when i'm asking a bit much of him.

Wishing you both all the best!