Sitting/stopping on walks

[Helen Wells]

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Having a few puppy blues! Not really enjoying taking Luna (4 months) for walks for a few reasons:
1. She is constantly stopping - sometimes standing still, sometimes sitting and occasionally even lying down. I've tried encouraging her back to stand/walk with treats but think it's making it worse as now she knows she gets a treat if she stops! Obviously don't want to drag her along and so not sure what to do.
2. She wants to say hi to every man, woman, child and dog we come to ! Kind of cute that she's so friendly but frustrating when I'm trying to get somewhere.

In the house we have done heel and she's a little angel ! But for some reason it all changes outside.

Please tell me things get easier/more enjoyable eventually!

 

[Tinytom]

She is 4 mths so just a baby ...enjoy her and dont focus too much on training. ..when she stops and wont get up i would just pick her up carry her for a few minutes and then put her down again ...she will grow out of this ...she reminds me of sweep from sooty and sweep ...so adorable

 

[JudyN]

Yes, it gets much better! The first thing is not to try to get somewhere. If you need to go somewhere, do that as a separate journey.

I only have time for a quick reply, but if she stops, sits or lies down, just let her. Enjoy the smells, the view... take a book if necessary. This is all about her learning to enjoy being outside and feeling confident. Remember it's her walk. Expecting her to keep walking is a little like taking someone to an art gallery and expecting them to walk straight through, which misses the whole point. I sometimes think 'walks' are misnamed.

It's good she's friendly. But you do want to encourage manners, and for her to ignore people when needed - not everyone likes dogs, and they might have their best white jeans on. So don't let people make a fuss of her if she jumps up on them, even if they say they don't mind, and I'd suggest not letting anyone else give her treats. You can give her treats if she sits nicely in front of a person for a fuss, but it might be a while before she has the self-control for that.

 

[Helen Wells]

Thank you! This is really helpful. I was a bit unsure about whether stopping each time was helpful or whether it was teaching her bad habits. Really useful to hear your thoughts. I definitely make the walks more about her

 

[JudyN]

You can still work on loose leash walking when she's in the mood (check out Kikopup's vids on Youtube). Even if it's just a case of walking a few steps nicely and then going back to the important sniffing, sitting, etc., it's setting foundations.

And when someone says to you, as they will, 'Who's taking who for a walk?' reply, 'Neither. We're going for a walk together'

 

[Helen Wells]

Haha I've had that one! And have been told "she has to have a break sometime" when I asked someone not to fuss her until all 4 paws are on the ground.

 

[JudyN]

The trouble is, if jumping up to get a fuss only works one time in 10, it'll just reinforce that if she keeps trying, and trying, and trying, it'll be worth it eventually. Like people playing one-armed bandits.

To be fair, most people don't mind in the slightest if a little fluffball jumps up on them, and it's not easy to stop them making a fuss of her, so we're talkng about ideal worlds here. You could always tell them she's in training to be a service dog or something!

 

[Jan Woodhall]

Having a few puppy blues! Not really enjoying taking Luna (4 months) for walks for a few reasons:
1. She is constantly stopping - sometimes standing still, sometimes sitting and occasionally even lying down. I've tried encouraging her back to stand/walk with treats but think it's making it worse as now she knows she gets a treat if she stops! Obviously don't want to drag her along and so not sure what to do.
2. She wants to say hi to every man, woman, child and dog we come to ! Kind of cute that she's so friendly but frustrating when I'm trying to get somewhere.

In the house we have done heel and she's a little angel ! But for some reason it all changes outside.

Please tell me things get easier/more enjoyable eventually!

 

[Ari_RR]

As far as stopping/sitting/laying down - use these breaks as fotoshoot opportunities! Take portrait shots, close ups, etc. , get down on the ground so the camera is at the same level (rather than from above down)... or selfies with you and her!
There is no way to lose with this approach. Either you'll have some great pictures, or (if your dog is like mine) - the moment you settle in for a nice angle/lighting/pose/background - she will get up and be on the move again

 

[Jan Woodhall]

Perhaps you might like to swap your angel for my devil for a day? My Robin is 6 months old and quite a large breed. He stops, lunges, jumps up and mouths anything and everything he can get at. We frequently hold up the traffic having been dragged into the road! (Thankfully most of the drivers and passengers seem to find it amusing and entertaining!) he will sit down the last few metres home and refuse point blank to move to the extent I have to give him treats every few feet to get him home! Today a friend paid for a one to one for me with a VERY experienced (30 years) positive reinforcement trainer and Robin lunged forward to play with a passing dog (trainer was aware this would happen) and she found herself flat on the floor! She is okay, just a bruised ego! What more can I say! You have a puppy, welcome to the world of puppies!

 

[Helen Wells]

Perhaps you might like to swap your angel for my devil for a day? My Robin is 6 months old and quite a large breed. He stops, lunges, jumps up and mouths anything and everything he can get at. We frequently hold up the traffic having been dragged into the road! (Thankfully most of the drivers and passengers seem to find it amusing and entertaining!) he will sit down the last few metres home and refuse point blank to move to the extent I have to give him treats every few feet to get him home! Today a friend paid for a one to one for me with a VERY experienced (30 years) positive reinforcement trainer and Robin lunged forward to play with a passing dog (trainer was aware this would happen) and she found herself flat on the floor! She is okay, just a bruised ego! What more can I say! You have a puppy, welcome to the world of puppies!

Oh dear!! Sounds like quite a.day. Wine definitely needed!!
I do most days think I am very lucky as Luna is pretty good mostly! Just think I was having a bad day yesterday ! Also never had a dog before so hard to know what's normal or not.
Hope you're ok and Robin is now calm!!

 

[Jan Woodhall]

Oh dear!! Sounds like quite a.day. Wine definitely needed!!
I do most days think I am very lucky as Luna is pretty good mostly! Just think I was having a bad day yesterday ! Also never had a dog before so hard to know what's normal or not.
Hope you're ok and Robin is now calm!!

 

[Jan Woodhall]

Thank you Helen Wells! I don't know if Robin will EVER be calm! LOL He has in a couple of hours today, torn more wallpaper off the wall, shredded a lead lent to me by someone, torn his Christmas Teddy apart and deposited the stuffing ALL round the lounge and dining room! Put blood and gore all round the lounge, dining room, kitchen and utility from his bones, that includes on my lap ( I'm nearly a VEGAN for goodness sake!) He is now looking for something else to do! We've just been out for a walk for over an hour! Heeeelllllpppppp!

 

[JacksDad]

It is perfectly normal for a puppy as young as the OPs to not be "into BIG walks". this is normal. enjoy it while it lasts.

Remember, at 16 weeks (4 months) they are still just getting started with physically developing. Bones and joints are NO WHERE NEAR complete with their development. BIG WALKS are not a great idea anyway at this age.

The stopping and sniffing and looking around, this is a significant part of a puppies socialization. it's not all about people fussing over the puppy or playing with other dogs and puppies. it is primarily about "what is normal in my world". The puppy's way to learn that...sniffing, lots of sniffing, and sitting and watching the world go by.

I recently watched a family member's 13 week puppy for about a week. a serious emergency came up. Most of the time our walks consisted of me carrying puppy around. in part because the puppy was too young for serious walking and partly because shots were incomplete. BUT we went out and still experienced the world. There was LOTS of sniffing, some toddling around, and some more sniffing. I got to visit puppy a week ago, and the puppy that wouldn't walk 5 feet....in the just short of 3 weeks since I saw puppy.... this puppy WANTED to walk and go and see, and do...did I mention puppy WANTED TO WALK? still too young for super strenuous walks. But things change quickly with puppies week to week, big walks are coming soon.

Be thoughtful of the experiences and associations you create about walks right now. are they fun? or is walks a battle and drudgery?

Enjoy the slow time, it ends soon enough.

You can still do some foundational training for walking on leash and with you, I did. but it was measured in just a few feet and few seconds at a time. Then a break and some play and LOTS of sniffing and watching the world go by.