Many dog owners will experience a dog that may refuse to maneuver forward on a walk. This is very common in puppies and adult dogs which can be latest to the house, as they could have never experienced walking on a leash before.
More often than not a dog will refuse to walk because they’re feeling anxious about something on the walk. Nevertheless, feeling uncomfortable can sometimes even be the cause, and sometimes stubborn dogs will refuse to walk in an effort to get something they need.
Today I’m sharing 4 things dog owners can do to get their dogs to walk when on leash. To tackle this issue I’ll first be explaining what causes this problem after which how you may address it.
Let’s jump right into it.
What Causes Dogs to Stop Walking?
Before working to repair any issue you’ll first must discover its cause. There are three vastly different potential causes for dogs refusing to walk on a leash.
Oftentimes this issue is attributable to anxiety. Nevertheless, stubbornness, pain, or being uncomfortable may be the cause.
Let’s look into these reasons in greater detail.
Your Dog is Uncomfortable or in Pain
Dogs will sometimes refuse to walk if the motion is painful or very uncomfortable for them. This issue can occasionally be so simple as their harness being too tight.
Nevertheless, medical conditions or injuries could also potentially cause a dog to not enjoy walking.
That is an especially large concern for dogs who used to enjoy their each day walks and are actually refusing to go.
That is fairly common in dogs as they age, as conditions that cause pain with movement akin to arthritis are fairly common in elderly dogs.
Your Dog is Stressed or Anxious
Stress and anxiety is a reasonably common problem for dogs that have nervousness around strange stimuli, people, or dogs.
Does your dog seem excited to go for a walk after which stops of their tracks once they hear a automobile screeching its tires?
Or perhaps every part is positive until certainly one of your neighbor’s dogs starts barking at you from their backyard.
One of these a difficulty is more common in dogs than you could think.
Luckily, there are methods you could help your nervous pup regain confidence and revel in walkies again.
Your Dog Desires to go a Certain Way or Doesn’t Need to go Home
Some dogs will refuse to walk because they actually need something. Possibly they wish to go to the park as an alternative of down the road.
Should you walk to the park fairly often and your dog knows get there, this may very well be the cause. Dogs will sometimes do that once they see their house because they don’t wish to return inside as well.
Working on some more leash training will provide you with the tools that it’s essential to redirect your dog in these kind of situations. I’ll share how you may do exactly that in a bit!
4 Things to Do If Your Dog Doesn’t Need to Walk
There are 4 essential things you could do to treatment a dog that stops walking and won’t move.
It can be crucial to notice that these remedies will only work for a certain reason behind this behavior.
For instance, a dog refusing to walk as a consequence of pain won’t likely get any profit from further leash training.
Here’s what you need to do if a stubborn dog refuses to walk.
1. Change up Your Walking Gear
The very first thing I at all times do as a dog trainer is take a fast take a look at the dog’s walking gear.
The collar or harness needs to be loose enough so that you can fit a finger through (or a pair if you will have small fingers).
Nevertheless, it also needs to be tight enough in your dog not escape. You might must get a martingale collar if you will have a dog with a skinny neck and head akin to a Greyhound or Collie.
Similarly, some dogs don’t feel comfortable in harnesses which have thin straps. It is because the fabric can cut into sensitive areas like a dog’s armpits or neck when pulled.
Changing your dog’s collar or harness to 1 that matches more comfortably can assist. Here is a wonderful harness with wider straps that’s great for more sensitive dogs.
2. Visit the Vet
Sadly, refusing to walk could also be an indication that your dog has an unseen injury or medical condition. This is very true in case your dog is suddenly refusing to walk once they didn’t used to.
Visiting your veterinarian can assist you get to the foundation of the issue, or no less than provide you with peace of mind and rule out a medical issue because the cause.
3. Make Walking a Fun Experience for Your Dog
You’ll probably must do some desensitization training to make walks more fun for anxious dogs.
Here is a straightforward step-by-step process for give a dog more confidence when out on walks.
Step 1: Get some small training treats that your dog loves and select a walking route that your dog seems to handle one of the best. (This may often be an area your dog is acquainted with akin to your neighborhood.)
Step 2: Start your walk and provides them a small training treat to begin. When walking repeatedly check your dog’s body language. Does certain stimuli make your dog barely nervous?
Every time you notice any signs of slight tension (ears return, lip licking, yawning, etc.) redirect your dog by calling their name and provides them a treat.
Step 3: Proceed giving your dog treats once they are showing signs of slight stress and slowly move as much as things that they’re more terrified of.
For things that stop your dog of their tracks, it’s best to only approach from a distance that your dog is alright with and provides them treats from there at first.
Step 4: Work on with the ability to catch up with and closer to things on walks that make your dog anxious. It’s best to do that slowly over time. An excellent pace for many dogs is to aim getting only one or two steps closer to that stimuli every day. It can be crucial to attempt to not overwhelm your dog during this process.
Step 5: Proceed this process until your dog is walking confidently across the block. If you will have a very nervous dog, it’s a great idea to proceed having treats available. This manner you may redirect your dog and boost their confidence in unexpected events akin to loud noises.
4. Work on Some Leash Training
For stubborn dogs, you could wish to work on some extra leash training. This may offer you the vital tools to get your dog back on the right track when out on a walk.
Some helpful commands to make use of in a situation like this are heel, focus, and recall.
You’ll be able to do that by teaching your dog certainly one of these commands in a low distraction environment akin to in your own home or backyard. This may teach your dog the cue so you could use it later similar to with some other basic obedience command.
Then, when your dog refuses to walk when on leash, prompt them with certainly one of these commands. Once they follow through it will be significant to mark the nice behavior and reward it.
It could feel as if you happen to are bribing your dog when giving them a treat after following these commands. Nevertheless, it will be significant to keep in mind that your dog is learning a brand new skill. The last word goal is to give you the option to ask for certainly one of these commands when out on a walk and have your dog take heed to you, even whenever you don’t have a treat.
