Puppy only wants to walk near the house, anyone else experienced this?

[Butterflowers]

I have a 16 week old shih tzu who really doesn't like going very far from home. I took him out before he had his vaccinations by carrying him around so he got used to the sights and sounds. His first week out walking went well, he seemed happy and enjoyed his walks. Ever since then though he really doesn't want to go much further than around the block, he gets so far then stops and refuses to move. He gets excited when I get out his harness and lead and seems really keen to go. I've tried carrying him him further away, I've tried giving him treats, I've tried pulling him a little way but he only seems to want to walk close to home. Anyone else had experience of this? Will he grow out of it? What's the best way to deal with it?

[pigsDOfly]

There was a thread on here a while ago about this Butter.

Many people posted saying they had had the same thing when their dogs were that sort of age. I also had the same thing with my dog who is now 4 years old and goes for miles. It's very common.

Don't pull him, just encourage him to go a little further with really tasty treats. Try throwing a favourite toy along the street in front of him so he gets distracted and doesn't notice he's moving forward.

I think someone suggested, on the previous thread, trying to carry him away from the house and then putting him on the ground, but that doesn't get him going under his own steam, iyswim.

The world is a big scary place when you're a small puppy, but with patience, lots of positive encouragement and treat, treats, treats, he will grow out of it.

[Butterflowers]

Thankyou. I will try taking a toy with us tomorrow.

[pigsDOfly]

You will get him out and about. At least he goes round the block.

My dog would get as far as the door step and sit there stubbornly refusing to move further. Now she'd be out all day if she could.

[Butterflowers]

We've always had dogs and I've never experienced this before. Everyone I know has said the same. The advice I'm being given is to pull him as by not doing so I'm apparently letting him rule the roost. I don't like pulling him, it's seems unkind. When I pick him up I get told the same, put him down and make him walk or you are letting him rule the roost. He's a lovely puppy, it took him a long while to eat properly too, he just didn't seem interested in food. With time and patience he now eats much better so hopefully the walking further will fall into place too.

[basildonbond]

Don't pull him - you'll end up with him hating walks ... How can he possibly rule the roost? He's a puppy who depends on you for everything

Most puppies take a while to start feeling comfortable with all the new experiences they're suddenly having to deal with - if you take it at his pace you'll have a much more confident puppy in the end

[JoffreyBaratheonFirstofHisName]

Our 9 month old tries to hide when we get out the harness, and has a face like thunder (but puts up with it) when loaded into the car... but then when she's out... sheer joy all over her face!

The odd thing is she is opposite and refuses to walk near home - prefers to go out in car and then walk somewhere else! She also did the refusal thing and then if we turned round on a walk, would almost run back to the car. Now, we take her further and further. But...

She refuses point blank to walk with only one person. She is confident with two and prefers one of the two to be me or worser half. She won't go more than 100 metres from the house with my kids (who are adults, and teenagers). And she refuses to walk any further if I try to walk her by myself.

Several months back we were despairing of her even walking at all - she was extremely nervy and we persisted. But she still will only walk in a 'pack' of at least two people... Never had a dog like it but she is a rescue. Although only 9 weeks when we got her. I still wonder if she wasn't damaged in some way by her poor start in life. She also took WAAAAAY longer to housetrain than any other dog I have ever had. Ever.

[Butterflowers]

He's better if my daughter comes along too, she walks off in front and calls him and he follows most of the time. We will just keep going and trying. Unfortunately I don't drive so can't take him out in the car.

[JoffreyBaratheonFirstofHisName]

Butter, when our's was at her worst, we found a treat bag full of her favourite, greasy, stinky treats worked best of all. Now she walks without needing any, but it took a while. One day we realised she wasn't doing refusals any more. Although she still does if I try to walk her on my own...

[Butterflowers]

He isn't really interested in treats when we are out, I tried taking a toy today and he wasn't interested in that either. He likes to sniff about and look around instead.

[Fudgeface123]

My mum's dog is 3 and is still like this despite everything. She's OK if we go out for the day, somewhere new, but near her house she just stops and will not be moved