Puppy wont go for a walk.

[Janjango]

Hi,

We have a beautiful new puppy, shes 11 weeks and is proving very easy to train. She even slept from 11.30 till 7 this morning in her crate.
Toilet training also going very well.
Nipping a bit still, but mostly when overexcited during playtime
Our problem is when it comes to taking her outside for a walk.
She has no problem going out the back in the daylight or the dark.
But she doesnt want to be out the front of the house or anywhere outside the house and garden.
She just lays on the ground and wont budge. And whimpers too.
Ive tried to encourage her using treats etc, but its not working.
Can anyone help?

[BiteyShark]

The outside world is very scary with smells and noises. Mine didn't want to walk much so I ended up driving to secure places where we mostly pottered about off lead and eventually as he matured he started to walk more on lead on the road.

[bbcessex]

Our Labrador was exactly the same... happy to bound around the garden, but would sit down and refuse to budge on the front drive!

We just persevered.. drove him out to wooded areas or carried him to a local field.. eventually as he got older he got more comfortable being out, and since about 4 months there been no problem.

[Janjango]

Thanks BiteyShark.
She does seem to be frightened by outside.
Poor pet.

[SPARKLYSTARSHINESBRIGHT]

Can you get someone to walk in front with food or squeaky toy to encourage her forwards. Alternatively you could carry her a short distance away from home (like 15 metres) and see if she's willing to walk back home and increase distance when she's comfortable. Little and often and lots of praise and some treats.

[Janjango]

@bbcessex, thats exactly what shes like. She just freezes. Shes a cross breed of Golden Retriever and Cocker Spaniel, so maybe its a breed thing.
Last dog we had was a Cav and he loved his walks from day 1.

[Seaelf]

Do you have a friendly neighbour dog? My neighbour's pup wouldn't walk until she met my dog, excitement made her forget her fear and she trotted happily alongside the big dog. Canine company may give her confidence in the big outdoors.

[Janjango]

@SPARKLYSTARSHINESBRIGHT
She will walk if someone is in front of her or if shes on way back home.
Vet told me I shouldnt carry her as she wont walk if she knows Ill carry her.
I cant bring myself to drag her when she doesnt want to go. Im afraid I will hurt her.

[MakeItAmazing]

Mine is a golden retriever and had her first proper walk with her best friend. Did fab. Then after that didn't want to go sometimes or go far. I wish I'd thought to ask and carried her etc but eventually she realised it was all okay and FUN to be outside. Now she's nearly 2.5 years old and sulked when her afternoon walked lasted 45/50 minutes and not the usual hour .

[Janjango]

@Seaelf my sister has a 6 month old puppy who loves to walk. He might help

@MakeItAmazing thats reassuring! Looking forward to many walks with her.
Heres a pic of what she like to do most!

[sayitisntsojo]

Well she just isn't scrummy enough

[Janjango]

@sayitisntsojo 😊🐶. We melt everytime we look at her. She will get away with murder. ❤️❤️

[bbcessex]

She’s so beautiful!!!

[bbcessex]

Honestly - I wouldn’t worry at all - just keep at it, sitting on the drive, exploring the drive, going a metre down the drive.. she will get confidence as she gets older.

Wish I hadn’t worried as much now when ours is legging it across fields!!!

[Janjango]

Thanks @bbcessex.
Shes conked beside me here. Upside down so not a care in the world.
Will try her again tomorrow.

[Mojitomogul]

If she's only 11 weeks old she may be getting too tired for a walk? Young puppies up to 6 months old shouldn't really be walked more than 30 mins a day as their legs don't form properly if they are overwalked, she may just grow to naturally want to go on the walks.

[Singlenotsingle]

My dog doesn't like walks. She's 3 now, and still goes and hides under the coffee table when I show her the collar and lead. It's a heavy wooden coffee table and I have to climb under it to get her out

[GrouchyKiwi]

She's gorgeous!

She's only tiny. Doesn't need to go on walks yet. Just take her out in the car and let her see lots of different things to get her used to the outside world. Playing in the garden will be enough exercise for now.

[Janjango]

Thanks all,
Yes maybe she is too young yet. Will take it slow and let her find her confidence in the outside world. Shes got plenty inside!
I probably just want to show her off! Love her. ❤️

[GrouchyKiwi]

If it helps, my pup was similarly reluctant at that age (which is when I was told that playing was enough exercise), and now at 5 months she barks at me when it's walk time if I'm too slow to get ready.

[Janjango]

Thanks @GrouchyKiwi thats good to know!
We lost our beloved dog in dec and we were gutted. He was 12, and had been sick for 2 years, so we have forgotten the puppy stage!

[MakeItAmazing]

30 minutes is too long at this age. It's recommended five minutes per month of age but we were doing an hour by seven months as she would stop to sniff every leaf etc so we weren't going far or fast.

Taking her out in the car every day, even just round the block, is a great idea as mine did not like the car and it took a while for her to accept going in it.

[Janjango]

@MakeItAmazing,
Gorgeous Dog. Kind face.

[MakeItAmazing]

It's funny you say she has a kind face as she is so lovely with the scared dogs and even won round two dogs who don't like any dogs and one who wasn't interested. At 12 he ran off after her when she ran to greet a friend . Also, when I was sobbing when a friends dog died she licked the tears off my face and stayed close to me when I was poorly.

[Janjango]

@MakeItAmazing,
She sounds lovely too.
Enjoy every minute of her.

[MakeItAmazing]

I do. I'd be lost without her. Enjoy yours too 🐾