Dog refusing to walk?!

[happygolucky6]

My lovely little puppy is a 15 week old french bulldog. She is absolutely gorgeous.

So the last couple weeks we've been for a walk every morning together. I'm 35 weeks pregnant so we don't go too far anyway about 15 minutes at a slow pace. I usually take her mornings as it's cooler for her.

Anyway, she was fine, loving it, we go to the nature reserve and she enjoyed it.

Now she's decided she doesn't like walks. I thought maybe it was because I took her a different route which had concrete and I read their little paws are still sensitive. So I took her back onto the grass route and nope. She literally puts her foot down and you end up dragging her (which I don't do I feel too mean)

She won't walk on concrete. She won't walk if the floor is wet. She won't walk if it's raining. Even on dry days, she just doesn't seem bothered about her walks!!!!!!

Whyyyy!!!!!!!! Will she grow out of this? I enjoy our walks together but also I feel mean not walking my dog. She has a garden to run around at home but it's not the same is it!

[Mountains91]

Could something have scared her?
Is she sore?

[dontdisturbmenow]

My 15w puppy us the same! He can walk for over an hour not wanting to be picked up or go.home, but if the temp is over 20, or it's too windy or wait, he sits and refuse to move!

Saying that, he is still little so I will pick him up and let him decide if he wants to walk after some minutes and almost always wants to, sometimes with the same enthusiasm, sometimes a bit less but still happy. I never force him, it defeats the point.

[happygolucky6]

Nothings seemed to have scared her and I checked her all over as I was worried she was hurt. Checked her paws etc but all ok.

Think she's just a bit of a pampered pooch, she doesn't like being wet or cold (who can blame her?!) luckily being a Frenchie pup she doesn't take a long walk anyway but I just don't wanna feel like I'm neglecting her 😫

I've given up on a few walks this week because seems pointless to take the dog on a walk and have to drag her!!

[vanillandhoney]

It is quite warm for them. My beagle was out this morning and struggled - and we were in woodland at 9am in the shade. Puppies will struggle much more than adult dogs, and brachy dogs like Frenchies will struggle even more again.

I would be walking at around 7am at the moment, if not earlier.

[Windyatthebeach]

A 15 ek old dpuppy should not be walking for an hour...
The usual rule is 5 min walk for every month of their life. So 15 weeks maybe 15- 20 mins ..

[Binglebong]

Do you know anyone with a playful dog that you can meet a short walk away? You stay the prescribed 2 meters away but she gets to play so she sees the fun of it. You may have to carry her the first time. Try to use the other dogs name as much as possible when you're with them so she recognises she is going to visit them when you use it.

Good luck!

[vanillandhoney]

@Windyatthebeach

A 15 ek old dpuppy should not be walking for an hour...
The usual rule is 5 min walk for every month of their life. So 15 weeks maybe 15- 20 mins ..

She's not being walked for an hour. OP says it's 15 minutes at a slow pace.

[Windyatthebeach]

Sorry it was for a poster underneath - sorry op!

[happygolucky6]

I've been taking her out at around 8oclock because it is humid. I also make sure I have water on board etc for her.

Yeah it's only 15 mins max, that's all she can do and that's all I can do before I need the toilet anyway!!! 😅

I've met my mother in law with her Frenchie and then my pup walks better following him. Just didn't know if I could do anything to get her to walk alone or if she will just get over it as she gets older and walk. Thank you all for your replies xxx

[vanillandhoney]

It could just be a phase too - they're still young and being out on walks can be quite overwhelming!

[Happenchance]

I definitely wouldn’t drag her. Not least because pulling her forward will trigger an opposition reflex that will make her automatically pull backwards.

Have you recently started walking her in a new harness or has her existing one got tighter because she has grown?

Overwise, as @vanillandhoney says, walks can be overwhelming. I would stop trying to walk her for a while and just hang around with her outside your door, watching the world go by from a safe distance and giving her high value treats when she sees anything that has the potential to scare her, such as cyclists, people wearing hats or carrying various objects etc.