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Original poster

Our puppy isn’t keen on walks 😱

39 replies

bbcessex · 15/06/2018 21:30

Hi all

We have a lovely Labrador puppy.. 3 months old now. He’s growing well, eating well. Sleeping in his crate happily between 10pm - 5am.

Just a bit worried that he doesn’t like going for walks. He plays happily in the garden. Has the occasional nutty half hour. But in general mainly sleeps.

When we take him out for little walks he rarely wants to go. Will walk for treats, or chasing my daughter , but doesn’t want to go and won’t budge if not encouraged.

He’s had his checks and jabs.. just seems so sleepy.

Is this normal?

OP posts:
geekone · 15/06/2018 22:01

Giant Schnauzer 16 weeks exactly the same is getting better but still has off days 😂

We have been taking him a short walk to an area he can free run and he likes that much better he also is happy walking when we go in the car somewhere so he can't smell or see home.

Original poster
bbcessex · 15/06/2018 22:09

That’s good to hear, geekone

I’m expecting a boundless ball of energy - which we get in patches.. quite like the chilled parts but worried that he’s sad or ill 😱

OP posts:
Original poster
bbcessex · 15/06/2018 22:10

Think we will try your trick of driving out somewhere .. maybe that will work 👍

OP posts:
Bananarama12 · 15/06/2018 22:15

Please be careful. They really don't need walking at this age - only for 10 minutes at a time. Their bones need to grow properly first :)

Original poster
bbcessex · 15/06/2018 22:19

Is that right banana ?

I don’t mind that - just want to make sure he’s well & happy.

OP posts:
tabulahrasa · 15/06/2018 22:24

Walking at that age is more about seeing all the things and getting used to all the stuff around him than actual walking... the best general rule of thumb is 5 minutes per month of age until 18 months.

And they do sleep loads, they’ll be awake for an hour or so and then go to sleep for ar least that long, often longer.

Original poster
bbcessex · 15/06/2018 22:27

Thanks all 👍

We will take it slow. He does have fun in the garden and then lots of sleep. Sounds like walking on a lead will come in it’s own time.

Thanks for the comments 👍

OP posts:
ILoveOnionRings · 15/06/2018 22:50

Our dog was like this at that age, DH thought we had got a dud dog.

Patience is the key, our puppy was scared of everything and did not like the noise of cars. We did things like sitting on the doorstep, drove down the road to a bench, sat there and watched the cars go by. As she got older, if she sat down I would just wait, sometimes this would be more than10 minutes. DH used to walk on with our older dog, return and we would still be in the exact spot. I have been known to pick her up and carry her but she is 23kgs and this is definitely not an option.

DH has just said she was 6 -7 months when we had our first 'walk ' - ie round the block with no sitting down (10mins max)

Fully agree with the 5 minutes per month rule. Puppy class was very good too.

Ours is 13 months now, still runs and hides when we get her harness out but now loves going for a walk - she is bizarre but we love her unconditionally.

pigsDOfly · 16/06/2018 01:01

At that age he'll be wanting to sleep up to about 20 hours out of 24 so yes, he probably is pretty sleepy.

Also if you're experiencing very hot weather the ground can feel very hot for a dog's paws. In extremely hot weather dogs' paws can be burnt from walking on hot ground.

My dog hates the heat so at this time of the year on hot days we don't go out until the evening when it's cooled down.

Applepudding2018 · 16/06/2018 01:18

At 3 months I imagine you've only been trying to walk him for a couple of weeks? Just thinking back our puppy's first walk was to the end of the drive! Yes 5 - 10 mins one or two times a day is about right for that age.

My dog is now 2 but will often have times he doesn't want to walk - generally if it's too hot or too wet.

BiteyShark · 16/06/2018 05:19

Mine really didn't like walking on the lead and would just sit and stop. I found that driving to places where he could be off lead helped because he would then walk on the lead initially knowing he would be off lead soon. This in turn helped encourage on lead walking in general.

Original poster
bbcessex · 16/06/2018 05:23

THanks all - I feel reassured. We are happy to take it slow.

He’s currentky pinging around the living room so a fair amount of energy on display!!

OP posts:
adaline · 16/06/2018 07:51

Ah bless him he's so young still.

Ours is four months and is just learning to love his walks. He's a beagle so fairly high energy - but he still sleeps most of the day.

Walking at this age is more about socialisation and learning to walk on the lead than it is about any real exercise. They really don't need to go far!

pigsDOfly · 16/06/2018 10:25

If he's not happy to walk under his own steam yet taking him out for a carry around your local area, or even better, into town will be quite stimulating for him and will be good for his socialisation.

You can then pop him on the ground from time to time and let him have a sniff. With so many new smells he'll be too busy sniffing to worry about the fact that he's actually walking.

Pets at Home is a good place for this as he'll be made a huge fuss of by almost every customer in the shop.

adaline · 16/06/2018 10:40

Pets at Home is a good place for this as he'll be made a huge fuss of by almost every customer in the shop.

Definitely agree with this. We took ours in there for the first time last weekend and he loved it. Everyone fussed him, he met several other dogs and actually behaved really well once he'd finished sniffing every single aisle!

geekone · 16/06/2018 12:21

Driving to somewhere then off the lead is good. Although they don't need a lot of structured waking at that age they do need to learn to be on the lead and they do need to excercise so they don't become overweight, free running is best for this. See this article www.thelabradorsite.com/labrador-puppy-exercise-how-much-is-too-much/

It converts time into miles too as ours is slow so we don't walk far but we walk longer to get there.

SpanielsAreNuts · 16/06/2018 12:53

Do you use a collar or harness? Has puppy had chance to get used to wearing it in the house at feeding and playing times? If it's a harness does puppy seem comfortable wearing it around the house and garden?

Original poster
bbcessex · 16/06/2018 13:05

Hi all - just got back from puppy class ❤️😃❤️😃❤️

3rd week and so much fun!

We use a collar but tried a harness today and that seemed to go down well. Will be buying one ASAP.

We have tried the little walks on pavements near roads - good shout to go somewhere a little calmer.

We will also go to Pets at Home - am quite excited about that!!!

Thanks for advice. Only had second lots of vaccinations 2 weeks ago so early days I guess.

Feel much happier now - thank you!!

OP posts:
adaline · 16/06/2018 13:14

Ah I'm glad puppy class went well! And she'll love Pets at Home - so many fusses and even a biscuit or three if she's good!

So glad you're feeling more positive too :)

pigsDOfly · 16/06/2018 14:42

Yes, second putting puppy on lead around the house.

I spent quite some time walking my dog around the garden before we even tried to leave the house, even then she was still reluctant to walk outside but at least she was used to her harness and lead.

inappropriatelyemployed · 16/06/2018 18:39

What sort of places do you go to that you can safely let a puppy walk off the lead? I can only think of places which will attract lots of other dogs!

pigsDOfly · 16/06/2018 18:59

I never did it as I'm not brave enough, but at 3 months it's probably the best time to allow a puppy off lead in the park as it's likely to stick like glue to it's owner; although nothing's guaranteed.

The only problem is, as you say, the other dogs in the park. Very much depends on the type of park and the type of dogs and owners you're likely to meet.

When my dog was a young adult we met a puppy on its first ever outing to the park, it wasn't off lead though. The puppy was, like my dog, a small breed and was quite nervous but my dog, being the sweet and gentle creature she is took the little puppy under her wing and played carefully and gently with him; made me incredibly proud Smile.

They became firm friends and every time after that when we saw them in the park he would run up to my dog, and for some reason stick his nose in her ear in greeting.

Wolfiefan · 16/06/2018 19:03

At that age we didn't really do "walks". We drove to places to watch the world go round. Cafe, camping shop, garden centre, pub, park etc. very little actual walking. Lots of socialisation.
Enjoy.

BiteyShark · 16/06/2018 19:30

inappropriatelyemployed Mine wasn't young (over 4 months) when he went off lead as I was too nervous but if I had to do it again I would do it much younger as I think 4 months was too old and it was down to my nerves and nothing else. I drove to quiet forest woody places where I could see around but my puppy couldn't see too far. I would never have done that at a park with lots of offlead dogs. In fact I only went to parks when my dog was through adolescence and had great recall because I considered them to be too distracting and too many 'unknown' dogs.

Bedknobsandhoover · 16/06/2018 19:42

Our puppy started to enjoy short walks when he found he always got off-lead time, which he loved. Very young puppies stay close to youfor security so can be let loose anywhere safe. It’s so good for them to meet and play with other dogs.