Dog refusing to walk

[GiraffeNecked]

If the dog realises we are taking her round the block rather than out in the car for an off lead exciting walk - she just digs her paws in an won't move.

Cheese will sometimes work as a bribe - if we can get her to a particular corner - about 50 yards, then she'll quite often happily trot away.

It's worse at night - if there's just one of us - she'll hardly make it out of the door.

We had this. Then the car was out of action for quite some time. Dog enjoyed leaving house for any walk after that, though we do get some resistance to certain "directions". Then I tend to give up and go where he wants, it is usually a nicer walk his choice anyway humans tend to think a change of walk is worth it, but my dog just prefers to go somewhere where there will be green sniffing patch at end. If there isn't, well he is entitled to his opinion I reckon. I've adjusted. Sometimes I will zig zag round back streets and he finds that interesting enough to do without the green reward but really I just try and find the green space even for short walks.

To clarify, I walk my dog interesting off lead places, it was just that when we had car working he would hold out for the car rather than pavement.

Does it matter?
If ours doesn’t want to walk then we just give up.
It’s different if they’re then annoying and restless.

Ours is much better if I walk really fast or even jog. Sometimes I need to cross the road. Also she’s better with DH than me, so I do morning with children, to school, he does evening.

Is it a greyhound by any chance?

Dog is two years exactly. As puppy very sure of what he didn't want. Never drag a dog that digs it's heels in.

Yes, I found running often helps, though it can be quite tricky not to trip, watch yourself.
Maybe trotting on lead is actually quite hard work whereas running is easier for them? Like horses

We had this, found she was scared of the traffic, but didn't mind going somewhere in car where it was quieter.

Cold night air might also be factor? Cosy coat??

Our road/block is incredibly quiet but we still had this, it wasn't traffic. I think pavements can be tiring for them, hard surfaces etc. Whereas green space has variety of textures smells, canine company, and it's off lead. No wonder they hold out for it.

Ddog has started refusing to get out of bed, won't go in the garden until midday! They are clever. He also won't bother coming if I try to put him on a lead at the door, as we don't if he's going in the car. Clever creatures dogs.

Ours sometimes does a 'go slow' when doing the routine walk, which is still a nice sem-rural walk along a canal towpath, especially if she's had a few more exciting walks with other dogs recently. She does a lot more running about when we go with friends and their dogs.

She's a year old. Likes her bed.

I get that she sometimes doesn't fancy a walk and that's OK.

Other times we need to actually get somewhere with her and then I'll sometimes just pick her up to get over the 'hump'.

Wasn't sure if it was a stage and she'll get over it.

I once had an epic stand-off with my dog at the (very busy) crossroads with traffic lights, one direction leading to Pets At Home and the exciting prospect of dropped dog treats under the shelves, and one direction leading home. She. Would. Not. Budge. She was on a collar not a harness so literally couldn’t have dragged her even if I’d wanted to. Eventually my DH had to come pick us up. Mortifying.

She’ll randomly dig her heels in sometimes elsewhere and is generally super enthusiastic about the car vs ordinary walks, but usually I can’t be arsed to fight it. If she fancies turning right not left, why not? (Unless it’s to Pets At Home.)

Once we are out on pavements I'll quite often let her choose her own path. But first, we have to get on the pavement!

I think if just a year old it’s a teenage rebellion thing, but I’d get a behaviourist to suggest some tactics if I were you. At only one, you don’t want it to be too much of a habit (and end up with my stubborn hound!)

Did her reluctance to go on a pavement walk coincide with bonfire night? Our dog was massively reluctant to go on a pavement walk for quite some time after bonfire night. He got very scared when a firework was set off close to us. It took ages for him to relax on his evening walk after that. Just wondered if that could be a factor as you said it is worse in the evenings.

It sounds normal to me - pavement walks are generally pretty boring for dogs, I think, even though they can be really convenient for us as owners. I try and limit pavement only walks to once a week for my dog - and I do the same for dogs I walk at work as well. There's only so many times they want to plod around the block.

For now, I would stop forcing the issue. If she doesn't want to go out, then that's fine - let her stay at home. Mine is an energetic, working breed but he wouldn't be remotely impressed if he was turfed out to go for a walk in the cold and the dark

If you need to take her somewhere, then just pop her in the car for now, or carry her if it's possible.

I think she just genuinely doesn't fancy it much! Fair enough point to just not push it.

She gets a long walk down glens/along a river/on a beach - pretty much every day so probably doesn't need another one.

Mine is the opposite! She's used to walking rather than going in the car, which is usually one of two evils: a very long car journey or The Vet, so she usually puts the brakes on when she realises we're not going to the gate but the car instead!

@GiraffeNecked

I think she just genuinely doesn't fancy it much! Fair enough point to just not push it.

She gets a long walk down glens/along a river/on a beach - pretty much every day so probably doesn't need another one.

She sounds very lucky!

Honestly, despite what you'll read on here, not all dogs need multiple, long walks a day. Mine has always been happy with a decent walk in the morning and no more.

I actually think pavement walks are interesting as they contain smells and different textures

Sniffing is a rewarding behaviour for a dog and tires them out (think spaniels doing drugs detection)

@cheesecrack

I actually think pavement walks are interesting as they contain smells and different textures

Sniffing is a rewarding behaviour for a dog and tires them out (think spaniels doing drugs detection)

I think it depends on the pavement walk, tbh.

The same old route around the block is going to get boring after a while, just like the same walk around the woods everyday would get boring too.

I definitely think pavement walks have their place (like you say, sniffing is really rewarding and they can be great for training loose leash etc. too) but I do think variety is key. Pavement walks are fine as long as you switch up the location, direction etc.

I used to have a v stubborn retriever if he didn’t want to go one way that was it.
New pup I just change the treats about cheese/sausage/liver etc he never knows what I’m bringing but maybe he’ll get bored too. I think if you’re doing a big walk and he/she isn’t needing an actual walk Chuck a ball in the garden or do some doggy games those stimulate young dogs. Jealous you’re near a beach though it’s one thing I’ll really miss, daily beach walks with my boy as we live inland these days but brought up by north east coast in Scotland

My dog prefers pavement walks, more scavenging opportunities I think 🙄

I get far more bored of the walks then she ever does...

However she gets quite insistent about wanting to go certain directions fairly often. DH job is to take her to the Post Office apparently 😂

@RandomMess

My dog prefers pavement walks, more scavenging opportunities I think 🙄

I get far more bored of the walks then she ever does...

However she gets quite insistent about wanting to go certain directions fairly often. DH job is to take her to the Post Office apparently 😂

Mine insists we go past the pet shop - funnily enough he always bags himself a free biscuit

Everyone has to take her to the animal charity shop where they all spoil her 🤦🏼‍♀️ we have to go and check whether it's open or not before we can actually start the walk proper!!

Lockdown confused her somewhat...