Stubborn on walks

[ScribblingPixie]

Our 11 year old staffie is a rescue and since we got her a couple of years ago she has always had an opinion on which way she wants to go at street corners - usually the opposite of our choice - and also screeches to a halt quite often. We offer treats to keep her with us, keep her engaged and when she's really stubborn insist and give her harness a little tug but it's always an issue. She's worse on cold days - fair enough - and prefers main roads (with cafes and food shops, hmmm) rather than lovely green spaces especially when it's wet. But there's no absolute consistency to it. Anyone else had the same thing and found a solution?

My dog, not a staffie, is nearly 10 years old and she's also become quite stubborn about where she wants to walk. I don't know what the answer is either tbh.

Mostly I just go with what she wants as I can't be bothered to argue with her but I must be honest it's getting extremely boring walking around the same bit of area. Especially, as at the moment when you're not supposed to drive to get to walks.

It bothers me because I worry that she must get bored with the same walks as well, but having said that, when I have driven to different places, before lockdown, she'd sometimes refuse to walk anyway and I'd end up getting back in the car and going closer to home.

She loves her walks, so I wonder if it's a comfort thing and she just wants to go on a walk she knows with no surprises.

Thanks for the reply. That makes sense about comfort as she seems increasingly uncertain in wide open spaces - though it doesn't have to be familiar areas. We went up and down side streets by the side of a lovely park the other day because she wouldn't set foot in it but loved exploring. Woods are sometimes yes, but one area rather than another. And she's much happier at night, she never wants to come home then - maybe the dark's preferable for some reason. It's a real puzzle. I agree it's horribly boring especially when it's the only time I'm going out.

They do seem to get a bit fixated on things.

My dog likes to go to a particular field because it's muddy and has rabbit droppings, two of her favourite things.

She hates going to heavily wooded areas though, as she seems to dislike trees; although, that's not a new thing, she's always been very uncomfortable with places that feel a bit closed in.

She used to hate the dark - not that I tend to walk her in the dark - but has got better with it as she's got older and the same with rain. When she was younger I couldn't get her out when it was raining now she seems to rather like it.

Trying to fathom out why they do things is probably impossible, they're strange creatures, but I do wonder if maybe they can get a bit set in their ways as they get older

The dog brain is definitely an interesting space. Like your Rabbit Dropping Field we have Cake Avenue where she once found a discarded slice of cake and now pulls towards from all directions. I think you're right that it's not going to help trying to understand every whim. I need some new techniques to jolly her along and trick her to scenic areas, but have run dry with ideas.

I used to have a bearded collie and we would go on a circular walk from our house. Three quarters of the way round, if she heard a noise or just decide she wasn't going any further and she would sink to the ground and become the immovable rug unless you retraced your steps. Very annoying.

My dogs have tended to get stubborn by that age too.One stopped going to the park and we got to know every street and every little cul-de-sac in the area.

I used to volunteer at a dog shelter and have happy memories of an elderly little staffy who would walk very briskly and purposefully but only in the direction she wanted.

My present dog is stubborn already and she's only five. Goodness knows what she'll be like when she's eleven!

Yes we have this with our rescue Olde Tyme Bulldog. Apparently the bull breeds can be very stubborn, it’s in their genetic personality. She used to love walks 18 months ago and now is like an immovable pile of bricks when we get outside.
We are second week in to seeing (virtually) a dog behaviourist. Feeling your pain...

PS she’s probably 5-6 so a bit middle aged too!

Oh God, I'm doomed. 7-month-old puppy does this. Any stick or random leaf she will lie down in the middle of the pavement and gnaw, sniff and pat at it. Even firm tugging on her harness is ignored. I now lure her up with a small degree of success. I look like the idiot whose puppy is the boss at all times.

@LostArcher

This made me laugh 'she would sink to the ground and become the immovable rug unless you retraced your steps.' Yep, this was a regular feature of our walks until very recently.

At least I'm not suffering alone. My DH and I love bombed her along this morning, lots of little runs and noisy encouragement to change her mind whenever she decided we'd gone the 'wrong' way. We must have looked like total idiots. She enjoyed the walk in the end anyway so it felt positive. I'm vaguely remembering an It's Me Or the Dog episode where I think the owner was advised to stop her dog from walking in front as she gets the idea she's making the decisions, so I'll focus on that too in the 'problem' streets. I'm determined not to give up on our lovely green spaces around us.