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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

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Original poster

what can i do about my contrary dog

25 replies

AbsolutelyPatsy · 04/08/2021 18:38

she comes out and then refuses to budge,
at first i thought she wanted to quarantine as we had a couple of days off from walking while isolating.
then i thought she missed my dd who was at home.
then i thought she may be knew it was going to rain, it was, or thought it was going to thunder
she often gets a bit awkward but now if i go down a field, if she doesnt want to go a particular way she just sits!

OP posts:

pigsDOfly · 04/08/2021 18:59

My dog does this.

If she's busy sniffing and looking for things in a field and I decide I'm bored and want to move on she'll sit down and give me her hardest stare.

Also, like your dog, if she's doesn't want to go a particular way, I get the same, sit down and stare at me.

I'm sure it makes me a terrible dog owner but I've pretty much given up arguing with her.

She wasn't always like that but she's 10 years old and getting a bit stubborn now.

Original poster

AbsolutelyPatsy · 04/08/2021 19:13

i had had to carry her recently!
mine is nearly 9,
i guess that explain it.

OP posts:

PinniGig · 04/08/2021 19:20

I've had a couple of dogs that way inclined and generally found a way around it was to walk them with a harness then when they decide to hit the brakes and plant their feet, just keep walking and nudge the lead and harness into keeping their back end up and legs on the move.

I don't usually make any fuss either just keep them moving with me and maybe giving “C'mon let's go” and don't let them have too much time or opportunity to do a sit down protest.

pigsDOfly · 04/08/2021 19:49

Yes, I've had to carry mine occasionally. Thankfully, she's not a Great Dane

I walk mine on a harness, but because she's small, trying to keep her back end up doesn't seem to work in the way it would with a bigger dog as the harness just seems to pull forward and she just digs her heels in and pulls back.

Occasionally, a 'c'mon, let's go' said in an upbeat, high pitched voice might work, but not always.

Original poster

AbsolutelyPatsy · 04/08/2021 20:35

thing is if we turn round and go back and she is full speed ahead!
just contrary

OP posts:

Wineat5isfine · 04/08/2021 21:09

Our old Westie used to do this. He would decide he wanted to go a different route to the one we had chosen and would stubbornly sit / lay down until we relented and went the way that he wanted to go.

He only started doing this from about the age of 8.

Original poster

AbsolutelyPatsy · 04/08/2021 21:42

yes, mine is not 9 yet
the awful 8s!

OP posts:

pigsDOfly · 04/08/2021 22:55

I think they probably get to an age when they start to realise that they have opinions and those opinions count

FrangipaniBlue · 04/08/2021 23:36

Mines not even 3 yet and this is pretty much every walk 😂

He will stop dead and refuse to move, so I go to walk back the other way and he refuses to go that way too!!

I can often be heard having a conversation with him along the lines "well which way do you want to go? You tell me me and we'll go that way!"

ilovepixie · 04/08/2021 23:42

My 6 year old Lhasa apso is like this too. She hides under the table when you try and take her out, then when you get her out she doesn't want to go the way I want or come home! She will just lay down with her back to you playing deaf!

Ihaventgottimeforthis · 05/08/2021 15:18

Are any of these dogs, especially the more elderly ones, masking joint pain or any other sort of discomfort?

I'd be considering getting a vet advice. If walking is causing your dog pain, it might not be obvious but could explain why she is unhappy and unwilling to continue but very keen to get back home where she knows she can rest and recover.

MissyB1 · 05/08/2021 15:31

My schnauzer is the same! She's been doing this since she was a puppy, and she's 6 now! No problem moving along though if she's off lead - funny that!!
Is your dog a terrier type OP? I do think they are very stubborn.

pigsDOfly · 05/08/2021 16:15

Ihaventgottimeforthis It certainly doesn't appear to be any sort of joint pain or any other physical problems with my 10 year old dog as that was my first thought when she started doing this and I've had her checked out by the vet.

She gets regular check ups so anything like that would be picked up.

I think she just has ideas about what she wants to do. As long as we go the way she wants to go she's okay.

Original poster

AbsolutelyPatsy · 05/08/2021 17:05

she is @MissyB1, a jack russell

OP posts:

Quickchangeartiste · 05/08/2021 17:12

@FrangipaniBlue I have that same conversation , frequently, with my older Lab. If he has a route in mind, that’s the way we will go 😄

Iheartmysmart · 05/08/2021 17:14

My spaniel is the same. He has his own mind on where we should go and absolutely will not deviate from that. There will be a full lay down on the pavement protest if I disagree with his choice. It’s a bit frustrating now he’s older as several of his favourite walks are a bit too far for him.

Original poster

AbsolutelyPatsy · 05/08/2021 17:57

no, it is not necessarily a method to get home, it is more a method of having her say in the choice of walk

OP posts:

MissyB1 · 05/08/2021 18:03

@AbsolutelyPatsy what is she like off lead? Will she follow you?

Original poster

AbsolutelyPatsy · 05/08/2021 18:18

not always @MissyB1,
that is one of the issues
she used to get stubborn but would relent if i disappeared from her vision, but lately she still sits until i come back !

OP posts:

lljkk · 05/08/2021 18:27

One of those dog whisperer sorts was on telly the other day for this kind of problem (in a Labrador). As usual, he sorted it in about 10 minutes. Must be a way.

MagicalThinking · 05/08/2021 18:40

Mine does this - she is very stubborn and doesn't want to walk unless its to her liking. Fields, grass, fetch? Yes. Pavements, wet, dark? No thanks.

Original poster

AbsolutelyPatsy · 07/08/2021 15:56

we had success today, she stood still, i carried on walking and she caught up with me, i wonder what the dog whisperer advised?

OP posts:

GlutenFreeGingerCake · 07/08/2021 16:03

My dog does this, she's very stubborn. She is medium sized but surprisingly hard to move if she doesn't want to go somewhere. Dh took her with us when he drove me to the GP recently and he was going to walk her round a nearby park while I had my appointment, but she refused and was determined to sit outside the surgery and wait for me. He thought it was quite sweet though.

pigsDOfly · 07/08/2021 16:27

she used to get stubborn but would relent if I disappeared from her vision, but lately she still sits until I come back !

She's trained you well OP

3beesinmybonnet · 07/08/2021 16:41

My dog loves his walks so I have this problem as soon as he suspects we're heading home. I have found if I face him and pull he resists but if I face the way I want to go, give the lead a little flick and say Cmon then in a sprightly tone it usually works. If not his escape proof harness has a handle on the back so I lift him up a little to get him going.

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