Dog intermittently refusing to walk

[Lockdownlard]

We have recently rehomed a 8 month old English bull terrier. She has been quite well settled, however she is often stopping whilst out on walks and refusing to move. She is fine off the lead and also happy enough walking at other times so I don’t think she’s in pain (we do about 3 x half hour walks a day) - we are due to take her to the vets as we need to register her and she is due worming. A friend suggested using treats to encourage her to walk forward but I am worried about the effect of lots of treats on her digestion - are there treats which are healthier for dogs?

I have owned terriers all my life but this is my first English bull terrier - I have heard they are stubborn - and that’s not wrong!! She is very boisterous and friendly so also wants to approach every dog and person she sees on walks. We are booked in to do the good citizen training, but due to covid there’s a wait until December. Any suggestions welcome.

Is she on a collar or harness ?

You could use her normal biscuits for treats, or something mild on the stomach like plain chicken.

But I would be trying to find the trigger for her stopping. Has something spooked her in that spot before so she doesn't want to walk that way? If she carries on walking does it mean, eg. Going over a bridge or through a big puddle or something that she doesn't like?

She’s got a collar, just a plain leather one - not a choke one. Normal lead not an extendable one.

There doesn’t seem to be any pattern to it, she will just put the brakes on, stop and then a minute later start walking again - it’s not to sniff as she just stands there - when she wants to sniff I let her as it’s all new to her.

Plain chicken is a good idea, I’ll get some and cut it up into really small pieces.

I always used treats on my rescue pup to encourage him when he first came to us. It took about 2 weeks to get out of our street but he loves walking now.

Check your surroundings when he stops. Mine was terrified of cars and open space. With houses on either side he was fine, so long as he couldn't hear an engine or see any moving traffic. I spent time in the front garden with him where he felt safe at school end time when the neighbours were all coming out and fed fresh roast chicken every time a car drove into the street. He ignores traffic now after a few weeks of looking for his treat when cars drove by.

If you're worried about treats use something natural and easy to digest like chicken or stop feeding from a bowl and use his meals as training currency.

Hand feeding will improve your bond and help keep his focus on you while out on walks.

When you say she’s fine off lead is that in a park? It’s common pups don’t want to walk away from home and you say you recently rehomed her so it’s all new. If she isn’t too big, try picking her up and walking her to the end of the road and walking home. If she walks, then it is a confidence thing which will grow with time as she settles. Also gets her practising walking on the lead. Do it a few times and you will find she will be happy to walk out. Otherwise if a park isn’t too far from you try walking her there or carry part of the way and she will quickly learn to walk out of the home to go to the park.

With treating, is she fed kibble? Try using some from her breakfast on the walks so you’re not adding extra calories. When using treats it’s important not to show the treat before the behaviour (effectively bribing), you want to offer it AFTER the behaviour (reinforcing/rewarding).

Maybe she doesn't care for 3 walks a day. I take mine out twice for 45mns/60mns but at times she doesn't care for the first one ans only wants to go out late afternoon.

If you are using treats make sure you are rewarding her WHEN she is moving NOT when she is still and you want her to move.

If you treat her when she is still you will usually see an increase in the stopping behaviour.

It could also be with a youngish dog that when she is looking at something, or unsure of something she stops. It may be a sound, smell etc so not always clear to the owner.

If you add treats to her diet just cut down on her daily food allowance a bit.

I personally don’t like a lead and collar, maybe she would prefer a harness or has previously had one ?
My dog stops and looks around sometimes. I think it’s control, she wants to stop so she does !

She's been a bit better today, taking on board the advice from here - bought some cooked chicken and cut it up quite small, put a hoody on and put the chicken in the pocket - she saw it go in and was staying quite close to me, when she was pulling I would turn around and stop, and then go again, when she wasn't pulling she had the odd bit of chicken. When she put the brakes on I just stopped and waited for her to go again and then gave her a bit of chicken. She is really clever so I think she will progress quickly.

It's a bit difficult as we don't have a garden that she can go in and out of, so to take her out for toileting she has to go out of the front door onto a grassy area in front of the house on a lead, so I just walk around the block with her - I do think she is getting used to sights sounds and smells so will let her get used to them. She is terrible if she sees a dog - one walked past on the other side of the road earlier and she wouldn't move until it was out of sight! I have read I shouldn't pull her forcibly so end up standing around quite a lot waiting for her to move! Or standing around waiting for her to stop pulling - the walks are not very far in distance although seem to take a long time!

My previous dog was quite old aged, I forget what it's like for a younger dog - she still has a lot of puppy like behaviours - I've got her a few toys although she seems to prefer socks to play with. She won't settle unless she's in her crate - if she is in there she will have a little sleep but she is on the go all the time otherwise. Her crate is in the living room where we are most of the time except night time (she settles well at night) - I have had to put her in the crate when I am trying to have online meetings, as she is all over me, scrabbling at me and trying to bite my hair etc. Her previous owner used to crate her overnight and when out, so she takes that in her stride, and doesn't seem to mind.

I would definitely try a harness if you haven't tried one already.

Collars are great for some dogs but if they've had a bad experience on one (a human pulling them back or around by the neck) then a harness is a better option for them.

You can get cheap but good quality harnesses on Amazon. We have an Eagloo which was £20 and works just as well as the more expensive brands like Ruffwear or Perfect Fit.

My dog-not a rescue- does this. She is both clever and stubborn.

She tends to do it when she disagrees which way we are going-including which side of the road we walk on. Very opinionated.
Or for random, inexplicable reasons.

I usually just pause and wait and she will trot on.
My DH says it is the only way she can express her opinion

*also agree re harness

Have got this harness from Amazon, looked like a good one and not a bad price so if it’s unsuccessful not too much of a loss.

Limited-time deal: Funfox Dog Harness No Pull Pet Harness, Adjustable Dog Vest for Easy Walking, Breathable Oxford Material, Reflective Strips with Metal Front Clip for Control Small Medium Large Breed Dogs www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B088K44D33/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_dl_HHJEKZT4Q8C5VHFNAQDD?psc=1&_encoding=UTF8&tag=mumsnetforu03-21