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The doghouse

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Original poster

Ddog refusing to carry on walking

28 replies

Pyracanth · 03/01/2022 18:31

Anyone else with a dog who stops mid-walk and stubbornly refuses to continue? I walk my 18 month old goldador (lab x golden retriever) 3 miles in the morning usually same country lane as the distance works for us. At a particular point there is a track that leads to fields where I let him off the lead often on weekends. Just at or after this point he stops and refuses to go any further. He is healthy in every way although is coming up for his 6 month check so will mention it to the vet. Further along our route there is a cemetery where he can get a drink if he likes so he can’t be thirsty. The point is mid way around our route, we will have just turned a corner and perhaps he senses we are on the return leg (although still some way to go)?Unfortunately he is now starting to stop at multiple points always after this point. He also stops when we reach home so I always have a bit of cheese ready and then he comes willingly. He has a very comfortable home, and daily routine and I’m home with him most days all day as wfh.
Does anyone have any ideas? Just stubbornness or May be something else? What else can I do other than offer him cheese (which does not seem to entice him anymore). I don’t think this route is too far for his age, but any advice welcome. Thanks in advance!

OP posts:
HappyThursdays · 03/01/2022 18:35

Does he want to go off lead at that point?

Can you take him on a different route so he's not doing the same walk every day?

Totalwasteofpaper · 03/01/2022 18:38

Our ddog does this at a particular junction we now call "kibble corner" as we have to lure her around the bend with kibble and away from the high street which has lots of 4 day old kebab and chips alluring and exotic delicacies

Original poster
Pyracanth · 03/01/2022 18:41

@HappyThursdays We do go a different route sometimes and he’s less stoppy but he does still do it. I literally have to drag him or we’d be there all day! Today we walked a field route total 5 miles and he was off lead for some of it and still stopped near the usual point, just before the cemetery as it happens.

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BeLessMe · 03/01/2022 18:43

Maybe he’s stopping as he’s saying he wants to go where he can go off lead and go for a longer walk & that’s why he doesn’t want to go back home?
How long does it take to do your 3 miles? Does he also have a walk later in the day?

Original poster
Pyracanth · 03/01/2022 18:43

@Totalwasteofpaper perhaps I need to try some different unpredictable food haha. May be he’s over the cheese. Reassuring that my dog is not the only one who does this Grin

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Original poster
Pyracanth · 03/01/2022 18:47

@BeLessMe The walk takes one hour. He has a 30 / 40 minute walk in the evening too if he’s only had the hour in the morning. But during the week he’s not really let off the lead as much.

It could just be this tbh as he does love running around off the lead but if I don’t wish to go those routes how do I make him walk (without it looking as though I’m dog napping him Grin )

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PollyRoulllson · 03/01/2022 19:06

I just knew this would be a goldie or a goldie mix Smile.

Its what goldies do (a lot) look at the hundreds of videos on you tube to see others in the same predicament.

If you are using treats make sure you reward when your dog is walking and not when they have stopped to get them walking. Goldies are very clever and soon work out how to get the food, then how to get the better food (stay still for longer Grin)

Gribbie · 03/01/2022 19:23

I also knew this would be a goldie or mix Grin

UnoriginalPenguin · 03/01/2022 19:28

Someone stopped their car last week to offer me a lift with my poor injured dog. He wasn't injured of course, he just wanted to go a different way to me at the crossroads (him - towards the kebab shop where he once snaffled a lamb doner, and the big park with the ice-cream van and tons of goose shit, me - home, out of the rain).

WhiteXmas21 · 03/01/2022 19:46

My guess is he’s figured out you will give him treats to get him to move. My labs do this ( to be fair Lab 1 trained Lab 2 to do it).
We have a treat as we leave the house and at various times points along the road.
It’s carrot, apple or non fattening stuff btw, as I am wise to his tricks.

Nothingoriginalhere · 03/01/2022 19:59

It may be just a stubborn dog but our Airedale did this for months, was examined by a vet, had blood tests etc and nothing found but then developed a limp. And has since been diagnosed with mild hip dysplasia and likely elbow dysphasia. She also get interdigital cysts in between her toes due to her limb stiffness which actually cause her the most issues,

Suzi888 · 03/01/2022 20:01

Yup my Lab has always done this, no idea why. He’s 11 now and when the breaks go on- that’s it. Treats will take him a little further, but pointless really.

anonanonanon123 · 03/01/2022 20:10

Yep our golden lab does this. Sometimes mid walk, sometimes on the driveway if he wants to go in the car (he thinks the car will take him to a "nicer" walk) 🙃 have seen me having to drive him 30 seconds up the road where upon he will merrily leap out and walk the same route I'd planned to walk from the house.

Postdatedpandemic · 03/01/2022 22:08

So he stops and has a bit of a sulk that he is not going to go bonkers off lead. Then he gets rewarded by a lovely snack for stopping. He's clever.

What's he like with squeaky toys? Could you have a special mummy squeaky toy thank can only be played with under your supervision? Get it out before the fave stop points, squeak, skip and cheer lead him on.
Dignity is left at the door when you get a dog.

fairylightsandwaxmelts · 04/01/2022 07:13

With that mix of breeds I would have him checked for pain - both breeds are prone to hip and elbow dysplasia.

However I suspect he's just learnt that stopping and sulking means that he gets a treat Wink I would use another motivator that's not food - a squeaky ball or tug toy maybe.

I would also start switching routes so you're not doing the same walk in the same direction every day. I appreciate it's convenient for you but I suspect he's a bit bored, especially if it's a lead walk with no chance for off-lead play.

MrsLargeEmbodied · 04/01/2022 07:23

ha ha, my ddog loves hopping into the car for a different walk,
there is one particular walk over the fields, she loves, but she hates the lane on the way there
i never thought of treats.
contrary

chocolateorangeinhaler · 04/01/2022 07:45

Is he in any pain? Young Dogs don't need miles and miles of walking every day. It damages their joints. Is it the same walk, he may be mentally bored of the same route. Try stimulating him in other ways such as find a favorite toy under a flowerpot in the garden type of thing.

CovoidOfAllHumanity · 04/01/2022 08:15

My dog does this when he doesn't want to go home or he wants to visit 'kebab corner' where once upon a time he managed to snaffle a discarded doner.

We usually try to manage it by going a different route so he doesn't realise he is headed home. We have used treats to lure him on sometimes as he is too big to drag very successfully but I don't actually give it to him more lure him along with it. As soon as his butt moves off the floor I combine the treat with running along enthusiastically so he can't sit back down again and then he will usually forget about it.

It is a worry that you reinforce the behaviour by giving treats but it's hard to know what to do in the immediate moment when you are stuck with a massive stubborn mutt who will not move. We were told not to give him an opportunity to practice bad behaviour hence if he does it on a certain route we avoid it for a while. Fortunately we have a number of walking routes near here.

FrecklesMalone · 04/01/2022 08:19

@anonanonanon123

Yep our golden lab does this. Sometimes mid walk, sometimes on the driveway if he wants to go in the car (he thinks the car will take him to a "nicer" walk) 🙃 have seen me having to drive him 30 seconds up the road where upon he will merrily leap out and walk the same route I'd planned to walk from the house.
This is so funny as it rings so true. Mine was the same. Another golden Lab.
FrecklesMalone · 04/01/2022 08:22

Mine need to have a lot of variety in their walks. If I did the same walk every day we would have lots of naughty behaviour. I always think of Labs as explorers who need stimulation all the time.

MissyB1 · 04/01/2022 08:24

Can I just say that my mini schnauzer is the absolute worst for this!! She’s a bloody diva! Trouble is she has most of her walks off lead and now bitterly resents being on a lead 🙄

fairylightsandwaxmelts · 04/01/2022 08:31

My dog does this when he doesn't want to go home or he wants to visit 'kebab corner' where once upon a time he managed to snaffle a discarded doner.

I love this 🤣 my beagle has "breakfast bench" - he once found a half eaten breakfast baguette under there and now has to investigate it thoroughly every time we walk past just to make sure there isn't another 🙄

Thatldo · 04/01/2022 08:52

He probably wants something better than cheese now.Your dog has trained you to give him treats to walk.Maybe after a vet check up,to see there is really nothing wrong with him physically,you need to give him the message,you are the boss.this will probably take a bit of time,but with persistence( no treats for walking) he will get the message.

LeakyLoftHatch · 04/01/2022 09:16

I have the same mixed breed and exactly the same behaviour! As others have said, clever dogs quickly work out they get a reward for stopping, and they also become even more reluctant to move if you try to pull the lead If you have the patience to work on it over time rather than a quick fix bribe, try just standing still. Eventually DDog will move once they realise they aren't getting any attention and nothings happening. I find taking even taking a small step backwards helps as it releases the pressure on the lead allowing DDog to feel she is in control rather than being dragged. Once she moves again, lots of verbal encouragement and a good pace with short lead keep her going. I was taught this technique by a v experienced trainer, it took a little while with me just looking stupid standing still but now works a treat, in fact she doesn't try very often any more. Good luck!

Original poster
Pyracanth · 04/01/2022 11:14

@anonanonanon123 that’s hilarious 🙃

Thank you for the advice everyone. I will try the no treat way and also try to find some new routes 😊

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