Dog won’t walk with anyone but me

[SandlakeRd]

I have a 7 month cockerpoo (mumsnet crime I know!) and he is generally a good boy.

However I am definitely his person. He follows me around the house and likes to be close. When I take him out he is fine. When he goes with DH or anyone else he will plant himself and refuse to go off the drive. DH carries him half way round the block and then there is a sprint for home!

What can we do to alter this? I guess he is over bonded to me so need to address that? DH is getting frustrated to say the least!

I had this exact issue - ours would only go with me and no one else (or with someone else as long as I’m there too). Still a work in progress but what has helped LOADS is that she goes out with a dog walker twice a week (I work from home so it s a luxury rather than a necessity). At first she had to be picked up and put in the van, now she goes wild and pulls to get in. It’s really helped her confidence in lots of ways but especially with the idea that other people are great fun and will bring her back. Good luck with it. I’m sure you’ll get some good suggestions here.

Forgot to say - two other things that made a difference. She will go more readily with DH if I’m not at home when they leave, and also when he’s around more on school holidays and they’ve had chance to spend more time together.

My cocker spaniel is a velcro dog.

It's taken time but he will walk with others.... especially if they've got a squeaky toy or tennis ball. Distraction works best, I found.

Mine (show cocker, aged 9) was like that, and she still is for most people, but she will walk with my dh. It was perseverance and treats. Many treats. He can now walk her off the lead for pretty much most of her walk. It was out of necessity and the first time I was out of the country and the next few times I'd been in hospital and another time I'd torn a calf muscle. She is still very much my baby but she also dotes on dh, more so now.

Our jackchi is the same. .he's 9 and devoted to DP ....won't go out with anyone else....never been an issue tho

Does DH do anything else with him? Feed him? Play with him? Do any training?

I should have said he is better when I’m not at home. I actually hid around the corner the other day so MIL could take him out!

DH does loads with him; lots of play and does at least half of his meals .

Hmm - what happens if DH puts him in the car and drives him somewhere for a walk so he's not starting from home?

My 3 year old cockerpoo tries this. DH puts the harness on him and coaxes him out with a treat and then he's fine. He's definitely my dog and follows me everywhere. He even hides in the bathroom when I have a shower we call him stalker dog.