Dog won't walk with us

[WhatHaveIDone21]

Hi,

DDog is 3.5years old and used to love his walks each day. 2 months ago he was in an accident and was clipped by a car. He was so lucky and there were no broken bones or internal bleeding.

It took about a month to fully recover and he wasn't allowed to go out on walks for most of that time.

The problem we have now is that he hates going out on a street walk. He is happy to get in the car and go somewhere off lead which we can do at weekends and when his dog walker comes during the week. But at the moment with the dark nights I can't take him to isolated places after work because I'm a bit scared. If I try to walk him out my drive into the road he just pulls back and sits down. He absolutely doesn't want to go.

To make it even stranger, if my DDad comes and walks him during the day he will happily walk off with him onto the road. I don't understand why he will go with DDad but not me or DH.

Does anyone have any suggestions? The vet said to spend time with him on the driveway, gradually getting closer to the road but that doesn't seem to making much difference. He is getting at least one off lead walk a day at the moment but I'd like to be able to take him out on his lead again like we used to.

Who was walking him when he was ‘clipped by a car?’

If you have a garden where he can go to the loo then don't push it. If it's stressing him don't do it - build up his confidence again - every time you push him beyond his comfort zone is a step backwards.

@TheOnlyKoiInAPondOfGoldfish Yes I was just writing the same .

@Tannedandfake he was with DH. So I can understand why he might be reluctant with DH but not me?

@TheOnlyKoiInAPondOfGoldfish @janeeyreair yes we have a garden although it isn't massive. He's happy in the garden though.

There isn’t a quick fix to this. You have to do as the vet says and build up gradually. It takes time.

It might also be the time of day you’re trying to walk him. So he’s not happy for a dark walk. Listen to him, and wait for spring.

Ask your dad to come over and walk him, but go (you) as well. Do lots of fuss about how he's being a good boy as you are walking, without your dad saying anything at all, just holding the lead.
Once he's been happy with that for several walks (I'd give it a couple of weeks at least), swap places with your dad so you are holding the lead and your dad walks alongside.
In time, hopefully he will respond and gain back his trust in walking with you on your own. (I'm not placing any blame on you, BTW, just saying that your dog might associate walking with you to him being hurt - sorry.)
You could try leaving your dad behind a bit so you are walking for a while and then your dad catches up if your dog seems anxious.
That might do the trick - at least I hope so.
Good luck.

@vipersnest1 I hadn't thought about taking him out with my dad so will give that a try. And if he doesn't like it I'll leave it a while like others have suggested.

I wasn't with him when he was hurt but I did look after him including sleeping on the floor with him for days so he may associate me with that time.

Honestly, don't push him.

It's much better that he stays home where he feels safe, and if you have a garden, he doesn't need evening walks.

Have you tried giving him treats as you walk? I’m not being flippant, mine would walk through fire if I held out a bit of steak. It might help to override the association of walking in the streets with danger/pain.

My dog had an aversion to walking out of our house, we never did work out what caused it.

It helped if we put him in the car and drove him somewhere close by and then walked him home while the other one took the car. That way he got to experience the big he was scared of in a less threatening way.

The bit he was scared of, not big

I think walking with your dad is a good plan - my hound is scared of fireworks and after an unfortunate incident (before it was dark, even - inconsiderate arseholes!) when I was walking her she sometimes won’t go for a walk with just me. If other people come too she’s fine. I don’t ever walk her at dusk or in the dark anymore - it’s garden only. She’ll cheer up in the spring, it’s just one of her quirks.

Fucking annoying, and inconvenient, to be honest. But you either spend ages doing the treats on driveway and patience dance, or you accept this is how things are for a bit. I mostly don’t have time to spend ages doing desensitisation training so I try not to be offended, and work around it.

Thanks so much for the replies.

I think part of it is that I just feel guilty he's not getting out as much. He seems happy enough with one walk a day - he loves running after his ball so we throw that in the house and garden and to be honest he just likes being around us.

But then sometimes I read threads on here about how much dogs should be walked and it makes me feel bad that I'm not doing enough to get past this. But then I constantly worry about him and if he's happy with his life with us - DH thinks I'm nuts!

Honestly, one good quality walk a day is absolutely fine.

MN is a bit obsessed with dogs getting multiple walks every single day and heaven forbid you skip a day occasionally

But if the dog is happy and showing no signs of destruction or needing to go out more or for longer, then I really wouldn't worry about it!

All good responses. Probably a good idea to speak with a good local trainer as well. Might take a while to resolve.

Poor pupper.

I read a blog by a dog trainer a while ago and the jist of it was basically if a dog is nervous about going out for a walk then don't stress it. 20 minutes of brain training games is equal to a good walk. So if he's getting a walk in the day maybe you could try some brain games in the evening and not worry about taking him out while it's dark.
My dog hates walking in the dark, he jumps at every noise and he just can't see everything as well. With the lights of cars passing by he just dosent enjoy it so we keep walking to daylight hours only.