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The doghouse

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

Original poster

Anxious dog refusing to go on walks and generally sad

20 replies

Rockbird · 19/08/2023 11:09

We have a 14 month old rescue who we've had for 10 months. Until about Easter she was fine, loved walks, seemed happy etc. Since then she refuses to go on walks at all. Is fine in the garden but won't entertain going out further. We can occasionally get her out to walk for 5 or 10 minutes if we drive somewhere and she loves being in the car but she just refuses to walk generally. She adores other dogs and loves to play with them.

She was found outside the rescue when she was newborn and so she didn't have any bad experiences that we know of. She was fine with everything when we got her, it was around Halloween and she didn't blink at fireworks etc.

The only thing DH can pin it to is the noise of the bin lorry when he took her for a walk one morning. It hadn't bothered her up till then but that seemed to be a factor.

We're away at the moment and have run out of ideas. We'll take her to the vet when we get back but we wondered if there was anything else we could try that aren't the usual things we've tried already. We love her to bits but she seems so sad at the moment.

OP posts:
Tiddlywinks63 · 19/08/2023 11:11

Do you have a dog owning friend who could walk with you?

DarkForces · 19/08/2023 11:11

My sister uses a pheromone plug in for her stressed dog. It makes a difference really quickly at home at least

ConnieTucker · 19/08/2023 11:13

Have you checked her claws?

Carouselfish · 19/08/2023 11:13

Is she a border collie or collie cross? They can be very noise sensitive. We got ours used to noises like traffic, children playing etc with a noise cd. You play it daily, very quietly at first, then increasing the volume after a few days. Have a look on amazon.
Then there are thunder jackets that might work. Like a close fitting tee-shirt, gives the dog a sense of pressure which is comforting.
You sound like very caring owners.
Another possibility is hurting leg/foot/claws. Have a thorough look between toes etc. It is grass seed season.

ConnieTucker · 19/08/2023 11:13

And checked her paws?

XelaM · 19/08/2023 11:14

Maybe she would sit in a dog buggy?

Duchessofspace · 19/08/2023 11:15

Get her a companion if an option - another rescue dog and then walk together and good company - some dogs need another dog

if you can’t take on another - walk with another dog and plenty of play dates

I’ve pretty much always had more than one dog - mine spent loads of time with us 1-2-1 or both of them snuggled, walking, playing etc but they also snuggle a lot together, sleepy together (paws around each other) and watch out the window together and play together. Very much licking each other and at night paws around each other.

Floralnomad · 19/08/2023 11:19

If she wants to just go for a drive and get out for 10 minutes and that is what makes her happy then do that . Is she generally happy at home and in the garden , if so I wouldn’t worry too much .

Original poster
Rockbird · 19/08/2023 11:29

Thank you all.

She is due a groom but will take a close look at paws and trim claws etc.

She seems to be happy enough pottering around at home. She is a champion sniffer though, that's her thing and so we like to try to take her somewhere different to have a good sniff.

No idea what breed she is but I don't think there's any kind of collie in there.

And yes I've thought about a buggy. It didn't take much as I used to love a pushchair when my girls were younger 😉.

OP posts:
Original poster
Rockbird · 19/08/2023 11:30

Obligatory pic. Hope no one I know is on here!

Anxious dog refusing to go on walks and generally sad
OP posts:
Floralnomad · 19/08/2023 11:30

You can always hide some things in the garden for her to sniff out

XelaM · 19/08/2023 11:57

Gorgeous girl 😍she looks like a Beagle mix?

IngGenius · 19/08/2023 13:41

Please get her vet checked asap.

You need to rule out any medical issue before assuming it is a 100% behavioural issue.

Chocolatecoveredshitpig · 19/08/2023 14:53

Barring any medical issue, I wouldn't worry too much. I have a nervous Bulgarian rescue - she's been with us 2 years now and it took two months just to get her to walk to the end of our road. We got a behaviourist round for help and after a lot of time and patience she learned to love going for walks. She'll happily walk for hours now, HOWEVER, she still has odd days when she just sits down at the door and refuses to move. I never know what it is that's bothered her, but once she says no, that's it. She'll usually happily go the next day. They're funny old things.

cinnamonfrenchtoast · 19/08/2023 15:16

She needs to be checked for pain - tbh I'm quite shocked that you've let it go on since Easter without getting her looked at.

lifesabitchandthenyoudie · 19/08/2023 15:18

This might be silly but is that a new harness? We rescued a Beagle who came with a harness but she got steadily more reluctant to go for walks; she is very 'sensory' (think ADHD) and I realised she wasn't liking the harness. She's much happier now with just a lead attached to a collar. Just a thought...

She is lovely, I'm sure you'll find what it is x

NoSquirrels · 19/08/2023 15:32

Oh what a sweetheart! I have a houndish mix who’s a rescue, and she’s noise sensitive, and has got much worse over a few years - in the spring and summer she’s fine, then past Bonfire Night and New Year through to spring it’s a bit of a downhill thing where the conditions have to be increasingly perfect for a walk (not too windy, not too wet, not too dark etc) and she can seem sad a lot. Like doggie SAD. The vet can prescribe anti anxiety meds, and if you can focus on enriching sniffy experiences and playing at home (mine doesn’t play) then patience is usually the key and definitely no forcing. Is yours a U.K. rescue?

Original poster
Rockbird · 19/08/2023 18:48

@cinnamonfrenchtoast

Strangely she loves the vet and, when she can be persuaded to go out the first place she heads is the vet. It's at the end of our road and they know her well and always give her a treat which she knows fine well! I know it's not a substitute for an actual check up but they always chat to her and comment how healthy etc she looks. So I guess we put it more down to psychological issues than physical.

What can I say, we're learning too. I feel awful now you've said that. We will be getting her checked properly asap.

OP posts:
cinnamonfrenchtoast · 19/08/2023 19:23

Any change in behaviour (that can't be rationally explained) really does warrant a vet check in dogs.

A dog who has been reluctant to walk for five months is clearly struggling with something - it could be psychological but you really do need to rule out pain in the first instance. Dogs are excellent at masking pain (it's a survival thing) so they often don't show they feel pain unless it's really bad.

I would book a thorough physical exam with your vet ASAP. Get them to check absolutely everything - legs, joints, paws, nails, ears, eyes, teeth etc. Once you've ruled out pain then you can think about whether it's psychological and whether she may benefit from medication and/or behavioural support.

21ZIGGY · 19/08/2023 21:00

If not physical, go at her pace. If shes only comfortable in the front garden or at the front door, sit there with her and watch the world go by. Maybe use a longline so if she wants to be brave, she can. Reward but do not push.

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