Problem on walks with my Lab....

[Artemis6]

For the past few weeks my 2.5yo chocolate male Lab has developed a very strange habit on our walks.

He will just stop! And he won’t budge. I say things like “Shall we go home for your lunch?” which helps sometimes as he knows the word “lunch”.

But generally, I end up having to pull him on the lead and collar, which can’t feel very nice.

When he stops he looks quite worried/scared but there’s nothing in sight to scare him! There also hasn’t been an incident that might have scared him whilst out walking.

He’s a completely different boy off-lead on the beach or in the park and is sociable, playful and loving life!

This doesn’t happen on the way to the beach/park as he’s in such a rush to get there.

When he was about 15 months he had double elbow dysplasia surgery which went very well and although he’s not limping, I’m wondering whether he’s in any pain on the walk home?
He never yelps though and after the op, the orthopaedic surgeon said that he would live a completely normal life and, after the recovery period, to not limit him in any way re exercise.

I’m going to order him a harness in case this continues as I hate having to pull him by the collar.

Anyone have any ideas as to what this might be?

Bump

I have a retriever who is lovely but they are stubborn and my sister works with labs and has said similar they just don’t want to go where you’re going. Mine will stop and be like no I will not continue I’ve seen other retrievers do similar. If you think it’s something that’s triggered him no walks for s few days can help you can play games indoors etc but my dog wouldn’t put up with that, he likes his walks. I’d just turn round and say this way and redirect - my boy has been known to lie down and refuse to move though so….good luck hope he’s ok rule out pain etc first of course

I’d be speaking to a vet first. If there’s no obvious external trigger it’s probably internal. And also a learned behaviour, if it’s worked for him once then he’ll do it again. Hope he’s ok.

When he stops he looks quite worried/scared but there’s nothing in sight to scare him! There also hasn’t been an incident that might have scared him whilst out walking.

Just because you can’t see anything doesn’t mean there isn’t something (particularly if it’s happening at the same place).

My three had a total fit about a month ago now. Complete hysterics including screaming and attempted running away from three dogs who are very robust (literally nothing phases them). Never done it before or since - and I’ve carefully avoided that walk since.

Dogs sense/smell things we don’t and if your dog genuinely looks scared then I think you should just avoid that route tbh.

Any change in behaviour needs a vet check, especially if he's becoming reluctant to walk.

The fact that he doesn't do it on the way to the park/beach doesn't mean anything really. Lots of dogs will mask pain when they're excited.

A vet check for pain would be first.
Then think about any attention you are giving him when he stops. This could be enough to reward the behaviour.

Thanks all.

Devilshands It doesn’t happen in the same place.

lifebeginsaftercoffee He’s never reluctant to go out on walks, it just happens during the walks but usually on the way home after a lot of off-lead activity.
Good point about masking pain/excitement. He’s definitely excited when he’s running around having fun!

I will call the vet in the morning.

Is it happening about the same distance to home? I'm wondering if you turned around if he would be ok. It might be because he knows the walk is over.
I'd get him checked by the vet first, just to rule out any pain issues.

My stubborn lab does this when he isn't going the way he would like to go. Drives me nuts.

it just happens during the walks but usually on the way home after a lot of off-lead activity.

This really makes me think of pain, sorry 😬 you're doing the right thing getting him checked.

As previous posters said a check for pain would be a good idea.

My girl started doing this around the age of 2 and we worked out she just didn’t want to go home. We worked with a trainer who taught us to throw some small treats in front of her as she started to lie down to keep her excited to walk. Also hold some treats in our hands and “guide” her with them, feeding every so often and then slowly extending the time between giving them.

This stopped quite quickly and she’s now fine.

I remember many times sitting down in frustration and nearly coming to tears over just not being able to move her. It’s a distant memory now!

Yeap my Lab bitch does this too, she has certain routes that she loves and always wants to walk down certain paths.It drives me mad I’ve tried lots of things nothing works, I now just go the way I know she likes.

Labradoodlesnoodles
Oh yes, I’ve been close to tears too!

Mine does this when he clocks that we are not going to the park to see his little doggie friends.

He also does it when we are not going to the river.

Despite the fact that he's never persuaded me to change my plans, it's a regular occurrence

Mine does this when he doesn't want to go home yet, or wants to play. I know it isn't pain as he always does it at a junction where we either go home, or go to a part of the woods where we sometimes play with a ball. I am not pulling, just keeping gentle pressure on the lead.

My strategies are any of the following:-

1. Gentle pressure while I face the way I want to go until he gives in. This has taken various lengths of time.
2. Release the lead and continue walking in the direction I want to go. He eventually follows.
3. Walk the other way so he follows, then turn and keep up momentum. It's easier to keep a walking dog moving than to move an immobile one.

He cannot win as he will just do it more. I don't want to bribe him either as he will do it more. I won't drag him, so need to do something other than that.

My retriever is 'seeing ghosts' just now. Today she sat down and stared into the distance as if someone was coming.

Similar here. Am always wary of pain, however the need to stop could be attributed to a few things - mainly he's hot after playing, or thirsty, in which case I'm happy to stop. The clincher here is it NEVER happens on the way out for a walk, ALWAYS on the way home 🤣

My friends lab had a form of dementia which caused changes in behaviour. Definitely worth a vet visit.

Just been checked by vet and it's not related to any pain.

He has discharge in one of his ears....he has been a bit yelpy when we've touched around the ear area so being prescribed steroids and vet going to check discharge further.

Dogs aren’t stubborn. They are not motivated in some situations to do what you want. So pain and fear aside, dog stops because he doesn’t want walk to end. Not stubborn. Walk is more motivating. So make the end of the walk fun. Doesn’t want to go a certain way? Nothing in it for him. Make it worth it.

Surely that is stubborn? Completely refusing/not being motivated to do what you should be doing. If you're completely refusing to do something then the chances are it's because you're not motivated to do it. My son was stubborn about cleaning his teeth because he wasn't motivated/didn't want to do it.

Ok, I'll reframe. My lab stops and looks mournfully at the river because he is motivated by getting muddy and wet and doing big fabulous belly flops.

I am motivated by getting home in time to start work, and not having to wash and dry the dog every morning.

We compromise by going for very long water filled walks on the weekend, and generally on a Monday morning he's quite relieved that I'm off to work and he gets to have a lovely nap.

The pp's trick of walking one step towards the river then doing a 180 is the best solution

Stubborn - having or showing dogged determination not to change one's attitude or position on something, especially in spite of good arguments or reasons to do so.

My dog is clever. But not that clever. Dogs literally do not have the part of the brain active that facilitates this. There is a difference between stubborn and unmotivated. I don’t want to get off the sofa at bed time. I’m not stubborn I’m just unmotivated because the sofa is comfy and I’m tired 😉

My dog-not a lab- will stop on walk too-lay down, refuse to move etc

With her it is because she wants to go a different way, doesn't want to leave park, wants to go to the pet store or wants to be given a biscuit (she is currently training me apparently)

It's the only way she has to tell me she disagrees with my plan.

Have you tried walking back the way a few steps then turning back around towards home?