Dog(selectively) refusing walks

[Noodge]

I WFH four or five days a week, differing hours.

Dog will always walk with me if I take her first thing in the morning or lunchtime at work.

If I go to take her out after work (5/6/7/8pm) she absolutely will not get out of the car, if I can get her in it to go further afield, and often will not leave the house at all. She'll have her ears back, cower, disappear down the cellar or under the table so I can't get her. If I get her IN the car to our usual walking spot (walking distance from my house but a nicer walk if I drive to it if that makes sense) again, ears back, gloomy look on face, anchoring herself into the car so that I can't get her out until I absolutely DRAG her, and I am afraid of hurting her (plus it isn't easy, she's just under 7stone!).

She used to love coming to the gym with me, but recently if I take her there she'll refuse to get out of the car-this has meant I've had to come home! It's too hot to leave her in the car plus a bit of a dodgy area there.

She LOVES coming to the pub with me. My reason for writing this thread is, I am off work for a few days now and I have just driven to our usual walking spot with her, wouldn't get out, tried another further afield, wouldn't get out and then I thought I'd go to the pub and have a drink and raed my book, no chance she'll not get out there! But she wouldn't.

I've recently had to drop her off at my Mum's (where she LEAPT out of the car at!) because she wouldn't get out to walk and wouldn't get out at home! and I wanted to go to the gym.

So much for dogs keeping you fit!

I've had her checked at the vet very recently. Nothing wrong. No fleas. Recently wormed. 8 years old and has always ran for miles with me, walked no problem, giddy as hell, very playful.

Any ideas? I am stumped!

FWIW I took her to the pub with me last night and she was very happy there, no issue going (I walked as wanted an alcoholic drink) everyone makes a huge fuss of her there-no problem at all.

I feel like I am being cruel not walking her, but it seems she just doesn't want to! And obviously it isn't evening yet, certainly wasn't a couple of hours ago when my expedition started today-it was a usual time I'd walk her and she'd ordinarily have been fine so I thought!

Is it round her meal time?

The body language would suggest fear. Something has frightened her which she is associating with going there at that time.

I would get her checked for pain (most vet visits won't check for it unless the owner specifically asks).

But what stands out to me is that you don't really seem to be listening to her. There's clearly something wrong and you need to figure out what. But in the mean time, leave her - if she doesn't want to go, she can stay home, surely?

How old is she? Our dog has got to the age and stage that she digs her heels in, in a sort of 'what are you going to do about it?' way. It coincided with my menopause and I could really relate to her 'fuck that' attitude!

I'd leave it, let her walk in the morning. I expect she is linking pain or fear to evening walks. Did she have bloods done?

The heat? Our husky is staying indoors lately... Walks after dark she is fine with... Makes for a late bedtime!

Well clearly the OP is trying to ‘listen’ to her as she’s tried numerous ways to help her dog. She’s had her checked out at the vets. She’s also gone to the trouble of posting on here asking if others might have any ideas.

OP, I’m sorry your dog can’t talk but hope you get to the bottom of your dog’s issues.

I meant in the sense that she keeps asking the dog to the same thing, even though her body language is screaming that she's unhappy.

I'd also reiterate that a check over at the vets doesn't necessarily mean a dog has properly been checked over for pain. Most vets have no reason to check a dog for pain unless the owner specifically mentions any concerns.

That's very interesting behaviour. Is there anything different about the evening walk compared to the morning/lunchtime walk? Do you go different places? Walk her with a different harness, anything different at all? Do you only use the car for the evening walk?

Has anything happened on an evening walk? Even just a bang that made her jump?

Is the reluctance to go to the gym at any time or only evening?

Just re-reading OP, and this bit stuck out:

I've had her checked at the vet very recently. Nothing wrong. No fleas. Recently wormed. 8 years old and has always ran for miles with me, walked no problem, giddy as hell, very playful.

Is it possible she’s become bored? Have you tried throwing balls, making it a bit more engaging? (I’m merely scrabbling around for solutions ! And love dogs).

What breed is she, OP? For many giant breeds, 8 years old is quite elderly. It may all just be too much.

This is kind of what I was trying to get at.

A seven stone dog is well into giant breed territory - and many (sadly) don't make it to double figures. It's very likely that there's some arthritis going on and she's likely in pain. Jumping in/out of the car and going on multiple walks could just be way too much for her now.

Is there something outside at that time that she is fearful of?

We had a horse with a similar issue, would only go out at certain times not others and eventually we realised it was because one of the other horses was out at that time in a paddock and the gate was closed. He was frightened of the leftover Xmas tinsel stuck to the gate and didn't want to walk past it. When the gate was open, it wasn't visible.

Is this only since it's been hot? I'm thinking maybe the hot pavement etc has burnt her paws and now if she can feel the ground is hot she's afraid it'll happen again. Obviously the ground will be cooler am, and hotter pm.
I have a reactive lurcher and what with that and the heat we've learnt to love our summer night walks!

Our boy (almost 7 yrs) has always been a bit of a sod for wanting to go on the walk he wants to go on...or not go at all if not interested/lightly raining (no chance). He's 8.5 stone and I think the big ones become adept at using their size to good effect.

Having said that, the vet thinks there is some arthritis starting, so that might make a difference too. He is a very independent breed (Rhodesian Ridgeback) and they're known for doing stuff like this!

Thank you all, I'll respond properly later but yes, when I took her to the vet it was for him to check for signs of pain, which he did. Walked her around and looked at her limbs, listened to her heart and couldn't locate anything. It started before it got hot but not as frequently.

Yes I can leave her at home. She'll always be fine to get out at my Mum's or (until today!) The pub.

Did he check her ears, eyesight, hearing, toes, paws etc?

DDog is enthusiastic about going for a walk from first thing in the morning until she has her tea at about 5pm. Then she puts herself to bed and ignores us completely. Has been like that since the age of about 2 years!

Maybe your dog has just reached an age where she wants to relax rather than walk in the evenings?

A vet can not check pain by just feel and watching a dog walk around. Many dogs will show very little gait difference but can still be in a lot of pain.

I would want to do a pain trial and see if that changes things. I would also if you dont have one already get a ramp so she can get out of the car without having any extra pressure on her joints.

I would want to rule out physically issues first as that is the most common reason for changes in behaviour

At home, ours will not go out for a walk after her dinner and even before, in the afternoon, she is reluctant and just constantly wants to get us home (particularly if it is with me). This dates back to some idiot letting off a firework at 5pm.
When she was on a walk.
She will, however, walk at any time when on holiday.
She gets a good walk in the morning and we've just given up with the evening walk. She's far happier bouncing round the garden with her ball and lots of play instead (big garden).

My dog can go funny if he senses a storm is coming ?

Is it an indoor gym?

Why would you take a dog to a gym with all these people milling about, loud music and various machines.

I’d hate a dog at my gym and I can’t imagine a dog would enjoy it.

What does the dog even do while you’re there? Genuine question?

ETA: Is it possible your dog (like many dogs) no longer enjoys the gym and pub etc and that’s why the newfound resistance to going places like that?

Is it possible she’s become bored?

My dog wasn't keen on walking through our village and eventually refused to do it at all, and wasn't keen on walks which were straight lines there and back eg canal towpaths after he'd done a section once - I think they were boring and he CBA

But take him somewhere new...even when he was very old he'd be keen.

I'd be thinking pain or old age catching up. My DDog now 9 is similar. The morning she is happy to walk, but if she goes out at 5ish then she's not interested in the evening and vice versa. And even then afternoon/evening walks she wants to go out, pee and come home.

Vet and I suspect a bit of arthritis, we're scheduling tests, and just slowing down. I've had to change my schedule to prioritise the morning walk and accept that likely we'll end up with just one shorter one later.

It's sad because there's a lot of "we use to do..." that I miss and it's a sign that, whilst hopefully we have years, she's getting older.

Our DDOG is nearly 10 and won't go out past about 6pm, the evening are for cuddles and snoozing now.