Give me all your walking tips please!

[ConsternationStation]

I have a 13 week old Cocker Spaniel who has only really been out for walks for the first time this week. I'm trying to be patient, rewarding her for paying attention to me and doing as I say, allowing time to sniff etc. Sometimes she will literally walk three steps and then sit down, over and over, and not even a treat will particularly work in encouraging her to walk. I know we've both got lots to learn before walks become easier but I'm finding them a bit stressful.

Any tips and tricks to get her moving smoothly for longer periods of time?

Really dont worry about it. She is a baby and just observing life - let her. Maybe only walk a few steps that is absolutely fine at this age. She is learning and taking it all in . Which will also be quite tiring for her.

In a few days you will be back on MN asking how to get her to stop pulling ahead

Exactly as KeenOtter says just let her observe if that’s what she wants - it’s such early days and a whole big world for her to get used to

Walks at that age are literally just for training and getting them used to the outside world.

Just give her loads of praise and rewards if she’s walking nicely and stand with her if she sits, makes no odds how far you get just now.

One tip I found really helpful was about walking off lead as soon as possible because their natural instinct to be near you builds good habits and helps with recall. I did in quiet places where we wouldn’t bump into lots of other dogs but my pup is now pretty reliable off lead.

I really should point out that I am very much using the walks as a way for her to experience the world around her. She is getting lots of time to sniff and just stand/sit. It took us 5 minutes to get to the end of the road yesterday (we live halfway in a street of 35 houses 😂). I'm not looking for any sort of miracle. I know she's just a baby absorbing everything. Just really looking for next steps to get from 3steps at a time to... Oh I don't know... 10?

Same as Jellycat - natural instinct to keep close. He's always been a joy to walk on (no pulling) and off lead. He's 9 now but I remember the first time off lead and a Rottweiler came bounding over! Owner called out that her dog was friendly (and it was). I strongly resisted the urge to pick my dog up and thankfully all went well. Met a great bunch of fellow dog walkers which really helped with socialising.
First dog I've had that I didn't go to training classes and by far the best behaved when out. I also took him on the school run to get used to traffic and young kids.

this is a cocker trait I think. I’ve a four year old and she I take her on her second walk she sniffs the trail the her human dad made when he went to work. She loves to sniff.

Whrn it’s too hot to walk in the summer you can do a treasure hunt with favourite treats hidden under upturned plant pots. She will love it!

Sorry, not quite the advice you wanted but I hope it’s useful. Cockers really are lovely - it’s not just walks they need, they need focussed exercises suited to their breed and sniffing things out is what they’re good at!

I'd just say don't rely on walks to help her experience the world around her. At 13 weeks she can do like 10-15 minutes twice-three times a day, really. You need to be taking her to pubs, cafes, outside schools, high-streets etc.

Cocker's are sniffy dogs though - and it's important to find the right balance between letting her sniff and knowing when too long is too long, and you can start that now. Teach her a code word (I use 'leave') which means 'leave that sniff/treat/toy alone and come here' and then reward her when she comes.

Also use your walks to do training with her at this age - that helps engage her brain as well. As people upthread have said, cockers need a good amount of exercise, but they also need brain training as well or they just combust.

Our lab was like this when previous puppies ran down the path so it wasn't something we'd encountered.

We had to coax her wirh treats, the only thing is it went the other way and she'd then refuse to budge without a treat even when well past the little puppy stage.

They do grow out of it as they get confident it's just the wrong time of the year to be stood in the cold trying to coax a puppy, you have my sympathies! A squeaky toy helped to give ours something to focus on when I held it and she chased it.

I have always had older rescues. So it was a big surprise that my new shiny puppy...did not want to walk! At all. I thought there was something badly wrong. Had we got a fake dog? Especially a terrier. Up for anything. So after much worry and asking people we decided to go with it at her pace. We also did a lot of carrying to fun areas for a run around then home. Now she loves her walks in all weathers and all areas.

It will get there if you go at her pace.

I would take them to different places to walk too. Can you drive to a park/wood?

Don't worry, I'm not just relying on walks to socialise her properly. I'm taking her as many places I can on my own without the car (DH has it for work) and at the weekend going further afield to other places too. She's been going on the school run alone since I had her in a carrier. Also using the walk as an opportunity to train. Lots of sit, leave and come.

@crumblingschools We do have woods nearby but with how much she is able to walk she'd have tired herself out getting there and not manage the actual woods! If need the car for that but DH uses it for work Monday to Friday. Once she's a bit bigger I imagine it'll be a regular walk for us.

Also, I know that she needs a lot of mental stimulation. We do brain training games and playing in the house/garden as well as the walks. Even if it's only a couple of 5 minutes periods throughout the day.