Dog Will Only Walk One Route

[WaxworkWarboys]

Okay, so my dog was attacked a while ago. She was thankfully fine, no major physical damage, but it's obviously impacted her psychologically. For a while, I couldn't get her to walk past the end of the street.

Now, she will walk a little further afield, but always and only following one specific route. I'm happy she'll get out and about now, but it's not the most exciting route, and I like long and varied walks.

I think that she'd decided that this route is "safe" because there are few other dogs around when we go, and she's only had positive experiences and lots of attention from people on this one route.

Any ideas how I can get her going to more places again? TIA!

What happens if you put her in the car and drive her somewhere new? ( assumes you have a car so if not not relevant).

I had a dog like this. I drove her to quiet walks until she felt more assured.

She will either try to get back to the car, refusing to move in any other direction, or if I get dropped off so she has no choice but to walk, she will, but again, she'll keep stopping, trying to go back, and I really have to keep jollying her on/picking her up and moving her along a bit, until she'll move again, which is not ideal!

Is she receptive to treats? I have two greyhounds who are very stubborn, so I resort to bribery to get them to go the way I want, but they are big dogs so can take a lot of treats. They're also insanely greedy.

That's another problem - she's not particularly treat-oriented, so I can't bribe her that way!

I know a very greedy greyhound too, and it's so easy to get him to do what you want.

Have you had her checked out at the vets for pain? I would want a pain trial in this scenario.

Yes, she's completely healthy. It really only started after she was attacked, so I do think it's more of a psychological thing.

I would still want to do a pain trial on her - it can't do any harm and would fully rule out any underlying issues.

She's currently on Loxicom, and has been for 10 days, and she's still refusing to walk anywhere but the one route, but I will ask the vet about it when we see them on Monday.

I was going to suggest this. A place with no bad memories.

Okay my final suggestion - would she go with another dog? Sometimes the pack mentality kicks in and so they are happy to trot along with a companion. Not very convenient to arrange but might get her out of an anxiety slump?

I can definitely give it a try. She has a couple of dogs she gets on well with. Thanks.

Good luck! I had a progressively nervous dog so spent years trying to figure out ways of getting her out of the house. Hopefully yours is just a temporary blip. I ended up getting her a braver companion in the end, which worked a treat, although unfortunately she got cancer not long after so her happy years numbered few in the end.

Thank you, and sorry about your dog. I have been thinking of getting her a friend because we’ve always been a two dog household, but I’m not sure it’s the right move just now, so I’ll borrow a friends dog and hopefully it’ll do the trick!