My 10 month old male sits down and won't walk any further!

Hey corgi people :-)

I would really like some help on how to handle my otherwise sweet little teenage corgi.

When we go for walks, he is very eager to get going and he loves to get out. But sometimes, apparently at random places, he just sits down and won't walk any more. It can be before we are even out the driveway, when we are halfway or on the way home. There doesn't seem to be a clear pattern.


We have tried to be stubborn and turn our backs at him and just wait for him to come up to us, but that rarely helps and, if so, it can take up to 10 min before he comes. We have also tried to use very exciting voices saying "come on boy, come [name]" etc. and we have tried with delicious treats. We have also tried to pick him up and walk a bit away (because sometimes it seems that he enjoys sitting there looking at traffic, ducks or whatever there is), but he continues to sit down anyways (on the next walk) and now he has started to "bite" (not hard, more like a warning) after us if we try to pick him up.
So, it seems to us that nothing really helps.

We really don't want to use our "come here"-command, even though it probably would work (due to the fact that we save the most delicious treats for that), because we don't want to learn him that sitting down and being stubborn pays off.

So, do you have some advice for us? How do we deal with this in the best way? :-)

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You might want to get him checked out by your vet. He could have something hurting him that is making him not want to walk and now protesting you picking him up. I had a lab that did something similar, and when I had it checked out it turned out to be hip displasia. I don't think corgis are typically prone to hip problems but it still is worth checking into.

If nothing checks out, maybe try a long tug toy that might entice him to start walking again. Also some really high value treats, like chicken or cheese. You could try some peanut butter on a long handled spoon and dangle it in front of his nose while your walking. Good luck!
Ah, the Corgi balk! One of mine does this if he had a different walk in mind than we planned. Honestly, I just usually keep walking. Someone suggested holding the leash in your right hand if the dog is on your left and let the leash fall across the front of your thighs. Then your legs bump the leash with each stride. That works for us when Jack gets balky.

It's a bit harder when he flips onto his back.....

The thought has crossed my mind, so I think we will get him checked out soon.
If that is not the case (which I obviously hope it isn't), won't it just encourage him to sit down even more if we give him high value treats every time he sits down?
Thank you for your help! :-)

Hehe that sounds exactly like Anton!
We are already holding the leash like that but unfortunately it isn't helping much. Thanks for the advice though! :-)
And oh yes, Anton also flips onto his back!

I would suggest a check up too...never know if something is hurting and he can't tell you.  Max will do that when we walk the trail but only when I turn around and head back towards the parking lot.  Stubborn old coot.

I am almost positive that it is just him being a stubborn little stinker, but - we are going to the vet for a check up first thing next week :-) Just to be sure. I would hate myself if it turned out to be a health problem and I had ignored his signs!

What we learned in classes was to just keep walking...gently pulling him...Sage would do this and she was "training me". She ended up with a prong collar (yes...these were AKC training classes) but they(when used CORRECTLY) did help her as she had to correct herself. NO treats...unless he's doing what you ask!

Hehe what a stubborn girl! I am glad to hear it worked out eventually.

Actually she is so good at walking that a neighbor where I work comes over and takes her for mile long walks...she is the best trained of all my dogs walking and all around...BUT...I never thought she'd get there:) NOW...if I could get her not to lick!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you for the reply. My english skilles lack a lot, especially when it comes to dog terms. So can I ask: what is a prong collar? Is it one of those collars that is basically a chain that tightens when the dog pulls?

The high value treats - give it to him while he is walking, before he has a sitting episode.  Then if he sits, encourage him to walk using any of the methods described below, and give him another treat only when he is walking with you again.  Keep treating him randomly thru-out the walk.  If you always treat him in the same place, by your left side pant seam, you might get a good heal out of it.  It takes patients and consistency.  Two things we often don't have...lol - and the little stinkers know it! 

Okay, that makes good sense. Thank you for the elaboration! We are treating him when he walks nicely, but we might have to step it up and do it more consistently. Also, I think our treats might need to be varied a little more, so they keep being of high value to him. 
Hehe yep, they know exactly where our week spots are ;-)

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