Reluctant Walker
He's doing quite well with Sit, Down, No, and bite inhibition (though he still nips during play but not so hard anymore.).
He does fine on his leash in the yard but on walks we need to lure him along with kibble or he pulls back until we turn for home, then he pulls forward.
Any advice on how to get gim to like walks? He's not easily excitable with happy tones so myself gettig excited about a walk hasn't helped.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Caitlin on
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Three months today. Was 8 weeks on june 1st
He walked pretty good whem we started. May have just been curious about the little street we take him on.
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Permalink Reply by Christine Milewski on
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Ours is 4.5 months old. We had the exact same problem. He didn't want to walk away from home, but then wanted to literally run back once we turned. We gave up for a while because it was frustrating for us and he wasn't enjoying it.
But last week I decided to give it another try and he's been walking better. He gets excited now at the word "walk" and is happy to go. He is slightly reluctant once we get going but eventually warms up to it and trots along very nicely. We have done 1 to 1.5 miles every day now for about six days in a row so I am hoping this is resolved. We have tried carrying a squeaky toy and using it to encourage him. Also heavy praise and eye contact throughout the walk. He still, when close to home, wants to run, but I am trying to look at it as a good thing, that he likes home.
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I've only been takimg him on 20 minute walks twice a day since it's been so hot. Morning and evening, too hot midday right now. I'll keep in mind a mile walk is ok for a 4 month old.
I constantly talk to him and tell him good boy when he walks forward with me, since he responds to praise pretty well.
But he needs the exercise so I can't wait till he like walks!
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Permalink Reply by Suzanne Orzech on
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Our Fiona is 16 weeks old this week, and we have had her for about 6 weeks. She likes it when we put her leash on, because she knows she's going to go outside! Walking, however, was problematic in the beginning. She wants to pick EVERYTHING up in her mouth: acorns, leaves, snails, bugs, etc...and so we literally take one step and she stops again. So here was our solution: My husband found a long, thick "walking stick" that we now take on walks with us. He goes out in front of me and drags the stick along behind him or taps the sidewalk with it every once in awhile.....and Fiona chases the stick. It's a great game! We have been doing this for a few weeks now, and are seeing that she is just starting to WALK now....and the stick is not needed as much anymore! It still helps to send one of our kids a few paces out in front of her, and she just runs along to try to catch them. But these 2 approaches are working....we are hoping that in time she will just.....walk. Hope this helps! <3
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We'll try the stick thing!
We have no kids yet, only married 2.5 years.
But the lure is a good idea. It's hard to reward him on the move since we've inly just begin to use the clicker.
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Definitely try it! You or your husband take the stick and go a few paces out front. It works great for Fiona. I am taking her for an evaluation with a trainer tomorrow ad I am going to ask him about the walking issue...will post any advice that he gives me! <3
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Awesome! We have another week before Thor starts 'kindergarten' classes.
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Permalink Reply by Beth on
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The reason I ask is young puppies have a very strong instinct to stay near the den. Don't expect long walks. Instead of walking away from the house, try putting her in the car and taking her somewhere fun like a park (assuming she has had her shots). Walk her on a loop there and then bring her back.
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My husband actually suggested trying that. We'll have to do that in the evening and I'll try carrying him to a point in the am and walking him back from there.
Thanks for all the suggestions!
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Permalink Reply by Linda on
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Beth...that is what I've been telling my friend to do with her toy poodle. Luigi is about 6 months and he is reluctant to walk away from the house but runs when they turn around. I keep telling her to drive him to one of the rail trails and walk him there.
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Yes, and what starts out as a genuine fear in a young puppy quickly becomes a habit until the puppy doesn't really understand why he doesn't want to walk. It's just The Thing We Don't Like. So much of working with a puppy is avoiding giving pup the opportunity to develop bad habits! Jack LOVED to chew wood and so we mostly kept him out of the dining room until he grew out of that stage. So much easier to just keep a puppy away from wood until he gives it up on his own than spend hours trying to counter-condition pup to avoid it and still end up with a dog that is never 100% reliable.
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