Dog Wants Owner When Walking

 I don't know if this will help in your case but my Kobi was like that as well. He would not go for a walk with anyone but me - including the rest of the family. He would be excited to get his leash on but 10 steps from the house he would just turn and want to come back.He was just really attached I guess. We finally figured out it was only an issue if I was in the house. If I went out shopping or was away for some other reason he would gladly go for his walk without me. Maybe you could get the owner to leave before you take the dog out and see if it makes a difference.

I would just suggest maybe playing in the yard with her to the owner. 

When I walked dogs all I wanted was to make the situation as productive and safe for both me and the dogs.  I avoided suggesting anything to the owners other than what would make the situation better as far as the time they were paying for.  But, beyond that, I didn't offer anything unless they asked me. 

denise m

 I don't know if this will help in your case but my Kobi was like that as well. He would not go for a walk with anyone but me - including the rest of the family. He would be excited to get his leash on but 10 steps from the house he would just turn and want to come back.He was just really attached I guess. We finally figured out it was only an issue if I was in the house. If I went out shopping or was away for some other reason he would gladly go for his walk without me. Maybe you could get the owner to leave before you take the dog out and see if it makes a difference.

Thanks for the tips, denise. I do think it's a separation issue, the dog seems really attached to them and that's what I've heard in the past. But the story about the air show confuses things for me.

willowchow

I would just suggest maybe playing in the yard with her to the owner. 

When I walked dogs all I wanted was to make the situation as productive and safe for both me and the dogs.  I avoided suggesting anything to the owners other than what would make the situation better as far as the time they were paying for.  But, beyond that, I didn't offer anything unless they asked me. 

Thanks for the advice, willow. Right, I want to be careful in what I say to the owners. This can be tricky, especially when a choke chain is involved. This is my first time ever doing this outside of the shelter environment other than with my own dog. I did walk an Akita for a neighbor many years ago, but that was it. I will have to offer something if we want to get the dog to go out. These suggestions you and denise offered will be good to start off with.

ShelterDogs

I had trouble getting her to keep walking with me. She wants to go back toward the house as that is where she kept trying to go.

espencer

ShelterDogs

I had trouble getting her to keep walking with me. She wants to go back toward the house as that is where she kept trying to go.

I would suggest to put her in your car, drive her 5 blocks away and then use that spot as the starting point and the house as the goal. She might end up pulling hehe. The bad part about all this is the walking back to your car (if nobody else can take you to the starting point) Plan B would be just not walking her close to her house and just take her to a park instead

Both of these suggestions seem like good ideas.  If you go to a park walking her on grass/dirt rather than pavement or concrete will be better for the arthritis too.

espencer

Plan B would be just not walking her close to her house and just take her to a park instead

Yes, I had actually forgotten I had also done this with that dog.  There was a park just a few blocks up and she did fine there.  As long as the owner is OK with her riding with you and you can do it safely then that might be your best bet if they don't have a fenced yard.

espencer

I would suggest to put her in your car, drive her 5 blocks away and then use that spot as the starting point and the house as the goal. She might end up pulling hehe. The bad part about all this is the walking back to your car (if nobody else can take you to the starting point) Plan B would be just not walking her close to her house and just take her to a park instead

Funny you should recommend that. I failed to mention this, but the owner says she does this already with the Golden. But that's not a permanent solution, is it?

sillysally

Both of these suggestions seem like good ideas.  If you go to a park walking her on grass/dirt rather than pavement or concrete will be better for the arthritis too.

Interesting. I never would have considered that when dealing with dog arthritis. They live on a beach, so perhaps I could take her for a walk on there. She even suggested this for the next time I come over. Thanks for the tip.

If the dog is 11 years old - I would just worry about her having a nice, comfortable time - rather than trying to find a FIX at such an age.

Agree, honestly that would be what I would do regardless of the dogs age. 

As a dog walker you will need to accept some things that your clients do that you don't agree with.  I saw all kinds of things, dogs left alone too long, unhealthy food, untrained dogs, etc. etc. You just have to do what is needed to make the time you are there with them fun and safe.  The only time I ever put my opinion in was if I thought the dogs safety was an issue.  Other than that, I kept quiet.  

I'm not trying to offend you but most of the clients I worked for considered me hired help, like a maid would be or a gardener--they didn't want my two cents on things.  I'm not saying they were all like that--but a good many were.

 I liked your first inclination - using treats to "introduce" yourself as a safe walking partner.  Owners who pay dog walkers are not paying for training, nor is that your responsibility, no matter how frustrating it is that they don't train the dog.  Realize that it often takes some dogs a few visits to acclimate to a stranger, and it often gets better all on its own.  Creating more fear by popping the dog into a strange car and taking it to a strange place might backfire on you, since you already know how easily this particular dog might make a negative association with an individual.  So, don't play trainer until you really know what you're doing, and then do training only for people who engage you for that purpose.  Your dog walking insurance policy may be specific to that, too, and you may not be covered for problems that occur if you cross that line.

spiritdogs

 Creating more fear by popping the dog into a strange car and taking it to a strange place might backfire on you, since you already know how easily this particular dog might make a negative association with an individual. 

I agree.  When I read the posts it reminded me of Kenya.  She will not go with anyone if I'm around.  If I'm not around, she will reluctantly go with whoever looks/acts the most like me if there is no other option (for example, once I had my little sister pick her up from overnight boarding since we were still gone during the pick up time, and Kenya went straight to her).  Other than that, you cannot trick her and you cannot win her over because she's a one person dog who also happens to be rather neurotic and have low confidence.  The harder you try, the more she will just ignore you.

When I had a person come over to let Nikon out, I paid her to walk or play with Nikon and Coke.  I told her she was allowed to let Kenya out but to not interact with her or try to walk her.

Knowing this about my dog, I'd probably never hire a dog walker for her.  She wouldn't get anything out of it.  When my dogs are in boarding, they are allowed to run and play together which is their main exercise anyway.  If I'm not around she prefers to just be let out to do her own thing or play with the other dogs if she chooses.

If it were me I would talk to the owner about her intentions.  Why does she need a dog walker if the dog is physically not capable of walking very far and doesn't seem to enjoy it?  I guess if it were me I'd have trouble doing it especially if I was not even being paid.  The last thing I'd want is for the poor dog to spook and then get choked off on the choke collar.

 Tootsie is a one woman dog. The harder you try to engage her, the more she ignores. If someone ever tried to walk her with me being there and she knows it, sorry, shes not going anywhere.

When we were in obedience class, one of the sessions was recall, basically the owner hands the dog off to the trainer and the trainer leaves the room with the dog and then you call the dog to you. Well Tootsie wanted no part in this, so I had to leave the room and then call her to me. She got a lot of special circumstances in that class, like she wouldn't down on the concrete, but she would down on a pink hand towel on the concrete. Shes special!