Dog Community

Don't Won't Go For Walks

Posted : 5/23/2006 9:25:50 AM

Hello. Hopefully someone can give me advice on this very frustrating pattern.

I live on the second story of a condo building, with a back staircase leading to the backyard and a front staircase leading to the front of the building and neighborhood. My pup (possibly doxie-lab-beagle), who is about 7 months old, has no problem walking down the back staircase and doing his business in the backyard. It doesn't take much encouragement for him to do this, and he's usually fine walking around the backyard for 5-10 minutes. After that, he wants to go back in.

But the front staircase is a different story. Whenever we try to go down those, he shies away and looks back towards my door or the back staircase. If I'm fortunate enough to coax him down (which is getting increasingly rare), the minute we get outside he turns towards the backyard. He refuses to venture past the driveway into the neighborhood. He gets very low to the ground and tries to scurry away. The leash goes taut, so I let him go while I stay put. I try to encourage him back, but he won't come. I've read that forcing him to walk with a taut leash (practically dragging him) is counterproductive.

This is very annoying because I want to take him for walks, but more specifically because I want him to get exercise in the morning before I leave for work. When I get home for lunch and then again after work, he is wild. Of course, since he won't go for a walk after work, it's very hard for him to burn off this energy. It's a vicious cycle.

I've tried to throw a ball around the backyard (where he's more comfortable) and that helps tucker him out a little, but I obvioulsy would like to take him on walks for more exercise and socialization. What's really frustrating is that when I brought him home one week ago, he would take walks in the neighborhood with only mild resistance. He's gotten much more resistant since then. If I put him in the car and drive to a park, he's a little poky but not frightened like he is at home.

Any ideas on this one? Do you think it's just a matter of him getting accustomed to his new environment? He's a recue dog, so perhaps he's just too skittish right now?

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Posted : 5/23/2006 1:25:18 PM

When Rory was a puppy she WOULD NOT walk up or down stairs that you can see under, ya know the kind where you can see through each step to whatver is underneath. Also she disliked it if you could see through the rail that ran along the steps. She had no problems on stairs in houses that had carpet or you couldnt see through. Is that maybe the case? If not then there is some reason why your lil guy dosnt like them. Try grabbing his favorite treat or toy and running down them without him. If he wants you or the treat bad enough he'll follow. If not then the poor guy is super scared. Go look around and see what he might be scared of. My dog is scared of balloons, hoses, and black trash bags. I've had her from the start and there is no reason for her to to be scared.......lil weirdos!

Minty_Pups

Posted : 5/23/2006 7:29:37 PM

I think he just needs some time to settle into the new environment. It's probably more stressful for him than for you to adapt to a whole new life.

For the stairs, try placing him on the second to the last step. He'll probably want to get off, and when he does, praise him for it. Then move up to the third to the last.. 4th.. etc. praising him each time he gets off by himself.

If he gets low to the ground, it means he's scared of the environment and very insecure. If you can, just have him sit stay on the driveway for a while to get him used to being outside. Bring treats with you and reward him when he sits nicely.

Try not to reassure him when he's scared, because that'll only make him always look to you for comfort.

huskymom

Posted : 5/29/2006 5:36:15 PM

What is different about the front yard. It seems like its not so much the stairs as what is outside that is the problem since he wants to turn to the back yard once he is out front. Is it concrete or asphalt out front that could be hot? Is there lots of noisy traffic? Did he have a bad experience out there like a kid running up to him screaming or looming over him? Can you go out the back to go for your walks? And work on the front when you have time to be patient with him. If you are getting frustrated with him in the front that will only compound his anxiety.

Bob Loblaw

Posted : 5/30/2006 5:30:29 PM

Use a prong collar. He'll walk.

HA!

glenmar

Posted : 5/30/2006 5:40:59 PM

It sounds as if something frightened him out front and he's not gonna forget it fast. Just be matter of fact, use the backs stairs whenever possible and take him for a walk out that way if possible.

One of my foster pups refused to do stairs. And he was getting far too big to have to CARRY him down. I lured him down with homemade liver treats, one step at a time and then gave him a jackpot of a BUNCH of the darned things when he got all the way down.