Hello, I'm hoping someone can help me with my dog situation. I recently moved to a new house in a new neighbourhood and my dog refuses to go for walks. There are many parks and trails near my house. I have to pull him to start walking, he'll walk for a bit and then want to return home after he does his business. I miss the long walks we used to do together since moving to a new neighbourhood. He used to beg me to take him for walks before and now he just wants to stay inside and lay on the couch. I really need to him to lose weight so his pancreatitis doesn't come back.

But how do I exercise a dog that doesn't want to walk??? Please HELP!!!

[lil mutt]

how about making your walk with your dog more interesting... like playing with your pet in the park and giving him treats.

First, never pull/force the dog into walking. Pulling dogs into position only regresses them. You need to bait the dog (treat, toy, praise) and wait for them to commence movement. A dog needs to enter the new environment on their own terms.

If walking begins and then stops, you need to stop too. Wait for the dog to sit and settle. Then bait and try again. With patience and practice your dog will begin to explore his surroundings once again.

Remember, moving is a very big change in a dogs life; an event that should not be taken lightly. Continue encouraging the new environment, comfort, and assist in his lifestyle needs.

I'm happy to hear that exercise is a primary focus. Walks will soon be fun again as well as beneficial. For the time being play fetch, set up mini obsticle courses using pieces of furniture, make life fun again. Show him that the new home is the best home of all!

Looking forward to hear about the progress.

[Nerina]

Hi, I'm new to this site. I find it interesting that I'm not the only one with this problem.

I adopted my dog Findley, 2.5 yrs. ago. He is now almost 5. He has been very well trained. When he wants, he walks very well on the leash. He is Bernese and border collie, and seems to be extremely intelligent.

The problem is that - not all of the time, but seems since last week he is in one of his moods. I take him for a walk, gets to the corner all excited. Then suddenly he sits and puts his head up and looks at me like saying "I'm not moving". I tried to pull him and he won't move. Then I try going the other way....walks a little bit and then sits again.....sometimes I find a route that he seems to be ok with and he walks. He is not scare, he doesn't put his tail in between the legs. Feels like he is stubborn and is determined no to go for a walk. However, he is happy to jump in the car and then I can take him to the trial or park, and then he is ok.

I don't know what to do. Treats don't work, as I said, he is very intelligent and seems to be even smarter than me. I'm clueless.....does anyone have some advise on this.....he drives me crazy....I want him to exercise but he doesn't want to walk and I refuse to give in and take him in the car. Thanks. Nerina

[Lara's mom]

Bring a good supply of treats and your dog's favourite toy, and play as you walk together. The idea is to make your dog understand that going for a walk "is a good thing." I had major surgery on my foot and was confined to a wheelchair for six weeks. Lara became very accustomed to riding around on my lap. When I was finally able to walk again, she just was not interested. Treats and a tennis ball that squeaks reawakened her interest in going for a walk. She now walks just fine again.

My puppy didn't want to walk with her harness and leash either and I have now begun to take her favorite squeaky ball with us and that has encouraged her to get 'comfortable' walking with her harness and leash.

[AuntieDale]

Any possibility of walking with other dogs (and their owners)? I've recently begun walking with a nice lady who walks dogs for a living in my area, and my Golden has really perked up on our walks. At first, he just grabbed the leash to go home, but now he actually joins the younger dogs in chasing smells & chipmunks through the forest. And when we're alone, we are walking further than we have in the past...that's what worked for me!

[german sheep]

At first you need to know if your dog is completely healthy.
How is the blood picture and the temperature, has he something between his paw, are you sure that he has no pain and so on.

Have you changed the food? Is something missing what your dog had before, garden, a cat or a partner...?

Maybe he shows you a loss of controll, because he can not controll his usual district.

Has its behaviour has changed in the house too, or is it especially when you would like to go outside?

You have to find the cause and not to refract him with toys. He should go with you and not only because you have its loveliest playing toy with you

LG
gs