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Archived Message

ORIGINAL MESSAGE:
by Celine Nadon

My Wolfy begs to be taken for a walk and when I take him he stops in his tracks after a couple blocks. Could it be the hair between his toes? Anyone else have this experience?

DISCUSSION:

I have had this stopping problem when working with an obedience dog. Try taking a special treat with you when you walk and offer it while calling the dog forward when the little one decides to stop.
-Cherie

I have this problem with both of my dogs, but it seems to be associated with them getting to a type of texture they do not want to walk on. For example, we have couple of various walk routes, one that is all pavement and one which has a grassy spot bridging to a little street. Both Theo and Toby will stop dead in their tracks if they are in the mood not to walk on the grass that day. If I allow the pavement route, away we go. Funny little guys, huh? I think the grass may make their feet itch? I do sometimes insist they come, as they cannot always have thier way! Mom has got to be in charge!
-Beverly

Dear Celine: I was posting a reply when I was disconnected...in case it didn't post: the gist of it was: My Toby is just like Beverly's...he is stuck with superglue when he simply doesn't want to go somewhere. I believe all dogs are like that at one time or another. That old alpha dog thing again. I don't like using treats mainly because, in my experience, when the pup/dog treat-trained has any agress. tendencies at all, whenever other dogs/children are around and treats are around too...they're cookie monsters....and things can get nasty. I was taught to start ea. walk with a 5 min. "minitraining" session for things that are recurring problems: so, when I take stubborn dogs (actually all dogs) out, the first 5 min are spent on routine obedience commands, and leash/lead correx. Then we start on our way and if the problem occurs, we go back to a five minute "warmup" again. Not just the problem's correx, but the entire basic routine: sit, stay, down, stay, heel, sit, come, wait, down, etc... I'm amazed how this mini-training warmup makes all walks more enjoyable. Sometimes, I must confess I have Toby's lead on indoors when we have company or he's feeling his oats (i' would never leave him alone that way tho). Other times, the dogs just have some little leaf stuck somewhere on their bottoms or tails, and these fussy's (like my georgous Chynna) won't budge until it's removed! Whatever you do, I'm sure you know to avoid dragging or pulling on the lead like a tug-of-war....that will only buy you trouble! It's the lead-jerk correx. you want...the tug is definitely an alpha battle! (just my opinions mind you....I'm no vet...just walk/care for lots of dogs and cats). Good luck, Christine
-christine