Just Taking A Walk....Frustrating

[Reagan2012]

Reagan is a challenge to take on a walk. If she can see home or thinks we're near home....she will walk/run home but no way she wants to go for a walk in the other direction.

Now I carry her to the opposite side of our housing development. She will walk but for the first 150 yards or so she stops every 10-15 feet. She looks around....turns around, etc. Then she will walk. Then she will stop. Once she does this...then she walks the rest of the way home with almost no stops.

I tried to teach her the COME command and used treats to do so. She quickly learned that if she stops...I say COME....and she gets a treat when she runs up to me. Yup....made it worse...not better.

We're going thru training now. Just learded about loose leash walking. Again....motivated by a treat to walk next to me. Am giving it a shot but I'm kind of skeptical that the little one with a will of her own will be so easily taken in.

Any ideas????

I love taking her on walks but have to admit the start/stop is getting frustrating.

[ilovejoel]

How old is Reagan?
When I was puppy sitting my brothes Jack Russel he did that on walks and and I would gently tug him and get him to chase me and when he went forward I would praise him. Then he eventually stopped doing that.

[kjc]

She may be afraid, unsure. I would stay calm with her (they can pick up on our feelings) and just give her some time. Is there any small dog owners you could ask to walk with you? That worked for mine, like a charm!

[yorkietalkjilly]

Here's some thoughts I've kind of gathered over the years from books, trainers, dog handlers, farmers, ranchers, military, vets, breeders, etc. who have worked years with dogs and what they often say about the walk. If you want to read and consider this, it might help how we look at our dogs out walking and what goes on.

Dogs usually use their nose to gather interesting information and news about what critters are in the area they consider their territory so naturally they want to stop to "read the news", kind of like you check Facebook, Twitter, email, newspapers and TV news. How frustrating if someone kept jumping in front of your eyes or clucking at you every time you try to do that or lose patience with you. That's how our dogs feel when we won't let them freely exercise their natural canine instincts at times and just let them be dogs for a bit of the walk. Is it always convenient or serve our purposes? NO! But it shouldn't all be about us and what we like to have them do on walks or make walks into just something we do to get out and stretch our legs and them relieve themselves.

Many dog "experts" think if we really want to have a happier and more satisfied dog, we will cut them a bit of slack on part of their walk just to be dogs and sniff that territory out in the big world to see who and what has been around. Of course we may not can do that every time though we should really try but when we can give them a chance to get out in the big world and sniff, it is good for them to be indulged in this. And then we can end it when we must.

When you've given them 10 or 15 minutes of doggie time to be a canine, then get on with the real brisk part of the walk and work on the "heel" or however you prefer teaching your dog to walk and get on about business. Still and all, being a dog, a powerful scent may come along in the brisk part of the walk and they might want to stop a bit but if the dog's been given some good sniffing time, correct/encourage them to keep on walking so that you can get through the brisk part of the walk and exercise period, teaching them that they had their sniff time, now we should get our good exercise in and keep going. Thinking of how your dog sees the world and what their wants and needs are out walking can help keep both of you from feeling so frustrated if you both get your needs met during the walk. Sounds like you are working on training and such, which, if you keep it encouraging, fun, positive and rewarding for dogs, they usually grow to love that time working with you. I hope you keep working in that way with your little sweet dog.

[Lisa and Pic]

Wow, such good advice and info from yorkietalkjilly.

I do want to add that when Piccolo was a puppy she did the same thing. So, I carried her to our destination and had her walk home. Eight years later, reflecting on this action, I think it was a positive one, because she has no problems going or coming now.

The only side note is my neighbors kind of snickered and said in a loving way that we were going on a "carry."

[rubynrosie]

Originally Posted by Lisa and Pic

Wow, such good advice and info from yorkietalkjilly.

I do want to add that when Piccolo was a puppy she did the same thing. So, I carried her to our destination and had her walk home. Eight years later, reflecting on this action, I think it was a positive one, because she has no problems going or coming now.

The only side note is my neighbors kind of snickered and said in a loving way that we were going on a "carry."

Im laughing Lisa...my friends always laugh when Ruby was a puppy and we went for walks...Nika the husky would be pulling me along..I never could break her of pulling at the beginning of a walk and I would be carrying Ruby n Rosie...it looked like Nika was taking us for a walk and R n R were enjoying their "carry"

[Yorkiemom1]

I LOVE THIS!!! IT IS RIGHT ON!!!! Fire up printers all over the country and print this out...carry a copy in your wallet (that you can pull out and read while Rascle at the other end of the leash is busy "reading her newspaper" and not interested in you exercising yourself), and tape a copy to the back door, so you can review it on your way out the door!!! I love it!!! THANK YOU!!

Originally Posted by yorkietalkjilly

Here's some thoughts I've kind of gathered over the years from books, trainers, dog handlers, farmers, ranchers, military, vets, breeders, etc. who have worked years with dogs and what they often say about the walk. If you want to read and consider this, it might help how we look at our dogs out walking and what goes on.

Dogs usually use their nose to gather interesting information and news about what critters are in the area they consider their territory so naturally they want to stop to "read the news", kind of like you check Facebook, Twitter, email, newspapers and TV news. How frustrating if someone kept jumping in front of your eyes or clucking at you every time you try to do that or lose patience with you. That's how our dogs feel when we won't let them freely exercise their natural canine instincts at times and just let them be dogs for a bit of the walk. Is it always convenient or serve our purposes? NO! But it shouldn't all be about us and what we like to have them do on walks or make walks into just something we do to get out and stretch our legs and them relieve themselves.

Many dog "experts" think if we really want to have a happier and more satisfied dog, we will cut them a bit of slack on part of their walk just to be dogs and sniff that territory out in the big world to see who and what has been around. Of course we may not can do that every time though we should really try but when we can give them a chance to get out in the big world and sniff, it is good for them to be indulged in this. And then we can end it when we must.

When you've given them 10 or 15 minutes of doggie time to be a canine, then get on with the real brisk part of the walk and work on the "heel" or however you prefer teaching your dog to walk and get on about business. Still and all, being a dog, a powerful scent may come along in the brisk part of the walk and they might want to stop a bit but if the dog's been given some good sniffing time, correct/encourage them to keep on walking so that you can get through the brisk part of the walk and exercise period, teaching them that they had their sniff time, now we should get our good exercise in and keep going. Thinking of how your dog sees the world and what their wants and needs are out walking can help keep both of you from feeling so frustrated if you both get your needs met during the walk. Sounds like you are working on training and such, which, if you keep it encouraging, fun, positive and rewarding for dogs, they usually grow to love that time working with you. I hope you keep working in that way with your little sweet dog.

[Lisa and Pic]

Originally Posted by rubynrosie

Im laughing Lisa...my friends always laugh when Ruby was a puppy and we went for walks...Nika the husky would be pulling me along..I never could break her of pulling at the beginning of a walk and I would be carrying Ruby n Rosie...it looked like Nika was taking us for a walk and R n R were enjoying their "carry"

Aww, too sweet. I can just picture that now.

[kjc]

At one point a few years back, Peek A Boo was having trouble doing the entire walk, and I had trouble carrying him for too long of a distance. So I put him in an umbrella type stroller... well he loved that too. I saw him with his head up sniffing the air (reading the news), and still looking all around, and at the same time being ever so contented with just riding along. We stopped a few times and I took him out for a potty break, then he walked back to the stroller and waited for me to put him back in it. I'm glad I tried this, as getting out really helps to lift his spirits when his legs are not 100%.

[yorkietalkjilly]

Originally Posted by kjc

At one point a few years back, Peek A Boo was having trouble doing the entire walk, and I had trouble carrying him for too long of a distance. So I put him in an umbrella type stroller... well he loved that too. I saw him with his head up sniffing the air (reading the news), and still looking all around, and at the same time being ever so contented with just riding along. We stopped a few times and I took him out for a potty break, then he walked back to the stroller and waited for me to put him back in it. I'm glad I tried this, as getting out really helps to lift his spirits when his legs are not 100%.

What a thoughtful mommie helping Peek A Boo read his news, leave his scent and get to enjoy the big outside world out front when the legs are not functioning so well!

[kjc]

Originally Posted by yorkietalkjilly

What a thoughtful mommie helping Peek A Boo read his news, leave his scent and get to enjoy the big outside world out front when the legs are not functioning so well!

Thanks! Oh and the neighbors had a big laugh about it, but they did think it was cute (and that I had lost my mind!) and were amazed that he was really enjoying the ride! When I explained the reason behind it though they were very understanding and thought it was great. Peek just loves his walks... and letting all the other dogs know 'Peek was here!'.

[Deb1]

This is awesome info! Thank you for posting and giving some what an understanding perspective of a yorkies point of view. I love how positive it is to give them time to sniff out and explore their enviroment and then work on training!

[Yorkiemom1]

Originally Posted by kjc

At one point a few years back, Peek A Boo was having trouble doing the entire walk, and I had trouble carrying him for too long of a distance. So I put him in an umbrella type stroller... well he loved that too. I saw him with his head up sniffing the air (reading the news), and still looking all around, and at the same time being ever so contented with just riding along. We stopped a few times and I took him out for a potty break, then he walked back to the stroller and waited for me to put him back in it. I'm glad I tried this, as getting out really helps to lift his spirits when his legs are not 100%.

Touches my heart......what a considerate mommie for you to allow your precious boy the opportunity to be part of his "social gatherings"......without exhaustive exercise which he may not be up to that particular day!

[AZYorkieDad]

Maddie was afraid of the walk in the beginning too. I used high value treats like chicken and was very patient with her, letting her smell and explore / become comfortable with the front of the house. I also took her to puppy socialization, met other dogs, and to the dog bakery and pet store to walk. I also followed my breeder's advice and carried her for a tiny bit to make her see it wasn't a big deal and cars weren't that scary. And now, when we're walking and she stops, most of the time if I keep facing the direction we want to walk and just gently tug or give a correction sound, she will start walking again. Sometimes I also accelerate the walk to get her ears to push back and get into the travelling mode, like Cesar Millan says in his programs.


But I also give her time to relax and sniff around. So when we're at any destination, I say "okay, go" and let her do whatever for a few minutes.

[kjc]

One other point, If this puppy is under 20 weeks old and has not had a Rabies vaccination yet... she should only be walked in your house or yard, only long enough to go potty ( and maybe sniff around a little bit)