My adult dog won’t walk with me

[MeeksTheRescue]

My family’s 8 year old staffy cross (Mika) stops when we get to a certain point on any walk, she only does this with me and my sister (it’s usually both of us). She’ll happily walk with my mother or my father, even when I’m there. I find that when I’m walking with my sister (I don’t walk Mika by myself often) she’s never in a good mood and that leads to me taking on a bad mood too. Could this be the root of my dog’s stubbornness on walks? I’ve tried pulling her along but it doesn’t seem to be working as she just won’t walk, and It seems cruel to drag her along. What do you suggest I do? I really love taking Mika for walks so any help would be much appreciated.

I’ve never been abusive or anything towards her and nor has my sister, when my parents take her for walks they go on the same routes as me and my sister.

 

[JoanneF]

Pulling her will only make her dislike the walk even more so I don't recommend that. Does she have a favourite food or treat like frankfurter sausage or roast chicken? You could use tiny pieces to lure her forward - once she is past the point where she stops, she might keep going. If not, lure her again. All the time keep encouraging her forward with a happy voice and praise her for forward steps.

 

[JudyN]

Do you think she's more attached to your parents than you or your sister? My dog would much rather walk with me than my OH, to the extent that my OH tends to stick him in the car to take him somewhere - once he's there, he's fine.

I would aim, for now, not to worry about where or how far you walk, but to make the walk fun. So happy thoughts, plenty of treats, and if there's any games she likes to play, such as you hiding a treat in a grassy verge and then her sniffing to find it, then do that. It's much better to walk her 50 yards happily, then turn for home happily, and you to say to her 'Well wasn't that a great walk!' because she enjoyed it, than to have a 100-yard walk when she's just wanting to go home and everyone is feeling grumpy.

Once she thinks that going for a walk with you, even if it takes all of 5 minutes, is fun, then you can work on another 5 yards, and another , and another... as JoanneF says, once she gets past a certain 'sticky' point she might keep going.

 

[MeeksTheRescue]

Thanks very much, some great ideas here. I think she is more attached to my parents than me or my sister. And as I use both your and JoanneF's idea of taking treats, staying positive and building up the time, she'll learn to like walks with me. She is very food motivated so I doubt it'll be hard to coax her on with some treats.

 

[merlina]

But also try to think dog! They have senses that we don't. Maybe there's a scent or sound she associates with certain places that scare her- and she thinks you and your sister will not be able to protect her in the way your parents can. My dogs are much more confident when out with my husband and me together. They think I'm a wussy and won't be any use in a fight! (they're wrong- I would protect them but I can't tell them that...)