What happens if your dog suddenly refuses to walk? Sometimes dogs are reluctant to even leave the front door, and sometimes they become stubborn on the walk and refuse to move another step.
Walks are an enormous part of every dog-owner’s life. Whether you live at the base of rolling hills in the countryside, or in the middle of a city, you will have your regular route that you map out with your dog.
It brings many great joy, and others wondering, how do I get my stubborn dog to walk?
Why Is My Dog Refusing to Walk?
It is important to get to the root cause of why your dog doesn’t want to walk, and there are several possible reasons.
The most common reasons your dog refuses to walk are that your dog could be injured or in pain and might require a visit to the vet. They could also be facing other discomforts, from their collar or harness, or because of the weather.
It is also possible that your walks aren’t long enough for your dog, and they are not ready to go home. It is important not to drag your dog along the ground if this happens. You can find some tips on how to deal with this later in the article.
Let’s look at some of the main reasons why your dog is refusing to walk in more details below, and what you can about it.
Your Dog is in Pain
A possible reason that your dog is reluctant to walk is that they are in pain. They might have stepped on something and hurt their paw, or there might be a more serious underlying condition.
Look for signs that your dog is in pain – if they are trying not to put pressure on a certain paw, or giving one area a lot of attention, or seem generally down in their mood.
You can perform a basic medical check on your dog and look for obvious cuts or scrapes. But if you can’t identify the problem, it’s time for a trip to the vet. They will perform a thorough check on your dog and maybe prescribe some medication.
Be aware that growing pains occur in dogs too, so if you have a puppy, this might be the cause of their aches! It is especially likely if you have a large breed dog who is going through a growth spurt.
Puppies are known for being full of energy, so if there is hesitation around walks, you might be thinking, why won’t my puppy walk? It is possible that they are having a growth spurt and just feeling too achy to run around.
Your Dog is Feeling Fear or Anxiety
Everybody has days where the world can seem like too much, and this happens to dogs too! Sometimes there is a specific event to explain your dog’s fear, like an attack or witnessing something scary. Sometimes dogs just feel anxious around new people and smells.
Signs that your dog is scared of going outside are digging their paws into the ground when you get to the front door or front gate, panting very heavily, or trembling.
Building your dog’s confidence outside of the home is going to take some patience. It requires you to stay exceptionally calm, because dogs pick up on our mood. Positive reinforcement can come in the form of treats, toys, cuddles and words of encouragement.
Baby steps are also key to rectifying this issue. I often get asked, should I force my dog to walk if he doesn’t want to? And the answer is absolutely no. Focus on progress – if you can make it to the end of the garden after a month when before you couldn’t get outside of the door, that is progress. No one likes being forced to do something they are scared to do.
Your Dog Has an Uncomfortable Collar or Harness
Getting the right equipment for your dog is essential for happy walks.
It is tempting to buy a heavy collar and lead for your dog, as they promise safety and security. However, you should be looking for the lightest collar or harness available that is suitable for the dog size.
Heavy gear can be exceptionally irritating and uncomfortable, and may make your dog reluctant to walk. Gear that is the wrong fit can lead to injury by rubbing and irritating the skin.
If you have a puppy who has never walked with a lead before, they will need some time to get used to the gear. You can start by leaving their collar or harness near their bed so they can get used to the smell. Then try putting it on for an hour or so, just around the house, so they can get used to the feel. Again, baby steps are the way!
If your dog is already used to walking on a lead but you still think the gear is the issue, try a lighter lead, collar, or harness, that is secure but not tight.
Harnesses are becoming much more popular because they don’t put pressure around the neck of the dog but can still be uncomfortable if they are too tight or too heavy. Introduce new gear slowly, just like with puppies.