How hard should I push?

lfarn · 12-26-2012, 03:12 PM

My pup is 16 weeks now and we start our puppy class the first week of Jan.
We brought her home at 9 weeks. She is just wonderful in nearly every way!
She does great on the leash and we have taken her several times to a nearby state park and hiked for an hr. or so off leash, (No one is there this time of year, so very few distractions.) and she has done great.
BUT-she will NOT walk up and down our country road with me. She will walk to the mailbox and back, but digs her feet in and will not walk in either direction down our road. You would literally have to drag her to make it happen.
It is not the cars, there are very few, plus I have taken her into town and walked up and down much busier streets with no problem. It is only our road.
Now, I think what happened is that when she was about 10 weeks old, my kids (adults) took her for a walk down the road and a dog ran at her barking and scared her.
How do I get her past this, assuming this is what is bothering her. I have tried treats, etc. but literally no go! I really don't want to drive somewhere else to take a walk..........

**MaggieRoseLee** · 12-26-2012, 05:25 PM

My puppies all hate leaving the yard so I don't drag them. They poo/pee in the yard and for exercise I pack them in the car and we go somewhere to socialize/train/exercise.

MichaelE · 12-26-2012, 05:43 PM

Is it a gravel road? Maybe she doesn't like the rocks and pebbles between her pads.

farnln · 12-26-2012, 06:13 PM

I tried again today as we had a few inches of snow. She loves the snow and I thought maybe it would be just different enough to make a difference. Nope, she dug her heels in and wouldn't move.

jessac · 12-26-2012, 07:34 PM

I have heard that pups don't really like leaving home, like literally walking away from it, which is why I guess driving elsewhere was suggested. But if you want your pup to follow without pulling or dragging behind, could you maybe lure her slowly by using treats? Maybe walk a few steps and hold a treat at your side and wait form your pup to come to your side until she gets over it? Might take you a while to get down the drive, but maybe the next day will go faster, ya know? But maybe go slow in the beginning. That's what I would try if it were my pup, but i-'m sure after the holidays someone with more experience will chime in. I don't know what you meant when you said you tried treats, so sorry if that's not helpful.

ponyfarm · 01-04-2013, 07:42 AM

I live on some acreage and never take my dogs "off property for a walk". I never want them to think its OK to leave their domain. We go in the car for a "walk" if it is even just across the road. This is just something I have always done...safer imo!

It sounds like in your case your puppy got scared, I would be too if I got attacked! Forget about it for awhile..she doesnt want to go..so dont. Anyway, it doesnt sound safe..so why risk it? Can you play in your yard for exercise?

farnln · 01-04-2013, 09:58 AM

The more I read, the more common this sounds.
I am not going to push her. We have plenty of land here for her to exercise.
We have plenty of other things to work on that are more important!

12-26-2012, 03:12 PM	#1 (permalink)
lfarn Banned Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 2	How hard should I push? My pup is 16 weeks now and we start our puppy class the first week of Jan. We brought her home at 9 weeks. She is just wonderful in nearly every way! She does great on the leash and we have taken her several times to a nearby state park and hiked for an hr. or so off leash, (No one is there this time of year, so very few distractions.) and she has done great. BUT-she will NOT walk up and down our country road with me. She will walk to the mailbox and back, but digs her feet in and will not walk in either direction down our road. You would literally have to drag her to make it happen. It is not the cars, there are very few, plus I have taken her into town and walked up and down much busier streets with no problem. It is only our road. Now, I think what happened is that when she was about 10 weeks old, my kids (adults) took her for a walk down the road and a dog ran at her barking and scared her. How do I get her past this, assuming this is what is bothering her. I have tried treats, etc. but literally no go! I really don't want to drive somewhere else to take a walk..........

12-26-2012, 05:25 PM	#2 (permalink)
MaggieRoseLee The Agility Rocks! Moderator Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Bushkill, PA (The Poconos!) Posts: 24,183	My puppies all hate leaving the yard so I don't drag them. They poo/pee in the yard and for exercise I pack them in the car and we go somewhere to socialize/train/exercise. __________________ MACH3 Bretta Lee Wildhaus MXG MJG MXF MFB TQX HIT CGC TC Glory B Wildhaus AX, AXJ, XF "*It is absurd to divide people into good and bad. People are either charming or tedious."* - Oscar Wilde

12-26-2012, 05:43 PM	#3 (permalink)
MichaelE Elite Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Southern Illinois Posts: 1,129	Is it a gravel road? Maybe she doesn't like the rocks and pebbles between her pads. __________________ Bear, Anna, Molly, Ossie, and The Countess Lisl von Schlaf An Unhappy German is a Sour Kraut!

12-26-2012, 06:13 PM	#4 (permalink)
farnln New Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Posts: 24	Nope, paved road I tried again today as we had a few inches of snow. She loves the snow and I thought maybe it would be just different enough to make a difference. Nope, she dug her heels in and wouldn't move.

01-04-2013, 07:42 AM	#6 (permalink)
ponyfarm Master Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 985	I live on some acreage and never take my dogs "off property for a walk". I never want them to think its OK to leave their domain. We go in the car for a "walk" if it is even just across the road. This is just something I have always done...safer imo! It sounds like in your case your puppy got scared, I would be too if I got attacked! Forget about it for awhile..she doesnt want to go..so dont. Anyway, it doesnt sound safe..so why risk it? Can you play in your yard for exercise? __________________ Max Von Zahnderhaus -CGC- DOB 2/14/2012 http://www.pedigreedatabase.com/dog.html?id=1353416 Tim the Collie- RN -DOB 4/01/2010

12-26-2012, 07:34 PM	#5 (permalink)
jessac Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 269	I have heard that pups don't really like leaving home, like literally walking away from it, which is why I guess driving elsewhere was suggested. But if you want your pup to follow without pulling or dragging behind, could you maybe lure her slowly by using treats? Maybe walk a few steps and hold a treat at your side and wait form your pup to come to your side until she gets over it? Might take you a while to get down the drive, but maybe the next day will go faster, ya know? But maybe go slow in the beginning. That's what I would try if it were my pup, but i-'m sure after the holidays someone with more experience will chime in. I don't know what you meant when you said you tried treats, so sorry if that's not helpful.

01-04-2013, 09:58 AM	#7 (permalink)
farnln New Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Posts: 24	The more I read, the more common this sounds. I am not going to push her. We have plenty of land here for her to exercise. We have plenty of other things to work on that are more important!

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