Walkies......or maybe not!

[ETavernor]

Scooby our puppy has been out walking now for two weeks.  He goes each morning and afternoon to Marbury Park.  For a week and a half he really seemed to enjoy his walks particularly loving the fuss given from other walkers.  However over the last three/four days he has not been so keen.  During the first five minutes he pulls to go back to the car and if let off the lead will run back!  We have been keeping him on the lead until right into the park and then letting him free.  He seems to be enjoying himself but nearing the end of the walk he tries to run off back to that car again!  What a nutter! Is this normal??

Emma                    

[Inca]

Although Inca loves his walks he still pulls towards the car as we go down the drive. Once he realises that we are walking and not driving he's fine. I'd just give him time Emma                    

[Mary]

From others and my own experience, I wouldn't say that this is unusual :-

Lottie is now 6 months and looks forward to her walks but as soon as she knows we are heading home she speeds up (on or off her lead).  Once we're half way around the local field she then speeds up and seems to be focused on getting home asap!!!  Strange, as she sits by the front door wanting to go out

Just be a little cautious though Emma.........Lottie actually ran all the way home the other day when she was out with Jim

Are you working on her recall?  Take some tasty treats to keep her interested                    

[ETavernor]

Yes Mary we have been working on Scooby's recall and he is usually very good.  It's just when he knows that he is approaching the car - he's off like a shot!  I think he has a serious case of selective hearing!

Emma                    

[Gilly]

I'm having this problem with Buttons at the moment   I take her to quite a popular but remote dog walking place to exercise her off lead.  When I took her the other day she was fine, tho a bit slective at times wether she listened to me..(even tho she knew I had cheese )we got to the end of a long path and were just about to go into a wooded area about half a mile from the car..and she promptly turned round and started legging it back to the car...no amount of calling or offering cheese was gonna stop her..she was on a mission, of course I didn't know at the time she was running back to the car and ran after her (not a funny sight ) when she got to the car she stopped and waited for me, the only thing I'm worried about now is it was a good job mine was the only car in the carpark and what if she doesn't stop at the car next time also last weekend my friend looked after her and took her to the same place with her cocker and her sisters 2 dogs, Buttons saw a lady with 2 dogs and went over to say hello, as the lady walked off Buttons followed and wouldn't come back to my friend she wanted to go with the lady Maybe she's trying to tell me something
So like you I'm need of ideas???

Gilly                    

[Jane S]

This is par for the course Gilly - they often get a bit more independant & stop responding as well to you when they get to 6 months or so. When I'm walking youngsters, I always try & do a circular walk & vary it a lot so we don't come back the way we come (because pups will often follow their own scent back to the car ) & don't go the same way each time - keep 'em guessing Also if one type of titbit is no longer working, then try something else - you've got to try & make yourself more interesting than anything else around so try a titbit you don't normally use (eg the dreaded liver cake or bits of sausage) & maybe also try a special toy that Buttons only gets access to when you're on a walk off lead. You'll have to experiment with what presses her buttons the most but you could try a tennis ball (maybe inside a knotted sock) or perhaps a frisbee. Keep at it - you'll get there in the end                    

[ETavernor]

Gilly,

This is exactly what Scooby does - runs back to the car and sits beside it.  He's only 15 weeks - what on earth is he going to be like at 6 months!!

Emma                    

[Mary]

We went for a great country walk today.  Parked the car in this quiet lane and began walking along it.  So still and quiet, so I let Lottie off her lead.  A little further on we passed a cottage and a cockeral crowed (obviously confused with the clocks going forward ).  Startled Lottie totally and she just turned  She ran at first and then slowed down to a fast walk, focusing on one thing...getting back to the car

I didn't panic as it was so quiet but she wouldn't even look back when I called her .  I had to pick her up and carry her back until we'd passed this cottage...she still seemed apprehensive so I didn't let her off her lead again  Good job as further along still she heard a dog barking in a farm house and she just wanted to run again then

She socialises well with other dogs when we're out but gets really jumpy when they bark.....how do I help her overcome that fear                    

[Pammy]

She socialises well with other dogs when we're out but gets really jumpy when they bark.....how do I help her overcome that fear

You can try totally ignoring her behaviour and giddying up your walk to go past the offender praising her after you have got past and she is focussing on going forward again. Jasper and Buddy used to do this all the time barking themselves at things we went past. The key is to not let them see you worried by the "thing".
Tell her "no" and carrying on - ignoring what they are afraid of. Does not acknowledge their fear, so no reassuring noises, which is hard for us humans as our instincts are to re-assure. She will start to pick up from you as her leader that it is OK and she's no need to be afraid.

Jasp and Bud now walk happily past most anything without turning a hair. Went past a couple of horses today - and they were great - totally ignored them.  So if I can do it with mine - then anyone else can do it;D

hth                    

[Colin]

Jimmy is very jumpy at things he is unsure about as well....but he doesn't  run away, he puts on his deepest bark and stands his ground. Amusing things he has barked at include snowmen, a pink poodle, a tree hugger and people trying to do Tai Chi. Still embarrassing though..... the trouble is, he mostly does it at people standing on their own in the park, as long as they are moving it's ok, but if not ,sometimes they seem to worry him and he barks and barks until I drag him away or distract him. I try and stay casual about it but it doesn't make any difference.

Ages ago he was doing a poo in a remote and wild part of the park and a sinister looking man came out the bushes behind him (god knows what he'd been up to ).....Jimmy was really surprised and this is the first time I remember him going into this mad barking ritual. The thing is he is really friendly to most strangers........ he'll sit on their feet for ages while they stroke him, looking up adoringly at them.... but certain people he is really scared of and goes mental. One minute I'm being complimented on having the cutest, friendliest dog, the next I've got someone quivering in fear of him. Is this just the way it is....or is there something I could be doing about it ? This only happens very occassionally.....he is definitely not physically aggressive so it seems to be a fear thing.

Any ideas?                    

[Jo W]

Jimmy is very jumpy at things he is unsure about as well....but he doesn't  run away, he puts on his deepest bark and stands his ground. Amusing things he has barked at include snowmen, a pink poodle, a tree hugger and people trying to do Tai Chi. Still embarrassing though..... the trouble is, he mostly does it at people standing on their own in the park, as long as they are moving it's ok, but if not ,sometimes they seem to worry him and he barks and barks until I drag him away or distract him. I try and stay casual about it but it doesn't make any difference.

Ages ago he was doing a poo in a remote and wild part of the park and a sinister looking man came out the bushes behind him (god knows what he'd been up to ).....Jimmy was really surprised and this is the first time I remember him going into this mad barking ritual. The thing is he is really friendly to most strangers........ he'll sit on their feet for ages while they stroke him, looking up adoringly at them.... but certain people he is really scared of and goes mental. One minute I'm being complimented on having the cutest, friendliest dog, the next I've got someone quivering in fear of him. Is this just the way it is....or is there something I could be doing about it ? This only happens very occassionally.....he is definitely not physically aggressive so it seems to be a fear thing.

Any ideas?

It's just part of growing up but I think I'd be gently correcting him when he barks at people, otherwise it may become a habit.  The scaredy-cat phase will pass but I do think you need to be careful that his experiences during this phase are good ones - and that he has lots of different ones.

I've not seen it so much in cockers but rotties go through this jumpy phase at around 18 months and I believe that if you can get a dog through this adolescent bit unscathed by odd events, aggressive dogs and strange people etc., etc., then you end up with a steady, amenable dog but if exposure isn't controlled or too many frightening or unpleasant things happen, then I think this is the age that dogs 'turn' at and possibly become aggressive, nervous and/or snappy.  This is just personal observation though  :-

I often see people with young dogs who are nervous about situations such as walking past other dogs etc., and instead of putting their dog on a lead and giving it some confidence and support, they just sail on and leave the dog to fend for itself - makes me angry                      

[Mary]

You can try totally ignoring her behaviour and giddying up your walk to go past the offender praising her after you have got past and she is focussing on going forward again.

hth

yeh...I do that Pammy.  I don't pamper to her but praise her but praise her after. Two German Shepherds came bounding towards her the other day.  She just stood and stared at them which took them by surprise  So they stopped within a few feet of her and started barking...that's when she legged it!!  Then as soon as the GS's responded to their owner and ran back, Lottie ran after them!! They then played happily  

So you see, she's a little unpredictable at the moment, like Jimmy.....still learning.