Walking is often seen as a highlight of a dog’s day and it can be a great mood booster for us humans too! But not all dogs feel that way. Sometimes, we might like walking more than our dogs do. If your dog is refusing to walk, it’s important to understand the reason why before trying to encourage them to go out with you.
By considering behavioural, emotional or physical factors, you can gain insights into why walking with your dog might be difficult. In this blog, we’ll explore some of the reasons why your dog won’t walk as well as how you can help.
Common Reasons Dogs May Avoid Walks
Dogs may pass up the opportunity to go for a walk for a variety of reasons, so let’s take a look at those first. This behaviour could be down to:
Behavioural or Emotional Causes
- Fear of specific triggers, like other dogs, loud noises or traffic
- Negative past experiences such as unwanted attention from other dogs, a passing bike frightening them, sudden loud road noises, getting hurt or stuck
- Lack of confidence or socialization
Health Issues
- Pain or discomfort like stiff joints or a paw injury
- Illness or fatigue
- Age-related changes, for example puppies and seniors may have different needs and energy levels
Environmental Factors
- Weather conditions such as heat, cold, rain or thunderstorms
- Overstimulating or chaotic surroundings
- The time of day, as some periods may be busier and noisier than others
Observing and Understanding Your Dog’s Behaviour
When figuring out why your dog is refusing to walk, it’s important to observe and understand your dog’s behaviour. When walking with your dog, watch for body language such as hesitation, a tucked tail, ears back, panting (when not hot or tired), lip licking, pulling back or lunging forward.
A helpful dog walking tip to better observe your dog’s behaviour is to keep a walk diary. To do this, pay attention to your dog and their environment so you can note when, where and what happened and how your dog responded so you can better try and support them. This can help you spot patterns and identify what issues may be affecting your dog, as well as how best to support them.
As well as monitoring your dog’s behaviour, it’s also important to rule out medical issues with your vet. This is especially important if their reluctance to walk is new and persistent, or you notice signs your dog is in pain or discomfort.
Ways to Encourage Walking With Your Dog
If walking your dog is proving difficult, try these dog walking training tips:
- Start small—Begin with short, low-stress walks in a quiet area. Let your dog choose the pace and direction so they feel safe and in control.
- Choose favourite times and places—Walk your dog during calm periods of the day, such as early morning and late evening. Following familiar routes that you know your dog enjoys will build confidence. If necessary, adjust your route to avoid certain areas, such as a house with barking dogs in the garden.
- Use positive reinforcement—Reward relaxed behaviour or even small steps towards going on a walk, like not hiding when it is time to put on their harness or lead. Using treats, praise and toys as a reward can help them learn the desired behaviour.
- Avoid using force—Don’t drag or force your dog to walk, as this will only make the situation worse. It won’t make them feel more positive about walks. Instead, build trust through encouragement and positive reinforcement.
- Create positive associations—Pair walks with enjoyable activities such as sniffing games, playtime or bringing along a favourite toy or treats.
- Find alternative ways to enrich your dog’s day—Every dog is different, and some need more time and support than others. Don’t put pressure on yourself to go on a walk with your dog if they aren’t ready. There are alternatives for physical and mental stimulation, such as games, activity toys, scent work and renting dog fields just for you and your dog.
Addressing Specific Fears
One reason your dog may be refusing to walk is that they could be dealing with specific fears that need to be addressed. If you suspect your dog has such fears, here are some steps you can take to help:
- Identify triggers and desensitize your dog gradually.
- Try ADAPTIL products such as the ADAPTIL Calm Collar. This helps emotional well-being thanks to appeasing pheromone support. This means that wherever your dog goes, the ADAPTIL Calm Collar can help them to feel reassured.
- Use counterconditioning to pair potentially scary things with positive experiences.
- Contact a qualified behaviourist or dog trainer for tailored individual advice and management plans to help your dog become more positive about walks.
Build a Routine
Dogs thrive on predictability, so building a routine for your dog helps them feel secure, confident and less anxious. Having regular walk times is a great dog walking tip, as it helps them feel more at ease and understand what to expect and what they might encounter.
When walking with your dog, keep their walking gear, such as their harness and lead, the same to build familiarity. It’s also important to make sure it fits properly and is comfortable for them while they’re walking.
Before, during and after the walk, use a calm and confident tone and body language that’s familiar to them. This helps your dog feel more relaxed and prevents them from becoming on edge when experiencing new sights, sounds or situations.
Making Walks More Enjoyable
As well as training your dog to walk effectively, it’s important to make walks enjoyable for both you and your dog. Here are some dog walking tips to help make them fun and engaging:
- Let your dog sniff and explore, as it’s mentally enriching
- Vary routes occasionally to keep things interesting
- Include training games or mini challenges during walks
- Walk with a trusted dog friend if your dog enjoys the company
- Try to stay calm and positive, as your dog will pick up on your emotions!
For more advice on walking with your dog, why not explore the rest of our blogs? And while you’re there, don’t forget to sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date with the latest tips from pet experts at ADAPTIL.