If there’s one question pet owners think they’ll never hear themselves asking, it’s “why does my dog not want to walk?” Because all dogs love to walk, right?
Next to a bottomless food bowl, a good long walk around the park is as close to doggy heaven as it’s possible to get.
But what happens when the sound of you grabbing their leash and collar isn’t enough to get them on their feet? What does it mean when they slam the brakes on two minutes after you’ve left the house?
Have they lost their lust for life? Should you be worried? Is it a passing phase or something more sinister?
Actually, it depends. A dog can suddenly lose their interest in walks for all kinds of reasons. Sometimes, it could be as simple as objecting to your choice of collar. Other times, there might be a deeper problem to blame.
Either way, you’re probably feeling a little bit lost, a little bit lonely, and a little bit uncertain right about now. But don’t be.
Walk refusal (or ‘doorway phobia,’ as it’s often referred to) is actually a common enough complaint. Thankfully, it’s also one that’s usually easy enough to treat.
The first step in solving the problem? Work out what’s causing it in the first place…
WATCH VIDEO: Discover 5 Step-By-Step Exercises To Quickly & Permanently Calm The Emotions Of Your Dog Putting Them In A Highly Responsive, Ready To Train State…
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So Why Does My Dog Not Want To Walk?
When it comes to walkies, overenthusiasm is usually the problem. Straining at the leash, running madly after every passing stranger, barking at leaves… you get the picture.
So, when a dog suddenly develops the opposite problem, it’s natural for alarm bells to start ringing.
Some pet owners make the mistake of writing the behavior off as stubbornness. But life isn’t as easy as that.
Dogs aren’t like us. They’re not unruly by nature, and they don’t suddenly decide to change the habits of a lifetime for no good reason.
If your dog’s not loving their walks like they used to, it’s for a reason… a reason you need to know about.
Medical Problems
Before you consider any other explanation for your dog’s behavior, you need to rule out a medical problem.
If your dog’s in pain, walking is likely to make it worse – hence their decision to avoid it at all costs.
Numerous medical conditions could make walking on a leash either difficult or impossible for a dog to manage.
Tick-borne diseases, age-related joint problems, injuries, and even certain cancers can turn what once a source of joy into a source of serious aggregation.
The illness doesn’t have to be new. In fact, quite often, dogs will adapt to a problem and develop tricks to get by.
But if the condition suddenly worsens or flare-ups (as can often be the case with orthopedic problems in older dogs), even a sedate stroll around the block can become unbearable.
Not all medical conditions come with pain, of course, but the end result is just the same. If a dog experiences vision or hearing loss, even familiar surroundings can suddenly seem frightening.
If leaving the house makes your dog feel disorientated, confused, or unwell, it’s only natural they’ll try and avoid it.
Lack of Leash Training
If you’ve only recently introduced your pup to the joys of walking on a leash, the problem could boil down to inexperience.
Ultimately, dogs aren’t born knowing how to walk on a leash. It takes time and training to get used to it.
If your pup’s happy enough to walk around without a leash but digs their heels into the ground the moment it goes on, you’ve got your diagnosis.
Fear
Dogs might seem happy and carefree by nature, but that doesn’t mean they’re immune to fear.
If a dog suddenly goes on strike after a lifetime of loving walks, something may have happened to scare them. Something that’s managed to remove all their positive thoughts about walking and replace them with bad ones.
Perhaps they’ve been bitten or attacked. It could be as simple as hearing a car backfiring or being startled by a flaring siren.
When we get a fright, we can rationalize it. We understand what’s happened, the chances of it happening again, and whether it’s really something to be scared of.
Dogs can’t do that. They can’t contextualize or rationalize or box up their thoughts and put them to bed.
When fear creeps in, it doesn’t take long to establish roots. And once it does, all the joy of sniffing around, greeting old friends, and feeling the wind in their hair gets wiped out.
They’re Getting Older
Age comes to us all, even our four-legged buddies.
If your dog has lost interest in walking, think about how many candles you blew out on their last birthday cake.
If it was hitting double figures, then that could be your reason, right there.
Dogs don’t lose their enthusiasm for life with age, but they do occasionally lose their stamina for it.
While some dogs might still be hitting up the treadmill well into their teens. Others like to see through their twilight years with plenty of naps, plenty of treats, and as little physical exertion as they can get away with.
What was once a pleasure can now feel like a chore. Walking might leave them tired, a bit sore, and just a little grumpy. It’s natural enough, then, that they’ll try and avoid it if they can.
Uncomfortable Equipment
Imagine having to walk around all day in the world’s most uncomfortable sneakers. You’re not going to get far, are you?
Given the choice, you probably won’t leave the sofa.
Now imagine how your dog feels when you strap them into an itchy collar, an oversized harness, or a heavy leash?
Not great, right?
And probably not at all inclined to spend the next hour roaming around the park.
Sometimes, an antipathy towards walking has nothing at all to do with the walking itself. It’s just the gear it comes with.
Think about whether you’ve recently changed their leash. If their sudden aversion to leaving the house started soon after, that’s your problem… and your answer.
Ending the Fun
If your dog’s having a good time where they are, they might not see the value in leaving.
Maybe they prefer playing with the cat to checking out the other pups at the doggy-park.
Maybe they’re having too much fun on the sofa to part company with it.
Or maybe they’ve already set out on the walk and are enjoying themselves too much to turn around and head home.
Whatever the reason, they’re having too much of a great time where they are to give a hoot whether you want to keep on strolling or not.
A Change in Routine
You might not think of your dog as a delicate buttercup, but beneath that bouncy interior could lie a sensitive soul.
Ultimately, dogs are a bit like kids. They like routine, and with few exceptions, they’re not big on change.
So, if something happens to shake things up, it’s natural for them to feel akimbo. Maybe you’ve moved house, changed where you walk or welcomed a new addition to the family.
Whatever it is, it’s new, it’s different, and it’s making your dog feel confused enough to dig their heels in and stay put.
How To Get Your Dog to Start Walking Again
Once you know what’s causing your dog to refuse walks, you can start working on the fix.
Some of the problems will be easy enough to solve. Others are going to take a bit more work. But unless your dog is constitutionally lazy (and trust me, they’re not), you’ll get there in the end.
Tackle Health Problems
Before you do anything else, rule out the possibility that your dog’s in any pain or discomfort.
If the problem has developed suddenly, they might have stepped on a thorn or picked up another foreign object.
If they’ll let you, pick up their paw and gently inspect it for signs of injury. Even if there are no obvious signs, don’t rule it out until your vet has given you the all-clear.
If the problem has come on gradually, your dog may be suffering from a progressive condition like arthritis.
Orthopedic diseases can make walking extremely painful. And while most dogs will struggle on during the early stages, they’re likely to reach a point where it becomes unbearable.
But whatever the issue, if you’re aware of a pre-existing condition, speak to your vet to discuss pain management options.
Don’t be tempted to try other techniques to get your dog walking until you’re 100% confident a medical problem isn’t to blame. Not only will you be wasting your time, your dog really won’t thank you for it.
Get Back to Basics
If a pup or young dog is happy enough to walk without a leash but kicks up a fuss the moment you pop one around their neck, it’s time to take a step back and revisit the basics.
Learning to walk on a leash doesn’t come naturally to some dogs. But providing you’re consistent and patient enough, even the most leash-phobic pup will eventually become accustomed to it.
Start by getting them used to the sensation of wearing something around their neck. Let them wear the leash around the house as much as possible, being careful to keep a close eye on them while they do.
Once they’ve got used to the sensation, step things up a gear. Pick up the leash and walk a few steps away, being careful to keep the leash loose enough not to create tension.
Call them to you in an upbeat voice and once they arrive, reward them with a treat.
Keep going until your dog is following your every step in anticipation of the next treat. Once you think they’re ready, head outside to continue the game.
While you’re getting them used to the process, be careful never to pull or jerk the leash.
If your dog starts to develop negative associations with the leash. It’s going to be even more difficult to get them to enjoy their walks.
As with any kind of training, be mindful of your dog’s emotional state. If they’re bouncing off the ceiling or feeling anxious, they’re unlikely to be in the mood to listen.
Try to work a few simple calming exercises into your session.
As the first port of call, I’d recommend these 5 step-by-step calming techniques from the Online Dog Trainer.
They’re simple, they’re effective, and they’re going to make your pooch far more receptive to your training than they’d be otherwise.
Stick to Positive Reinforcement
Some people think that exposing their dog to their worst nightmare is the quickest and easiest way to overcome fear. But you know what? It doesn’t work.
Throwing a baby into the deep end doesn’t teach it to swim. Neither does dragging your pooch to a crowded park teach it to love walking.
If your dog has developed some kind of fear or anxiety about walking outside. Forcing them into a situation that scares them and from which they can’t escape is only going to make the situation worse.
Skip pulling or dragging your dog outside. It won’t work.
If you want to help your dog to overcome their fear, positive reinforcement and baby steps are the way to go. Remember – you catch more flies with honey than you do with vinegar.
Eliminate Fear
If your dog has developed a sudden fear that makes them reluctant to leave the house, the sooner you tackle it, the better.
Eradicating fear isn’t something that’s going to happen overnight. But with time, any dog can be helped to regain their confidence.
The aim of the game is to teach your dog that the world isn’t the big, bad, scary place they think it is.
Start by timing your walks during quiet parts of the day, and avoid anywhere you’re likely to come across loud noises or unfamiliar things.
Whenever your dog shows any positive behavior (glancing down the street, taking a step, etc.), mark it with a high-value reward. Keep repeating the process, being sure to mark each and every rewardable behavior.
The process will take time, but don’t be tempted to try and hurry it along. You’ll need to work at your dog’s pace if it’s going to work.
With enough perseverance, your dog should eventually learn to replace any negative associations with positive ones. Once that happens, you’re home dry.
Try a New Leash
If you thought that investing in the strongest, sturdiest leash you could find was a good idea, think again. An ill-fitting collar and a heavy leash can quickly become a source of burden to small breeds or pups.
Switch their current gear for the lightest leash and collar that’s safe. And obviously, avoid any outdated prong collars like the plague – anything that’s designed to cause pain has no place in your dog’s life.
Encourage New Behaviors
If your dog’s happy enough to leave the house but applies the brakes after a certain point, it’s time to roll out the treats and get stuck into some training.
As soon as they start to show any signs of movement, reward the behavior before throwing a treat a few steps ahead of them.
Keep repeating the process until they build up enough momentum for you to continue the walk.
Calming Techniques
If your dog is feeling scared or overwhelmed, helping them to feel calm and secure is paramount.
These 5 step-by-step calming exercises aren’t going to solve your dog’s walking aversion on their own. But they can make an invaluable addition to other behavior modification techniques.
Before each training session or walk, take a few minutes to run through the exercises. You’ll be amazed at the difference they make to your dog’s responsiveness.
Final Thoughts
Getting your dog to love walking isn’t going to happen overnight. Between identifying the problem and solving it, there’s going to be lots of baby steps, the occasional setback, and days you wish you’d stuck with a cat instead.
But don’t give up. Seeing your dog heading out the door without a care in the world will make all the effort worth it.
Until then, keep patient and keep persevering. Success is often closer than you think.
