Help! Refusing to walk on leash!

B

beanbean

Forums Novice
Hi Pawents!

We're new to the forum as we've adopted our 6yr sheltie girl almost one year ago. We didn't have much problems with her, but getting her used to going for walks is a work in progress as her previous home kept her cooped up in the apartment for months on end :mad:

Now that's she's settled with us for almost a year, she's started to show her stubbornness during her walks. She would stop in her tracks and step on her breaks, refusing the go forward. We've tried to treat her if she starts walking again, but she would stop, as if to just get more treats. This only happens when we walk her with her leash. I've taken her off her leash and she would walk perfectly fine. Unfortunately, our area doesn't allow me to walk her off leash as there are too many cars and other distractions that could get her hurt.

I'm out of ideas but it's starting to become frustrating because she needs to go out for her toilet breaks!

Help!:confused2:
 
I think you should go to the vet and have her hip and elbow joints investigated for arthritis or dysplasia. It sounds like a physical issue, given her age and you've had her a year. The refusing to walk was how my male was eventually diagnosed with early onset arthritis - people would tell me to force him to walk and he is only playing up, but he was trying to tell me something. An adult sheepdog doesn't develop a dislike for no reason. Walking off leash she has no choice but to keep up with you, but on leash is a way to send a message.

In the interim, when she stops let her rest it out. If it is sore joints she needs to let the pain subside for a bit. And try to keep her off hard surfaces. Have a look at her gait as well - sometimes they walk funny when their joints are sore. If the front end is sore they might walk with their back feet apart (shelties should walk with their feet close together, almost touching or crossing over). If it's the back end they do what is called a 'bunny hop' when they run - keeping the back feet together as they run rather than striding out each leg separately.

If you see the vet and find nothing wrong please post again. I'm just really reticent to give you any behavioural advice when it could be a physical problem.
 
Blaze refused to walk on a leash too. Wanted us to carry him everywhere. Would sit nicely to accept the leash. (Did the Kikopup desensitizing.) However trying to walk was completely out--he'd sit his butt down and that was it. He'd take treats--but refused to walk on a leash for me. Mentioned this to someone else and she smiled because her puppy was just like that. Granddaughter overheard so she made it her business to get Blaze to walk on a leash. Over and over and over again. Just little steps at first, then a little longer. Now I can even walk Blaze on leash out our backyard, thru the garage, down our driveway to our rural mailbox and back again. (Can even take leash walks to neighbors.) Patience (after determining that there isn't a health issue) and possibly getting someone else to "jump start" the leash-walking. Another person suggested a retractable leash (so the dogs still feel like they are free and not under control) but gradually shorten to leash length. My granddaughter didn't use the retractable leash (I'm a little bit wary of it cutting fingers if dog decides to pull). She just insisted on a walk over and over again and Blaze (submissively) went along with it. I wish I could "loan" you my granddaughter. Perhaps a trainer?
 
Thanks Caro!

She is our first pup, so there's still so much for us to learn! Didn't think arthritis could affect them this much. I have been giving her supplements for a while now, maybe it's time for something a bit stronger. Booking an appointment with the vet immediately!

Thanks again!:smile2:
 
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