dog refusing to walk certain directions?

[re]

My dog is turning 3 this year.
this winter he has developed a really strange habit.

most of our walks start out from our house. at first one path that was a regular one, he would stop, lower his front half as if he spotted something, with a very focused look ahead in the distance, and not budge, refusing to go forward. he is perfectly happy to go around and head any other direction. I have never gotten him to walk that area since, though I have tricked him into going other routes that cross it in different directions, as soon as he realizes we have gotten there he refuses to budge.
so now I cant take him out any direction from our yard out back, and half the routes out front he will not go. I have no problem when I drive him somewhere for a walk.
at first I thought it was a seeing impairment, but he can spot a rabbit across a field. there are no bad experiences on these areas, so no traumitization. I make sure he goes the bathroom before walks.
last night I was trying to take him running on a last desparate route, and he pulled his tricks again. The only thing I could think of was to make him walk back and forth across the ave until he finally let me lead him forward (we crossed the ave about 5 times, until he decided he would rather go my way).

any advice on how to end this and what it might be and how to correct it?

[CA in TO]

Things I'd be tempted to try (in no particular order)

Drive into the area. Park the car. Stay awhile. Maybe even have a treat or two.
Do the same, but I get out and just sit on the hood of the car for a while.
Do it again, invite him to get out too.


Go to the point where he stops and just pull out a book and sit down to read.



I wonder if there is some sort of smell that he is aware of.... maybe chemical??

[re]

that would be really hard to do.

-one is any entrance off our house into the alley.
-another is a sidewalk north from our house on a busy road, and any road/alley that runs to that road. (yet we have a walk on an even busier road, so I know its not the traffic.) this used to be the favorite walk for him because of all the dogs and smells through all the fences we pass.
-another is an alley off our alley thats quiet and runs to a park
-any direction left of our house
-any north direction from the schoolyard off our road

its ridiculous, and he even does it to places he hasnt been yet.

we had a really good running relationship - I run, he trots along side me, 3 times a week plus 2 walks a day. Now I am running without him because I dont have time to keep taking him home every time he acts up, and saving the struggles for our walks.

[rythmnrr]

Re, Sounds like something definitive has spooked him in the certain directions you are going.  I didn't quite catch what you said about what he may be seeing  or possibly hearing, that makes him act this way? Anyway, Ca had great suggestions; I think you really need to pinpoint what it is that is disturbing him and keeping him from going on a walk! I know my male loves to hike in the woods but when we come up to an overpass wood, walking bridge ..he refuses to go over.  He will go under or around, other direction, but scr*&! the bridge, not happening..he will not walk on it. Since then everytime we encounter the bridge I have treats ready and we slowly get to know this odd obstacle in front of us. He takes a step..treat, another step treat, now we are on the bridge treat, we stay for a while relax, treat.  Never rush them! I make it a point now to walk the bridge as much as I can and it doesn't bother him anymore. Hope this helps but I think you need to find out the cause before you can fix the problem. Find a distraction for him when he freezes and then move forward.

Rene'

[caro]

Re (is this your real name?  Please sign your posts so we can respond to you properly), I think he is getting the exact reaction he wants from you.  Have you thought that perhaps he doesn't like running with you.  If you are concentrating on your running perhaps he feels like you are ignoring him.  Try just walking out the house with him and when he balks, encourage him on with some really good smelling treats. 

Another possibility is that he senses something lurking in the alley, perhaps a cat, or a racoon or something, and he doesn't want to face it.

I think you are just going to have to go back to basics and treat him as a complete beginner when it comes to leash walking.  Lots of encouragement, but be firm when he balks because he simply doesn't want to go in that direction.  Don't pull him by the collar, but go back and stand beside him and encourage him forward.  Don't baby him, be firm, but encouraging as well. 

I wouldn't try running with him for a while, just go for a walk and get him really excited before you even walk out the door.

Hope these suggestions help.

Caroline

[melissap]

 
Great Suggestions Caroline and Carol Ann!
Melissa

[re]

Re -IS- my name. My posts are signed.

I am having the hardest time pinpointing whats disturbing him. no location has anything in common with the other.

its absolute refusal to go further, total freezing.

I completely stopped running with him, (which I miss) because its takes up way too much time to try and find a route he'll go on, and since I consider myself the alpha, I set the path, not him. if he doesnt want to go, I bring him home.

He has no physical impairment because he runs perfectly well with me at any offleash park. it seem specific to anywhere around our house - and by never walking around our house is NOT an option.

I have more time to deal with it on his walks - I've been trying to see exactly where he starts it but its seems to be everywhere we have this issue, he wont go ever again. ( in his mind anyway).

I've always led him by posative encouragement, its usually the only thing that worked with him - you cant get mad or anything because it doesnt work, but if you really make a big deal when he does something right he really does improve.

its useless to pull at his leash, he weighs more than me. I tried holding his leash forward (if you can imagine this, my arm outstretched) overtop of him to lead him forward while walking behind his butt, and at first he would get up and get out of the way and then we would be able to continue on the walk, his tail wagging and all.

I did a test walk yesterday - and when he put on his brakes I made him sit. then we crossed the road. (crosswalk). then I made him sit. then we crossed back across the road. Then I tried to continue on the original route. when he didnt, we went back across the road. we did this about four times, (which took forever waiting for the light each time) but on the fourth time he finally agreed to go the way I wanted to go and we had no more problems.

[sarah yates]

i dunno, i'm going to have to side with the dog here. he could be stubborn, OR he could be sensing something and be trying to keep you out of danger. three of the spaces you mentioned that he doesn't like are alley ways. i have in the past not understood why my dogs have done something that later totally makes sense, and it's usually their protective instinct coming through.

just food for thought/devil's advocate thinking...

sarah

[Jenn09]

This may sound crazy but we're going through something similar.  We had no idea why she would stop in certain places until we looked down.  She is petrified of sewer grates.  We can now walk around them but at first it was a dead halt.  No real suggestions but maybe it's something on the ground versus the area?

[caro]

Sorry Re, now I see the signature.  Was looking in the wrong place!

When he stops and refuses to go forward.  What is his body language?  Is he alert looking at something?  Does he shivver as though he was afraid of what was ahead?  Or does he have that stubborn expression RRs are so good at? 

I don't blame your dog, Jenn, for not liking grates.  It's so easy to get a toenail snagged in one.  I've seen a seasoned showdog refuse to go into the ring when there is a grate to be crossed.

It sounds like you may have hit on some sort of solution Re.  I think this is going to be a long process of desensitizing him and you are going to have to read his body language to know how to react to what he is doing.

Be sure to let us know how you progress.

Caroline

[Loki]

Re, do you have a friend who has a dog? If you do, ask your friend to come out for a walk and to go ahead with her/his dog. You follow with your dog a few steps behind. It will be even better if you have a few friends with dogs so that you can form a pack - 3 to 4 dogs will do. Try walking towards that areas in a pack a few times. If it is all possible once you reach the problem area, have the dogs play there.

If that turns out to be successful, next time you decide to go alone with your dog, go out first a create a trail of yummy treats and then get your dog and try to follow the trail of treats.
Both scenarios are suggested based on the intent to create a positive experience and associate this area with good things. Good luck.

[Loki]

Re, do you have a friend who has a dog? If you do, ask your friend to come out for a walk and to go ahead with her/his dog. You follow with your dog a few steps behind. It will be even better if you have a few friends with dogs so that you can form a pack - 3 to 4 dogs will do. Make sure you are in the middle or towards the end of the pack. Try walking towards that areas in a pack mode a few times. If it is all possible i.e. safe, once you reach the problem area have the dogs play there.

If that turns out to be successful, the next the time you decide to go alone with your dog, go out first a create a trail of yummy treats and then get your dog and try to follow the trail of treats. This also assumes that your dog knows "leave it" and will not pick up just any food of the ground that may not be safe. Distractions described in some of the replies are also very useful. If you teach your dog to look at you on command, you could ask for "look at me" make a few steps, reward, ask for another "look" and before you know it you will be on your way. Try baby steps first - only one or two "look at me" and then allow your dog to go in a different direction - do not force it. Do not spend more than 2-3 min in the first day or two. Then very slowly increase the number of steps. If the first day you make even 2-3 steps forward - reward that and end on the positive note.

All scenarios are suggested based on the intent to create a positive experience and to associate this area with good things. Good luck.

[Keeper]

lots of potential reasons here.  Smells?  Quite possible, not the inticing type..but those that create fear or uncertainty...rats?  Sounds?  Scurring, Scratching. 

The grates are/have been a problem at my training classes.  Unfortunately they are on the building floor. 
I think Loki has a good suggestion with other dogs that he knows and LIKES that might help him overcome this.  You're an excellent owner to try to overcome this with positive motivation instead of negative.