Frustrated while walking!

[Debbie Schneider]

Hello

Here I am again asking more questions - as I have never owned a labradoodle I am not sure what to expect - my issue is trying to get Maxwell to go for a "normal" walk or maybe my expectations are too high as he is only 4 months old - anyways every time I say "do you want to go for a walk?"  he gets so excited he can hardly contain himself but once we hit the pavement - he just stands there - and I have to coax him - he then will take maybe 5 to 6 more steps and then stop again - I bring along treats to reward him while he is doing the walking (hopefully to show him that is the behavior that is most preferred).  This has been going on for the whole 8 weeks that we have had him - and now to make matters even worse - when he does start walking - his nose is to the ground and he is putting absolutely everything in his mouth too - I have taught him the word - "trade" thank goodness he is pretty good with spitting out whatever is in his mouth (other than dried grasshoppers -lol!!) and getting a treat instead.  Is there hope that my little micro-mini ALD will be a good walking dog some day - that is really all I need to hear - it will give me some hope and keep me from being so frustrated - a normal 10 minute walk around our neighborhood usually lasts about 35 - 40 minutes!! He is also so distracted - every noise he hears - he has to stop as well and he often will stop and look back - I am wondering if he is scared to leave home.  Any advice on this would be greatly appreciated - this is probably the biggest issue I have at the moment with Maxwell - other than that he is doing great - he still has to learn to let me know when he has to go potty but I do know not to expect that for at least another couple of months or so and maybe longer because he is so small.

 

Thanks a bunch - Debbie and Maxwell 

[Rebecca, Kandy & Murphy]

We call our labradoodles "sniffer doodles" because they sniff everything on our walks.  So yes, I'd say that part is common.  They are curious, smart dogs and they definitely act it.  I am envious of your problem though -- I have a 2 year old full-sized labradoodle that was never taught to walk on a leash and he pretty much pulls me through the neighborhood.  I've never worked with that young a puppy - both of ours came as adults.  But I know that we had to really work at training both dogs to walk nicely and I think that is pretty much standard.  Sounds like you are on your way.  My favorite "online" dog trainer is Zak George and he made a point that really stuck with me -- it's not a walk at this point, it's a training session.  Until you are on really good walking behavior, don't count on a long walk, just a short training session.  It doesn't matter how far you get, it matters how much your dog learned.  That at least helped my frustration level, though obviously didn't help instantly change the dog's behavior.

[Debbie Schneider]

Hi Rebecca

 

Thank you so much for your great advice - I really like what you said about each time we are out to treat it as a "training session"  - I think that will be a great way to approach this - I have had some moments where it seemed to click with Maxwell so I will just try and build on those moments and enjoy our time together!  Thanks again for giving me some hope - it sounds like it really does take a lot of time and patience.  I am glad to hear the sniffing part is normal too - lol! 

 

Debbie and Maxwell

[Stephanie and Ragley]

Is there any reason you feel that you need to go on walks? Maybe he just prefers a different type of exercise? Maybe it is the concept of the leash that makes him nervous- have you tried going on "walks" inside the house to see if the behavior is different? Good luck!

[Debbie Schneider]

I am an avid walker - I owned a bichon/poodle cross before and we walked miles and miles in his 14 years - he loved to go for walks with me - so I guess I am so used to having a dog go for walks with me I never thought of it any other way.  I am seeing that Maxwell will be smaller than my last dog and it is possible he may not be an avid walker like my last dog.  Maxwell gets lots of playtime - his favorite thing is chasing a ball.  I don't think he is nervous on a leash - I will just continue to take him for short sessions and see how things go - I may have to go for walks on my own and exercise him in another way - I will see how it goes - he is still pretty young so time will tell I guess. 

 

Debbie and Maxwell

 

 

 

 

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

How big is a micro mini?  Maybe you are walking too far and too quickly for such a tiny guy? Think of yourself living in a world of giants with their giant  stride. How would you keep up?  How quickly would your tire out?

[Debbie Schneider]

Maxwell is now 5 pounds 11 ounces and he is 4 months old - he is expected to maybe reach 10 pounds full grown.  My last dog was a bichon/poodle and he was about 20 pounds full grown and would walk miles with me.  You may be right that he is just a bit too small to go too far right now - I will try and shorten our sessions and just treat them as training sessions without too many expectations.  I am sure we are like giants to Maxwell and each step a huge stride - lol!

 

Debbie and Maxwell

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

 :-}  I always think it is pretty cool that you can thoroughly exercise a teeny dog simply by walking it around your house!

[Lynda Kamrath]

Wow, a micro-mini ALD.  I hadn't heard of them.  My ALD is fifty pounds and was stubborn but very energetic as a youngster.  And yes, mouthing everything.  "Leave it" was the words he heard most on a walk.  Just a question.  Do you take him for a walk on a collar and a leash or do you have a little harness for him?  Some dogs don't like the tugging on their neck.  I would keep the walks short to begin with and then lengthen them as he gets more amenable to a walk.  Ten minutes is plenty of time for a little walk to begin with.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Four months is such a perfect age to begin some obedience training.  I think that dogs of all sizes are "wired" to enjoy walking, but they need to be taught "how" to walk on a leash.  With my two the walk has two parts.  We always start with "free time" where they can smell and potty, and then we start our structured walk where they must walk by my side with a loose leash.  During this phase of the walk there is no nose to the ground...we are just moving forward together.  It took some time to get them trained to this point, but for me it was really worth it.  Have you seen the discussions about the "Doggie Dan" training program?  There are several videos on how to train "the walk", and I think they're excellent.  There's a discussion with a link in the Training Group if you're interested.

[Barbara B., Sasha & Oliver]

Both my doodles were like that when I first got them when they were pups.  Once you "teach" them to walk they are the best companions !!!  Keep up the good work he will get the hang of it.  He is still so young and wants to hear, see, sniff EVERYTHING .... let him enjoy his walk and  before you know it he will be right next to you walking like a champ :)

[Ginny Nightingale]

I agree that he will definitely improve with training and a harness will help. Also, do not coax him along and do not look at him when he stops--just say "let's go" with confidence and walk forward WITHOUT looking back at him--when he follows, hand him the treat and keep moving!  Good luck!

[Joyce (Casey & Cody's mom)]

Debbie - I don't know where you live or where you walk - but I know that here in the deep south - streets get VERY hot. My guys love to go for walks, but only in the early morning before the streets (unfortunately, we don't have sidewalks in my community) get hot.  Last week, I was at our vets office when someone came in with a dog that had burned pads because they had walked on a new asphalt track and it literally burned the poor guys pads. The owner was so upset because she never thought about the heat on his pads.