How to drag a 66lb dog?

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

O.K. I'm trying NOT to drag Stuart but in the past month he has started just flopping down like a rag doll when he doesn't want to walk.  This usually happens are we are approaching the Puppy Hauler but can happen at other times also, like yesterday when it was very hot and he was laying in the shade, I went to put him back into the airconditioned suv and he just goes limp, like jello limp, dead body limp.  I can't lift a 66lb dog up when he is acting like a limp muppet.  I've tried lifting up his back legs, front legs, around his middle, dragging him by his easy walk harness, sqeezing his back thigh but nothing works.  It doesn't help that bystanders are laughing and then pretty soon so am I and at this rate I better start wearing some Depends.  A shameful YouTube moment if there ever was one.  Any ideas on the why or the correction of this new behavior - short of a cattle prod - lol.

[Connie & Kramer]

I'm sorry Jane, I have no suggestions. But I would like to say thanks for the visual. It made me laugh. I can relate - mine is a 60# muppet and is just as stubborn at times. I have to push him into the car after daycare! Have you tried carrying some treats around with you?

[Bonnie and Kona]

YouTube, PLEEEEASE!

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

This really is a funny visual....that big Dood digging in his heels.  I'm thinking you're going to need to tell him what to do...give a command.  I would practice "come" again, on a long line and your regular lead.  Put him in a sit or down....back up and calmly tell him to come.  If he does it quickly reward, if not I would correct.  I think if you practice this enough you can just put a leash on him when he's laying down and being stubborn and give the come command.  I think always rewarding will be key.  Good luck.

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

Great thinking Jane - will start asap, and Connie - when Stuart is in Flop mode - NOTHING will get him to move - not treats, not even his ball which he is obsessed with.  This just started about a month ago and I sure wish I knew what the little bugger was thinking.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

LOL, Jane, thanks for the laugh!

Have you ever tried just waiting to see what he does? JD did this a few times when I first got him; different circumstances, it was usually when we would leave a friend's house where he had been playing hard with another dog. We'd start our very short walk back home, and JD would flop down in the grass and refuse to walk. Same problems as yours trying to move Stuart, except JD is considerably heavier. I found that if I sat down in the grass with him for a minute, then started over (Okay, let's go home!) he would get up and start walking again.

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

I'll also try this Karen - but today he did it right on the blacktop of a parking lot and my neighbors were trying to back out of their garage space - lol.  They laughed and said that their Golden used to do the same thing.  In an effort for him to not get the idea that he can control the situation - I dragged him to the back to my suv and then stuffed him in.  Not good on a gal with a titanium plate and cadavier bone in her neck from a blown disc.  Stuart is about to cause me to have another one!

[Thom, Aureo & Bowie]

 

Use a treat that he cannot resist. There must be a treat that is the most motivating to him. When this happens, let him smell the treat, but he cannot have it until he has completed the task at hand, i.e. moving to the desired location.

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

Hmmm - the puppy crack that he loves isn't working (organic chicken jerky) but I do have some leftover steak in the fridge.  I'm going to cut some up and use that today!

[Thom, Aureo & Bowie]

Great...I suggest you give him a taste before the situation happens. That way he knows what he will miss out on if he does not move. I have found that Aureo will do anything for the right treat. He cannot resist the chicken jerky. He will do anything for that treat. Find the one Stuart is that fond of and use only when the situation calls for extream motivation. That was what worked for me anyway.

[Adina P]

What a cute stinker! :-)

Does he know heel?  I would heel him and if he doesn't give him the correction for heel, whatever it is you do, if you correct him. 

[BG and Gavin]

I can relate!  Gavin used to do this at night when he was supposed to be going out for his final duties.  He would already be asleep and we would wake him up to go out. He would not budge!  Even sliding him down the hallway did not get him moving.  Funny thing, he would soon get up for me by me touching his collar (because he knew I would follow through) while DH still struggled.  He gets up when told by both of us now.  What I did was give him a short collar tug (tug and release not steady puling) and persistently say "up" slightly raising my voice and I did not give up until he got up (outlasted him) and always followed through.  The time it took to get him up gradually decreased.  Not sure how to tell you to do this, but you have to convince him that you mean business!  (Even though it can be kinda cute and funny).

[Becka]

"Even sliding him down the hallway did not get him moving." LOL!!! I bet it got your hallway clean, though!