Puppy refuses to walk

[Susan]

I am new to this site and just joined this afternoon-I have a 10 week old Doodle who often does well
on a walk but sometimes just sits in our driveway and refuses to walk! He definitely needs the exercise or he gets crazy in the house-any suggestions?? Thanks

[Susan]

Well, sometimes if I have my kids along they'll walk about 10 paces ahead of me and he'll follow them. We've had some beautiful, warm days to walk during the day and he just won't budge. I don't have alot of neighbors home during the day..

[Adina P]

Hi Susan and welcome!

Your puppy is awfully young at 10 weeks. My youngest didn't even have the privilege of walks until after their 3rd vaccines were completed. But that aside...at this age I wouldn't expect your pup to "walk" nicely on leash like a big, well trained dog.

Think of walks as brief periods to teach him things rather than exercise. Bring along a looong wooden spoon coated dipped in peanut butter..you can hold this in front of his nose and just walk 5-10 steps one direction...then 5-10 steps another direction...then run ahead with him and praise him and give him some million dollar treats for staying focused on you....and so on for 10-15 minutes (no more as their bodies can't handle long sustained activity like long walks at this age). Or play training games a few times a day. Sit-down-sit-down = puppy pushups :-) Then from puppy pushups move to recall games where you stand at one end of your yard and your hubby or kids stand at another end. Call him back and forth and reward him with part of his meal when he arrives at each of you. Then throw some toys around for him to fetch...etc.

You also mentioned that he'll gladly walk 10 paces ahead of you...when he follows your kids...I wouldn't encourage this as it will be MUCH harder to break when he grows to 40 lbs, 50 lbs, 60 lbs...etc.

[Susan]

I like the peanut butter idea! He actually does great on a walk most times-not terribly far, but far enough to burn off some energy:) He's on a leash, he just likes to 'follow' the kids so I am not sure I know what you mean about it being a bad habit?? I guess maybe some times he's just not in the mood to walk, so he sits. But, its just him and I during the day and I'm not sure how else for him to get some exercise so he's not chewing on everything in my house! After he walks a bit he's much easier to manage inside...and not so much biting the kids either..

[Adina P]

Doesn't sound so bad then =) I'm sure he'll grow out of the sitting instead of walking soon enough.
By bad habit I simply mean the bad habit of walking way out in front of you and eventually pulling you along on walks...rather than the GOOD trained habit of walking by your side in a mannerly way. I know not everyone minds if their dog walks way out in front...but it is much more pleasant and much more safe to have your dog at your side. A dog that walks at your side rather than 6 feet out in front of you is less intrusive to others you may pass should you ever want to take him on walks around town, at fairs, farmers market, beaches, etc. So the more you can do NOW to teach him that the most wonderful things happen when he is near you on walks...the better!

[Susan]

Okay-I know what you mean-had a dog years ago that literally dragged me on the leash so definitely don't want that! Maybe my expectations were a little too high-but he does do really well-sometimes:)

[Sam]

This is fantastic - Ollie is 16 weeks old and the second period you listed is EXACTLY him..... We were doing so well and now he has decided that maybe he doesn't have to do what we ask straight away........ Do you have the next stage so I can be one step ahead of him?......lol...

Susan I so understand the taking him for a walk to get rid of the 'crazies' - Ollie has to have an evening walk otherwise he drives us mad trying to jump up on the couch etc. but if he has had a good walk he sits nicely and curls in for cuddles. Good luck, I'm sure he'll be doing great in no time.

[Sam]

Thank you!!!! I guess this means no more playing at the dog park :-(
I hate that our park is not fenced.................

[Paula]

Wow! Thanks for shating all of the great info! Definetely going to copy and print for later review!

[Missi]

Thanks for these developmental stages, very helpful! I'll keep them around.

[Park Mom]

JC, You have done a wonderful service by taking the time to type all this information about puppy developmental stages in here. It was recommended to me by Sam, and I am so glad I took a look. We are at 4 1/2 months now, right at the start of the "flight" stage, so I am glad to know that I'd better start reinforcing our training to come when called. Bumble had done so well with it, that I have not done it in a while and have focused instead on sit, down, and drop. Back to come when called! Thank you, thank you again.

[Sandy]

Adina - you came up with a great idea again! I've tried the wooden spoon with peanut butter with Toby, and it works. I'm sure I look fairly stupid walking down the road with a wooden spoon, extra p.b. in a ziploc bag, and a dog on a leash, but whatever, at least he's walking! :)

[Jessica]

A wooden spoon dipped in peanut butter on walkies - Oooh Adina...let me just cover Finny's eyes!