Why doesn't he want to walk?????

[Nikki & Charlie]

There's been a change in my dog the last few weeks. I recently started school again and three days a week I have to wake him up at 6am - a time he's not used to waking up at - and take him for a half hour walk before I start my day. I have noticed that ever since we are waking up early to walk, by the evening he's very tired; sometimes he doesn't even want his evening walk! He's a lot more quiet at night now and even wants to go to bed early (he waits by the basement door when he's ready to go to his cage).

He's eating and drinking normally and he's not like this every single day but this morning, he refused to walk. We were not even half way down the street when he stopped and refused to continue walking. Also when we go for walks, if we start walking toward my house even if we are a block away but he knows the way home, he begins to pull soooo hard in a way that he's never done before; I can hardly hold him! I keep trying to make him sit and then start again but he will not stop pulling.

This is all new behaviour. I'm not sure if he's just tired from being up so early or this is something new that comes with age (he's now 2 1/2 years old) but I'm so confused and worried because he usually loves his walks / chasing the ball and being out doors. He's become a lazy couch potato!!!!

Help!

[Judith and Addie]

I am interested in what others will say, but I have a similar behavior with my doodle. She turns 3 yrs the end of this December.

I had a similar thing happen last week and the week before when I was babysitting my 14 month old grand daughter overnight for several days in a row. Because of the baby's schedule, I needed to get my doodle up and out almost an hour before she typically awoke. I could not walk her, because I could not leave the baby alone so I could go as far as the monitor's range (no fenced yard). She was more than happy to head back to the house.

For the most part, she is happy to go for a walk in the morning, although if I get her up before her normal wake-up and be active time, I need to put her leash on her to get her to go with me to and then out the door. Her evening walks are also usually ok, but I found during the hot weather, she did not want to walk during the day, and was less enthusiastic about walks in the evening. She basically did her stuff and headed for home. We take Agility classes, and she poops out by the end of class, even though there are 5 other dogs so she is not working constantly. It seems to me that her energy level has been dropping as she has gotten older. Addie has short spurts of activity but peters out quickly.

Her check up was last week and I mentioned it to the vet. He said that she was healthy and there was no physical reason. This is just her energy level and temperament.

I would be concerned if your dog has a lack of energy and interest, but if he is just slowing down, he is probably fine. I assume that the morning that he refused to walk, you check his gait and his feet/legs to make sure there was no issue.

I hope this helps.

[Nikki & Charlie]

Thank you for replying. He seems to be fine other than the fact that he simply doesn't want to walk. I tried taking him out this morning and he refused and then after school I got a bit further with him but again he chose to stop and wanted to head home. He seems to be interested in everything as he normally is, except for walks. I hope more people reply lol I need answers

[Nicole and Teddy]

Hi! I've had consistent, similar behavior with Teddy. It began about a year ago. I took him to the vet for a full check up and at first they couldn't find anything. I then took him to another vet and they did tell me he has slight hip displasia and he was overweight. This was about 6 months ago. They said due to these factors that I should only be walking him about 30 minutes a day until he gets some weight off. Since then he's lost about 9 pounds- more in the range of what he should be- but he still isn't a big walker. He's 2 1/2. I live in SC so think it has to do with the heat down here- he is better in cooler temps. I try to get him regular exercise by playing in the yard with him (he seems to have lots of energy for this) and taking him to new and different spots where there's lots to smell- he loves sniffing more than he loves walking! I believe it's a combo of his temperament- very mellow and low energy (unless he's around people, then all bets are off)- aversion to the heat, his hip, and also he is a pretty timid guy. No fear aversion, but if a leaf blows the wrong way (or an owl hoots at night) he can get a little nervous. I think as long as Charlie's gotten a clean bill of health (and I would definitely have them do x-rays if you're really worried as the first vet I asked about this didn't even mention problems with his hip and didn't tell me he was overweight, though I should have guessed!) you can probably chalk it up to heat aversion or boredom. Do you try to take him on different walk routes? I notice Teddy does get a little more peppy if we take a different route around the neighborhood...

[Nikki & Charlie]

Thank you for your reply! It's really cool here now in Canada, so it's not the heat. He was at the vet two weeks ago but this just started recently. He was told to lose 5 lbs so we did that and he's down to a normal weight of 55 lbs which is what he should be at. I try different routes but he just gets stubborn and doesn't want to go, and even when I try playing ball he's interested for 5 minutes and then stops. Some days he wants to some days he doesn't but I'm more concerned with the lack of walking because he usually loves walks.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

What does his day look like while you are gone?  How much exercise and socialization is he getting during the day?  Does he seem to have energy when you're outside playing fetch....is it just the walks he's objecting to?  Do you have any reason to think he might be in pain when he's walking?

[Nikki & Charlie]

I leave around 8am, my dad wakes up around 1130am and will either play with him for a bit or take him on a short walk. My mom gets home around 230-3pm and lets him out to pee, I get home around 430 and then he has dinner at 6 (if he chooses to eat .. Sometimes he doesn't) and then I walk him for another 30 min. I don't think he's in any pain he's not limping or crying or walking slower or anything, he just decides when enough is enough and he doesn't want to budge unless we go in the direction of home. I tried walking him today after school and we got a bit further than this morning but he objected and wanted to go home. I tried playing ball but he wasn't interested and tonight he doesn't want dinner. I'm wondering if he's just overly tired from waking up so early but I'm not sure.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

This sounds like it might possibly be physical. I'd have the vet check his hips and legs, just to be on the safe side. 

[Nikki & Charlie]

Thanks for your reply - so yesterday he was completely himself. I managed to get him to walk, although he did try stopping on me but when I changed the side of the road I was walking on he happily continued. In the evening, he didn't want to walk but was happy and jumping all over the place and hyper playing around.

I'm going to monitor him but I think he's just being stubborn. If it continues to happen I'll get him checked out. Thank you!!

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

This is what I answered in your other discussion: If this is a new behavior, I would be concerned also. I'd give it  more time in case it is just that Charlie needs to get used to your new schedule, but if it continues, I would take him to the vet for a check up.

[Nikki & Charlie]

Thanks for your reply - so yesterday he was completely himself. I managed to get him to walk, although he did try stopping on me once but when I changed the side of the road I was walking on, he happily continued. In the evening, he didn't want to walk but was happy and jumping all over the place and hyper playing around inside.

I'm going to monitor him but I think he's just being stubborn. If it continues to happen I'll get him checked out. Thank you!!

[BG and Gavin]

I would have him checked out to be safe. It could be the change in routine. My guy is not an early riser and the times when we have had to take him out in the early morning his is less than enthusiastic. As well at the cottage if we turn right from the driveway there is a significant hill to climb up the escarpment and he slows to a crawl. If the neighbours walk him that way he will stop on them but he knows he can't get away with that with me ;). If the vet says all is good I would be a bit more insistent with him. Change your speeds and change directions and routes to keep him on his toes.

[Nikki & Charlie]

Thanks for your reply! Yesterday he was completely himself. I managed to get him to walk, although he did try stopping on me but when I changed the side of the road I was walking on he happily continued. In the evening, he didn't want to walk but was happy and jumping all over the place and hyper playing around.

I'm going to monitor him but I think he's just being stubborn. If it continues to happen I'll get him checked out. Thank you!!