any suggestions?

[at work]

I have a spaniel-type rescue who I've had about a year. He really is a sweet little dog but very nervous.

He hates being on lead but off lead he can be lovely, races about, enjoys himself, seems happy. Over time he has got much better about being on lead too. Until recently he seemed to be making steady improvement, I'd take him for our regular walk to the fields (on lead) let him off across the fields and back on lead for the walk home. The last little bit before going back on lead he'd get very subdued and sort of tuck himself in behind me, looking worried.

Then in the past few weeks he has got much worse again - if I let him off lead, instead of enjoying himself, he looks miserable, basically tries to hide or watch me at a distance and cringes away from me. The other day he wasn't following at all, so I decided to put him back on lead simply so he wouldn't make a dash for home (roads involved). I walked over, reached for his collar to attach the lead and he bit me. It wasn't hard, no skin broken and definitely fear rather than aggression. So I attached the lead and carried on.

When I got home I took the lead on and off several times and walked him round the house and he was OK with it, even accepted treat rewards - something he never used to do on lead.

So, I've no idea why he has stopped enjoying his walk or what to do about it - does anyone have any ideas?

 

[Brownmare]

Maybe a complete u turn in tactics is needed - only put the lead on and off in the house and garden until he is totally happy about it. When you are out on walks and you want him to have a run just drop the lead (or long line), leaving it attached (as long as he isn't going to dive into dense cover...) then pick it up or stand on it as he passes to get him back under control for the walk home.

After a while when he is totally chilled about the lead at home then you can introduce a second lead out on walks i.e. leave the trailing lead on then recall, clip on second lead, treat and release so he learns that he has to put up with the lead to get treats. if he is refusing treats on lead you could try the fish skin ones that fish4dogs do, they seem to tempt even the fussiest dog.

Also it may be oworth geting him checked over by the vet and chiropractor in case something in his neck area is hurting. A harness may also be worth a try if he isnt a puller.

 

[at work]

Thanks for the reply. It doesn’t seem to be neck pain and he hated the harness we tried. He isn’t a fussy eater at all but just very shy of accepting treats when on lead – almost as though he expects punishment for taking one. Strangely off-lead he doesn’t hesitate
Our best guess is that he was a gun dog that was harshly trained. He retrieves but not to your hand. He loves water and undergrowth, doesn’t mind loud noises but worries about being noticed by us too much. We tried training sessions to bring him out of himself a bit but that made him really miserable. He’s also shy of other dogs though, always shuts down if they approach, so I do wonder if maybe this is all just his personality.
In the house he is the easiest dog I’ve ever owned, still shy at times but really quite affectionate and tries very hard to please. I can’t make this thing about walks out at all.

 

[soloabe]

Where are you located?