Can dogs learn to enjoy a walk ?

B

BBH

Well-Known Member
Joined
26 April 2007
Messages
9,357
Visit site
The reason I ask is that I may have found a rescue BM girl but she doesn't like a walk apparently and runs to hide when a lead comes out.

Now I know bullbreeds aren't the athletes of the canine world but my current girl does like a walk and to meet new dogs and we'd really like another one who fits in. I don't mean walking miles but an hour in the woods or so. They are the same age so in terms of age related needs would hopefully require the same amount of exercise.

Do you think that when she comes out her shell and is used to
' normal' living she could learn to enjoy herself or do you think this is just the way she is ?
 
I can't believe that any dog doesn't enjoy getting out and about - and if they don't there must be some psychological reason behind it.

Do you know her history???
 
Is she perky enough when you do get her out?

I have a rescue dog who is still, after a couple of years, inclined to take herself off when the lead comes out, even if she's asked to go out in the first place! She will usually now just go to her bed or one of her lying spots but when we first got her she would actually try to hide and would resist coming once you got the lead on. BUT she is the cheeriest dog on a walk and loves going places and meeting other dogs (still not so keen on people). It's not the walk she dislikes (although her fear issues took some time to overcome) it's the transitioning.

It really is just a learned response re the lead not a manifestation of how she feels about walks in general. I can only guess at the origins but I know she had to be noosed to catch her originally and to be handled and treated when she was first rescued. She is also still nervous of belts or anything whip-like, likely from her original "home". :(

We've addressed it by training her to come to have her lead put on in a specific place for a reward and she's got much better about coming when she's called (her recall is very reliable otherwise) for a walk. Once the lead is on and she's on her way, she's not at all reluctant! In fact, even less so than the other dog, who is terminally lazy. :) (He always wants to go but clearly often does NOT enjoy a walk, especially if the ground is too hard, or too soft, or it's too hot, or too cold, or he's hungry, or the wind is blowing the wrong way . . . :rollseyes: )

I don't expect her to ever show "pleasure" at being prepared for a walk - too much thinking for a dog - and I don't take it personally. She shows excitement when she gets to a place she normally walks by foot or by car and is generally a cheery little soul, so I just work with it.
 
Last edited:
Absolutely I think she can:D Try and figure out what bit she doesnt like. It might be that shes being pulled around and have confidence issues. When she knows what a walk really is - FUN FUN FUN she'll be flying for her lead! Little and often and reward lots
 
Agree with CC - the first sign of the elbow displaysia with my staffie boy (then 4, fit and not carrying any excess weight) was when he started to want to cut his walks short. Then he stopped wanting to go out with the dog walker. Even now he will come out with me happily but not the DW (although she is lovely and my girls love her) and took me a year before he would actually leave the house on a lead for a local walk and not just getting into the car to get to the yard!
 
Thanks all. She seems to be a bit introverted in all respects, likes a quiet home and doesn't like loud noise, knows where her toys are but doesn't hullaballoo play with them, just ' protects' them.

She is another breeding bitchy chucked out :mad: Lived in a kennel until rescued. Same background as my current girl.

CC she has been vet checked for general health and spade but not sure about pain related issues. I would do that tbh as wouldn't expect a rescue to spend on anything other than essentials.

TS no she isn't perky and am wondering if its just her personality, maybe she has been institutionalised and isn't sure how to have fun. Interesting reading about your dog.
 
Luci07 said:
Agree with CC - the first sign of the elbow displaysia with my staffie boy (then 4, fit and not carrying any excess weight) was when he started to want to cut his walks short. Then he stopped wanting to go out with the dog walker. Even now he will come out with me happily but not the DW (although she is lovely and my girls love her) and took me a year before he would actually leave the house on a lead for a local walk and not just getting into the car to get to the yard!
Click to expand...


Interesting re the joints etc. When my current girl came home she had back legs that periodically ' shivered'. I assumed she was cold but then realised it happened indoors aswell. Went to the vet who said that because she was locked up for so long her muscles had atrophied ??? and needed exercise to build them up and also to put her on a couse of glucosamine. With regular exercise and supplement they haven't shivered since.

I also have a DW and am bit worried as she walks them for 1 - 2 hrs + and feel it may be too much. She bulk walks them with very energetic breeds, vizla, springer and pointer and wonder if too much for my girl(s).
 
By further description of her it sounds like she will indeed come to like walks in time and life in general far more too. The big wide world is probably a very scary place for her at the moment I would expect that a month down the line with time put in and a proper bond formed in a home environment and she will be hankering to get out walking when the lead comes out.
 
Absolutely :):) My rescue dog Harley - half Bassett half jrt didn't even want to go outside when I had him 6 months ago. Because he has badly deformed front legs he could only walk about 200 yards - now he gets quite hysterical when he sees the lead, barks furiously :eek::eek: and runs in circles. He can now walk for nearly an hour, although I bought a buggy (don't laugh) when I first had him as he is too heavy for carry and my other dog is a lurcher so needs long walks, not exactly the best match of dogs! He was very poor physically when I had him, in fact he is now probably about twice the size, I tried to put a harness on him which I bought when I first had him and it is now about 6" too short:eek: I think having another dog to walk with will encourage him as well. Good luck, I'm sure you will find it very rewarding:):)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top