pup dont want to walk

[curly2]

Please please can you help?
I have a lovely 13 week colly x pup.And when my partner and i take her for a walk she trots along no problem.BUT when i take her,well she has other ideas!
As soon as we leave home she either sits down or just refuses to move.This didnt always happen, only in the last couple of weeks and it is reaching the point where i dont look forward to taking her out.Where am i going wrong???
curly2

[Doberluv]

It sounds like she got so used to walking with the two of you, that it feels lonely and weird to her when it's just you. (At least that's my guess) I had the same issue with my smallest Chihuahua. The walks use to always include all of my dogs together. Then when I took her by herself one day, she did not want to walk.

It took a few tries with some yummy treats when she'd take just one or two steps with me to get her to be okay with it. And I'd make the walks VERY short and in familiar places so she'd be as comfortable as possible.

Start out in your house, for example, when your partner is not home. Go across the living room floor and make it a game, pat your thigh, make playful, squeeky noises, drop some tasty, tiny tid bits of chicken or hot dog and make it like you're having a party.

Then try out in your yard. Do this several times a day for just 3-5 minutes each and gradually increase the duration and distance from her comfort zone. Use no force or coersion. This has to be made into a really fun time. Take along her favorite toy. Rope toys are fun or squeeky toys. Only drop the treats AFTER she's made one or two steps. Don't give treats first, as a bribe. Furnish the treats at a high rate of reinforcement as she comes along with you. And once she's getting good with a couple of steps, gradually up the ante where she has to take 4 or 5 steps to get the treat. Practice as best you can when her tummy is hungry. Don't forget. This is ALL about reward and a playful, fun time. NO FORCE. After she does well for a teensy bit, play another game with her. Break things up. End your practice sessions when she is doing super. Don't wait for her to tire or loose interest. Once she's good with this in your yard, try just a little ways away from your yard. Just gradually add difficulty, but only when she's comfortable with the previous stage. Soon, she should be confident to walk anywhere with you alone.

Some confidence building would help too. Tug of war is a fun game which is good for building confidence, but MUST include rules, like any game. She must first learn to "give" you the tug toy when asked and promptly. This training includes trading a high value treat or toy (better than the tug toy) and telling her "give" at the same time. Once she's made the association between the cue and the act, try using the "give" as an elicitor. Make sure what you have to trade her is better from her point of view than what she has in her mouth.

She must "take" the tug toy ONLY when invited to. No jumping or lunging or biting at the toy uninvited. Game ends for a few minutes if that happens. No harsh scolding....just stop the fun. That's enough. Be consistent.

Use the same toy for a tug toy and only that toy.

No teeth on skin. If it happens, game over. Then try again in a few minutes. Repeat as necessary. Be consistent. Not one slip up can go unnoticed.

Let her win most of the time...and only play for a minute or so at a time, then have an obedience break. Have her sit, wait or down...whatever, or play some fetch....then you can go for another short round.

Those are a few pre-requisits I use for this game.



Let us know how she comes along.

[curly2]

Many thanks for your advice.Will let you know how we are doing