My dog does not like going for a walk - any ideas why?

blue_monkey_2

hethmar wrote: »

May be change her food?

I did not want to continuously change her food. She flat refuses dried food and only has canned - I even tried gravy on it as someone suggested but she still refused it.

I've found Butchers is the only food she will eat and since having this she has stopped eating her poo but it's really hard when you've not had a dog before, to know whether everything you are doing is right or wrong.

I am not going to change her again, I tried Winalot and she completely refused to eat that, I tried P Chum and she ate it for a few days then refused to eat that too, Butchers she will eat though so I am sticking to that.

hethmar

Ok :eek: Not the best foods, but obviously you are happy with them.

blue_monkey_2

hethmar wrote: »

Ok :eek: Not the best foods, but obviously you are happy with them.

We have been here before when I asked the question about Butchers as my friend said it was made up of fat and was bad for her. Yes, she is happy with that and she eats that so she still has it. She is still on the puppy variety at the moment - there is not a great deal of puppy food to choose from (the packets say puppy to 18 months for her breed) however I know I have to make the change soon and I need to find something that is right for her.

Whatever food I feed her someone will have an opinion on it and it'll be wrong - however, she once went 4 days without eating anything because she decided she was not going to eat dried anymore (Eukaneuba) so I tried other dried foods and then went onto cans which I did not want to do because it does cost more and attracts the flies the minute it goes down (especially this time of year), however, I prefer to give her something she is actually going to eat and with trial and error she eats this.

hethmar

Right, I shall keep zipped then]:)

Money777

Our first dog we had since 8wks and very early on we started taking him on really long walks by the time he was 6 months we were taking him on 2/3 hr walks and he also didn't like walking!! I now realise the poor thing was probably exhausted and uncomfortable by the end of the walks. Unfortunately the lady we got him from (who also told us to feed him one tiny alu tray of food a day- and he was then very fussy and often went days without eating) told us he was being stubborn and when he pulled back on walks we should just pull him until he walked properly again Maybe you are walking yours a bit too far and he's assosiating it with being tired and not being able to get home/rest when he wants??

Glad to say after a yr or so we ignored this lady and started using some common sense and our dog lived until 14 and was very happy- he did suffer from arthritis/leg probs tho which can be caused by over exercising at a young age. Maybe just take him for short walks until he realises they're good fun.

gratefulforhelp_2

It does sound like she's anxious, if all medical reasons have been ruled out.

Does she have snacks? Our vet reckoned that 3 bonios a day were our dogs's required calorie intake for the day, and she was biggish (not fat, I mean but a biggish dog).

Maybe your traffic anxiety has transferred to her? I know what you mean, we are very rural here, but the roads are a nightmare.

CFC

I would stop using a training lead or a retractable one. If she has pulled you hard enough that your arm has been wrenched, she may be sore from the jolt she got from the collar or the harness. In fact, if this has been going on for a long time (shooting off and then coming to a full stop at sudden speed) the whole walkies thing might have been made a lot worse by this. From her perspective, there she is, enjoying herself and suddenly BOOM! She will not have worked out what is happening.

Take her out on a short lead, preferably with another doggy friend if it can be arranged, so that she is going for a walk with you, not going for a wander and a run and then being stopped short by a sudden jolt, and see how she goes with that for a bit.

gettingready

I know you say she is not food motivated, but have you tried using plain cooked chicken or liver as treats rather than ready ones that you can buy in shops?

My Zara will do anything for a bit of cooked liver of chicken

Also, I understand what you are saying about your dog not wanting to eat dry food, Zara never wanted any and I have tried all there was out there and she would rather go without for 3 days than touch it but... she has taken to Orijen and eats only that now.

Perhaps you could buy a small bag and see how your dog like it?

What you feed your dog will often have an impact on dog's behaviour...

Also, some brilliant advice about having her eyes checked as Shar Pei (it is Shar Pei not Char Pei ) are prone to eye problems and she is a mix so this is possible.

That would mean she is fine running like a loony in the garden because she KNOWS it very well and does not not need to see it very well to feel safe but out in the big world it is scary for her.

All the best

blue_monkey_2

OK, i thought I would drop in and let you know what I've been doing. I have been walking the same route every day so the dog gets used to where we are going, I used to vary it before and she would try and go one way but I would go another, so now I am going to same way everyday. I do still use the extendable lead as she likes to sniff in and out of the grass. What I let her do is trot along in front and then if I can see she is about to run or gets too far in front I call her to wait and she will (usually) stop so I can pull the lead back in and it does not snap back. I do not keep her leashed because of the traffic so much, but because she is so strong and too playful. If she was to jump up at a child she would knock them over (I am working on this but she gets so excited when she sees anyone) and I would no doubt be in trouble because she does look more staffy than shar pei

She does seem to enjoy the walk once we get going and she likes sniffing in and out of the grass so I am just going to persevere. I am making a point of walking to the post office every day which is about 75 minutes there and back so she knows where we are going and at what time. Today she did go back to bed but once her harness was one she went to the door which she has not done before. I'd just like her to get excited about it, she gets excited about everything else.

I have to get her annual check done shortly so I am going to ask for another full MOT on her and ask that they look at her eyes especially.

blue_monkey_2

hethmar wrote: »

Right, I shall keep zipped then]:)

Sorry, did not mean that to sound so snappy as it did.