A puppy that doesn’t want to go for walks: it can happen to anyone. At a young age dogs can sometimes be quite stubborn. Also a pubescent puppy does not always want to do what you want your pet to do. There can be various reasons why your puppy does not walk well on the lead.
During the first weeks of life of a young dog comes much on him or her. It is a time full of changes, which can be quite exciting for a puppy. This can all be at the basis of not wanting to meeloop. Fortunately, there are several solutions. We tell you more about them in this article.
Why doesn’t my puppy want to walk with me?
There may be several reasons why your puppy does not want to walk with you. Therefore we have listed some of the most common causes. For each cause we also offer you a number of solutions.
The puppy still has to get used to you
Remember well that the first weeks and months are a time full of changes for your puppy. The first weeks a puppy lives with his brothers, sisters and mother. After that, the puppy goes with its new owner(s). This means that a puppy leaves his familiar surroundings. A puppy needs security. They can be somewhat scared by this sudden change. At the same time they still have to get used to you as their owner. They do not know you yet and therefore they do not know whether they can trust you. It often happens that your puppy does not walk well with you in the beginning.
For new owners, not walking well with you can be a source of irritation. Remember that a puppy is a baby. This means that they still have a lot to learn and that raising a puppy is quite a difficult task. Just like with a real baby, you will have to get out of bed several times a night to walk the puppy. This will make you more tired during the day, which can make you more irritable. If your puppy doesn’t walk with you, stay calm. Pulling on the leash and grumbling at your puppy will not help in this situation. Try to stay calm at all times.
Because a puppy is a baby, much will still be new to him or her. So will walking. At most breeders, puppies are not walked. They stay near their mother and they often do their business on old newspapers. Being walked is therefore entirely new for your puppy. But your puppy will also have to get used to the elements of walking such as the collar, the leash and the new environment . In addition, dogs have a stronger nose. So a new environment also means a lot of new smells that they are eager to discover. This new situation is exciting for your puppy in every way.
What should you do if your puppy does not want to go for a walk?
Fortunately, there are several solutions if your puppy does not want to go for a walk. Firstly, it is good to remember that not wanting to go for a walk is normal puppy behaviour. Therefore, there is nothing to worry about. There is a lot to do on the way and the puppy also sees your house as his home.
The house as a safe place that they do not like to leave combined with the novelty of the walk can lead to a puppy not wanting to go for a walk. You can solve this by rewarding your puppy while walking. While the puppy is walking, speak to them encouragingly in a happy voice or give them a treat while walking. This way they create positive associations with walking.
Dogs like to make contact with you while walking. Sometimes they look at you, for example to check if they are doing it right. Reward your four-legged friend during such moments. Saying “Well done” in a cheerful way will often be seen as encouragement by your dog. A treat will make them very happy. This is behavior to encourage, because in this way you make more contact with your dog while walking. Because of this, your puppy will also walk better with you.
The puppy has to get used to everything concerning walking
Let your puppy also get used to walking out and all elements that come along with that. Thus it can occur that the young dog experiences the neck link or the harness as uncomfortable. You can train this at home by putting a collar on your puppy and then play a game where the animal can earn sweets as a reward.
They will soon no longer notice that they are wearing a collar or harness. In addition, look for a quiet place where your puppy can safely run loose. Walk away from your puppy and call the young dog then cheerfully to you. You will notice that your puppy will follow you more quickly because of this.
What should I do if my puppy pulls on the leash?
It may happen that your puppy does not want to go for a walk with you, but it is also possible that your puppy starts pulling on the leash. Try to unlearn this behaviour as quickly as possible. With a puppy, you notice relatively little when he or she pulls on the leash, but with an adult dog you notice it much more.
Address this behavior during puppyhood, especially as your dog grows up. First, it is advisable to keep a fixed structure. The more familiar your dog is with the route, the less new stimuli will attract attention. In addition, standing still is the best option when your dog pulls on the leash. In this way the dog discovers that pulling on the leash has no added value.
Conclusion
A puppy that does not want to go for a walk: it happens often, but it is not a bad thing. For a puppy the first weeks are a period full of changes. Once at home, they have to get used to you and their new surroundings. They must first learn to trust you. Therefore, give your puppy the space to get used to it. Rewards during walks are a good way to create positive associations with being outside. Encourage your puppy when he or she does well.
In addition, your puppy also needs to get used to everything around walking. A collar and/or harness is still strange to them. You can practice with this at home, for example combined with a food game. It can also happen that your puppy does not want to walk with you, or pulls at the leash. By standing still you show that pulling on the leash is not rewarded.
