Help with our dog .....?

Question

We adopted an about four month old shepherd mix four weeks ago ..She is a great dog, very friendly, calm and listens very well for her age BUT we have one problem ..,She only likes to take her walks when my Husband and I are both walk her ..As soon as only one of us is trying to take her out she just stops sits down and doesn't wanna walk ...
I am at a loss here especially seeing that my Husband will soon go away for two weeks and he was just getting very frustrated as well because just tonight she didn't wanna walk with him alone ...

Any help or suggestions are appreciated

Yeah its sounds pretty cute ( and she is very cute as well) but it really gets frustrating. In the daytime she goes out with me but not further than our street and thats it ......
I know I am the human but its no fun to drag her behind you either ...Any more ideas ??
PLEASEEEEEEEEEEEE

OK so after reading here I was even more frustrated . took the leash and took her out, past our street I had to drag her and I did - I didn't give her a chance to sit for about 1/2 mile ...Then we turned around - going home she was absolutely fine ..I didn't talk to her during that walk because I was upset but when we came home I praised her and gave her a treat ...Lets see what happens tomorrow

Answer 1

You're going to just have to drag her at some point, until she learns that it's a lot easier to walk. not fun, but most dogs are intelligent enough to learn quickly that walking is much better than being dragged. some are incredibly stubborn (i spent a few months with my dog on her back at obedience class). but mostly, once she learns, and once she doesn't see your husband around all the time, when he's gone, it'll probably get better

Answer 2

You might try putting the collar up high on her neck and put her close to you and hold her head high enough so she won't smell the ground , have a little treat with you and tell her to come and start walking . Don't let her sit down and when she walks with you , encourage her to come along , then give hr a little bit of the treat. No walk no treat . Just do this till she will walk with you freely . Don't look at her or speak to her till she is doing it the way you want , then praise her . Good Luck .

Answer 3

if she just goes on your street then what you should do is try to start running/jogging/or walking on your street back and forth a couple
of times and every time you go to the end of one end of the street and go a little bit farther every time.then when you get to the ''finish line''
then turn around and go back to the end of your street and keep doing that till she will walk that way without all the work,plus bring a couplae of treats with you and everytime she sits down show the treat and let her sniff it. and when she gets up drag away from her and keep walking.whenshe gets to the end of where you want to go give her that treat.try to encourage her too,like come on girl come on.if she doesn't do it you might try to find a walking partner in your neighborhood with a dog maybe(if your dog gets along with other dogs.or just have you and your buddy and dog walk.
hope you can find these useful
GOOD LUCK!

Answer 4

Wow, in all my years of dogs, I never heard of the dog not picking one particular person to primarily bond with. I think it is so cool, because that means that you both must give the dog wonderful attention! I know it's a pain now, but actually your husband's trip is probably a blessing, because while he's gone, the dog will have to break the "together" habit. Even after your husband is back, maybe alternate turns walking the dog, so she doesn't fall back in the old pattern. I'm going through a thing with my dog now, because my teenage son(the more "fun" play partner), is never around anymore(too busy), it's taken a while, but the dog now cuddles by me more, it's still sad when my son dashes in and out of the house, the dog can't understand the lack of attention from him. I try to play with him as much as my son did, but I'm just not as exciting! HANG IN THERE- yours will adapt.....

Answer 5

Try using a treat and start slow. Even if you get her to go out the front door before she stops thats good. Praise her and then ask her to go another step. Practice several times a day. The other things that maybe helpful is a "Gentle Leader" I am certain your vet carries them. They work like a horse halter, using pressure points to encourage the dog to do what owners asks w/o any pain. Good Luck

Answer 6

I suggest going out and purchasing or possibly renting the DVDs for 'The Dog Whisperer' He deals with all kinds of problems in behaviors w/ dogs... and his motto is that he's the one who (for lack of a better word here) 'trains' the human. It's actually really neat if you take the time to sit and watch a few shows cuz it's all about how YOU (and your husband) act with the dog... you have to show that YOU are the leader of the pack. Dogs thrive on that... they are people pleasers and will do so much better when some one is in 'command' of them.
If you dont have the time or the resources to obtain these DVDs i'd say... take it step by step... both of you walk the dog... around the house in the kitchen.. don't let on to the fact that you're both doing it... make sure the dog's more interested in the whole 'walking' aspect... even attempt to go out in your back yard but slowly phase out the 2nd person... you could also try rewarding your dog if he/she walks beside you for a cpl of minutes around the house... or if you walk to the end of the back yard and back 1 on 1 then you can treat the dog.
try and get the dog to see you're in control... without being frustrated... take it slowly... it's hard to train animals and sometimes it just takes one time of doing a 'bad' habit and it takes forever to undo it.
be patient... do NOT 'console' the dog if he/she refuses to come... dont be like 'ohh it's ok... that's alright ... come here' ... if you console the dog in such a state... it only reinforces that behavior.
do you physically take your dog outside to go do its business? or do you just let the dog out and come back... maybe you can try to 'take the dog' out for its daily doos instead of letting the dog just run out and back to the door... that way the dog will have/want to go outside and you'll be there... it might phase in the whole walking the dog w/ one person cuz if the dog's ok with that... baby steps... walk the dog back to the front door... to the end of the drive way... as long as the dog sees/feels that it's ok to be out 1 on 1.... you should be able to get rid of this bad habit!
Hope this helps!!!

Answer 7

So if YOU will need to do everything while your hubbie is gone, you probably oughta start a BIG relationship with the dog. Treats, toys, frolicking etc. And hubbie gets to do the bathing and all the "mean" stuff. :) Also, when you walk her together, make sure YOU have a treat to give her so that she likes you better. That's all I can think of!!! I know that sounds awful!!

Answer 8

I would sugest to you, that since your husband is going away that you start right now being the only one that walks her. She's gonna have to learn that she has to go with you. You may try talking gently to her to encourage her to walk with you, and offer her treats when she starts walking with you. I have an almost 2 year old Siberian Husky that it took FOREVER to potty train. When he would go potty outside, I have to make a big deal out of it (Oh, good boy Timber). Good luck to you!

Answer 9

it sounds like she has some form of separation anxiety,

try having play time with her just one on one, first you for awhile then leave and have your husband do the same thing. It may help her understand that both of you will come back and she's not being taken from her home.

Answer 10

Just walking in the house helps. If she follows you in the house, just make a few laps around to give her some exercise.