Walking daily is an integral part of your furry little pet’s life. Dogs enjoy daily strolls, and sometimes, they even require them. So, if you parent a lively young puppy or an old one, you must take them out for regular walks.
But if your dog won’t walk on a leash, you are allowed to feel concerned and frustrated. From dog health issues to dog training, your mind may wander all over the place, searching for why it is acting this way.
Worry no more! This guide is here to save the day and tell you all about why your dog won’t walk on a leash and various tips on fixing this problem.
Why Your Dog Won’t Walk On Leash?
Below you will find various reasons why your dog refuses to go on walks with a leash around its neck.
1. Something Is Scaring Your Dog:
You will often find that many dogs, especially those young, may refuse to go outside because they are afraid of something. They may be going through periods of fear, where it scares them to be in an unfamiliar environment.
Therefore, when you try to put a leash around your lovable canine, it may resist your efforts for fear of going out of the house. On the other hand, adult dogs who were previously okay with walking on a leash could also react this way. Perhaps you have moved to a new area, and the new environment could make them uncomfortable.
Meanwhile, some dogs have either suffered through or witnessed a traumatic incident. It could be being attacked by another dog, getting hit by a car, or watching an accident happen. Such instances could have made your pup wary of the outdoors, so much so that a leash makes them anxious.
2. Your Dog Does Not Have Experience Walking On A Leash:
If your dog is not allowing you to put it on a leash, then it is probably that it is not used to being walked that way. You never know; perhaps its previous owner never walked it at all. You must know about your pup’s history, especially if you have adopted it.
Try to be as cautious about this matter as possible because dogs that have not walked on leashes before may find the experience frightening or overwhelming.
3. Your Dog Feels Overwhelmed:
Likely, your dog won’t walk on a leash because it feels overwhelming, which is different from fear. You may notice that your canine freezes during walks after only a couple of steps. While this may irritate or concern you, remember that this is a way of taking a breather.
While your pup may not be fearful of many things, it could be highly sensitive to its surroundings. As a result, it may become over-aroused and overwhelmed quite quickly. It could be because it has not socialized much or has spent most of its time indoors.
Tips To Help Your Dog Walk On A Leash
Now that you have figured out why your dog won’t walk on a leash, it is time to fix the issue. After all, you want to go out on pleasant walks with your furry little friend, don’t you?
But before diving into the tips, remember that dog leashes are only a safety line to keep your pet safe. You should not use them for yanking, jerking, or any other form of punishment.
If you want your furry friend to start walking on a leash or make sure that it does not resist it, all you need are a couple of yummy treats, a cotton or nylon leash of six feet, a body harness, and the following tips.
1. Introduce The Leash:
This step requires you to be gentle and go as slow as possible. You can introduce your furry friend to one thing at a time.
Reward your dog for just investigating or sniffing the gear. Then, move towards snapping the leash on, even for a few seconds. Be sure to reward it again with praise and delicious dog treats!
Once your canine has become much more familiar and confident with the leash, walk it around the house. Doing so will allow it to get accustomed to having something around its neck while it wanders the space it knows and adores.
From there on, you can make other efforts to ensure your dog feels secure. It entails perhaps building a closed dog run or a fenced-in backyard. Take things slowly to ensure your furry pal is comfortable. Consequently, you will develop their confidence and trust in each other.
2. Have Fun While Your Dog Wears A Leash
For this step, you must ensure that your pup is comfortable wearing a flat collar or a harness. Having fun with your dog entails filling an interactive toy with dog food and allowing it to freeze overnight. Then, you can attach a leash to the harness and let your canine friend drag it around your house or backyard.
If you want to make this experience positive, try to keep your dog from chewing the leash. Provide dogs with frozen food to enjoy as it roams around the house.
3. Hold The Other End Of The Leash:
Once your dog has understood that fun things are going to happen when it puts on a leash, you can proceed toward holding its other end. However, you need to know that this is the part that tends to freak out canines a lot and might scare your furry friend as well.
It may start to feel that you are restraining or restricting his mobility. As a result, your dog may buck, pull, or lie down on the ground. You need to be as gentle as possible and give your pooch time to get accustomed to the idea.
Helping Your Dog Walk On A Leash
Seeing your dog won’t walk on a leash can be frustrating and concerning. Instead, it probably roots itself to the ground or refuses to leave the house. But every time your dog does that, you will now know the reason behind it.
This guide also provides tips or strategies to deal with such a situation and get your furry pal back into the groove.