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Hi, I have a two year old yellow lab. She used to love walking and running beside a slow moving bicycle. Three months ago she decided that she did not like to do that and will sit down or turn over on her back rejecting the walk or bicycle ride. She also decided that she no longer enjoyed going for rides in the car. Both decisisons were made at about the same time. I forced her to get into the truck last Saturday to take her to the lake for a swim. Once we got to the lake she went wild jumping and diving off of rocks. She was acting like the dog I know. When it came time to leave she jumped into the truck without hesitation. Once we got home she refused her walk and she refused to get back into the truck. Do you have any ideas why she would act this way.

P.S. I can ask her to play and she is ready at all time, however that does not include rides in the car or walking.

Thanks

Mike

Optional Information:
Age: 2; Female; Breed: Yellow Lab

Already Tried:
Treats Telling her she is a bad girl spanking

Customer (name blocked for privacy)

Status: Closed Value: $8

Well what you have done by saying she was a bad girl was making the behavior something she would get in trouble for if she walked past a bike or got in the truck around the house. She also could have had a bad experience that your not aware of and that is what could have warranted that behavior. Take your time and bring lots and lots of soft treats and take her for that walk. Take a few steps and if she is walking with you stop and give her a treat and praise her like your all excited when she does something great, hand her that treat and pat her. Take a few more steps and repeat the process until you get to the point when she just wont move. Only work her like this no longer that 15 minutes a day. Once you have conquered the walk without bikes then bring in the bikes and the after all that is said and done start with the truck. Or which ever order you choose. You can always reverse bad behavior by giving tons of love and food.

Reply to Terra's Post: Hello Terra,

I have tried doing it with treats and love but the treats won't work. Normally she will devour any and all treats except when the treat is used to make her do something she doesn't want to do. The dog gets so much love she is spoiled and that does not seem to work either.

MIke

Hi Customer (name blocked for privacy). Thank you for asking your question on Just Answer. The other experts and I are working on your answer. By the way, it would help us to know:

-Has you pet been to a vet for this problem?

-Has your pet had any obedience training?

Thank you again for trusting us with your problem. Please reply as soon as possible so that we can finish answering your question.

Hello,

She has not gone to the vet for this problem as I do not think it is a health problem. She plays, swims, eats, and does everything else normal, except go for walks or rides in the truck.

Yes she has been trained and follows commands pretty well. When she was walking she listened very well to heel, forward, left, right, sit, lay, etc..

Mike

Hi Customer (name blocked for privacy),

Do you go anywhere 'interesting' (as far as a dog would be concerned?) on your walks.

Anticipation is a large part of a dog 's willingness to do something, without a formal training period having been involved.

Witness how she behaved going to the lake. What do you do on your walks? Do you accompany her, or other way round? Walk somewhere just for her. I'm not a fan of 'bark parks' because they are a great potential disseminator of problems, medical and physical, so I'll leave that destination to your imagination.

Make it short, though, maybe just down the street...anywhere with 'fun' at the end. Do this twice and you'll probably be back in business. You will have to vary your walking routine to accomodate her need for 'anticipation'.

Might be simplistic, but what behavioral training is needed to just 'enjoy'?

I hope this works for both of you.

Edited by DrPete on July 22 2006 at 6:09 AM

Please check just one ACCEPT box. Feedback is nice, too. Medicine comes in doses of Science, Art, and Miracle, given as needed.

1 Other Expert Agrees with this!

Reply to Peter Bennett, DVM's Post: Hello Peter,

The walk is primarily for her - there is a 500 acre park about two blocks from my house. It is squirel haven there and she loves to chase the squirels - once she is there she will enjoy it - but she demands to be off leash the entire time. For about one year I had her to where she would accept chasing a squirrel and then getting right back on the leash.

The last 3 days I have reduced her food intake and she seems alittle more willing to go places. Could her weight factor in as a reason not to go?

Mike

Hi Mike,

I would think not directly; she has no awareness of her weight as such, and 3 days won't make any any appreciable changes in it.

Was the lake trip a big change in her routine? There may have been something at 'squirrel haven', or with her car rides, that was unappealing. Rolling over and acting coy is not a strong resistance action. Think like her about those experiences.

Or, did your vet say if he was wondering anything about her heart? Have heartworms been absolutely ruled out? Tests and meds are not infallable. Some other cardiac problems also take a moderate amount of exercise to present any symptoms, and she would be the first to recognize something like a 'funny' feeling. How does she react after play exercise at home with you?

This problem does seem more medical than it originally did. Would you consider trying the easier approach of slower starts working back to the timber area? Maybe a truck ride there to see what her reaction is, to test the psychological aspect a bit more before starting on the medical side.

If these approaches bomb, then try her vet again.

If you think I can be of any further help, (providing, of course...) let me know. Or if you have other thoughts, let's hear them.

Please check just one ACCEPT box. Feedback is nice, too. Medicine comes in doses of Science, Art, and Miracle, given as needed.

1 Other Expert Agrees with this!

Reply to Peter Bennett, DVM's Post: Hello Peter,

We just got back from the lake and she did the same thing as the last week trip. She had a fantastic time - she swam for 45 minutes non - stop. She was acting more like a fish than a dog. The thing that makes me think it is a behavior problem is that she did not want to leave (get back in the truck) last week she jumped right in to travel home. Also for the last 3 nights I have been running her around the block and she is doing that without hesitation.

To answer your question, she is always tired and pants hard after playing, but I think that is fairly normal. Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions.

Mike

Tired and panting would be normal; a real prolonged period wouldn't be normal.

Do you feel you're on the right track? About ready to try and go back and terrorize the squirrels?

Please check just one ACCEPT box. Feedback is nice, too. Medicine comes in doses of Science, Art, and Miracle, given as needed.

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