Hi, I have a 15 week old golden lab retriever, she is called sasha and it's the first time we have had a puppy so it's all new to us too, she won't go out for a walk unless there are two of us with her, is this normal at this age, thanks, Julie
Hi Julie and welcome ! Pups vary so much , some are eager to explore the world and some are not ! Could you try tempting her with treats as you prepare for a walk or even a squeaky toy to take her mind off the fact that there aren't two of you with her ? Maybe try little sessions on lead in your garden, just the two of you ? What a pretty little girl Sasha is !
Thank you for your reply, I have tried treats to tempt her but she still refuses to walk, we have a large back garden which she loves to go out in but all she wants to do is eat the grass and anything else she can find
Do you put her on lead from time to time, in the garden and indoors too ? obviously you must supervise her , but allow her to trail the lead behind her so that she gets well used to it , then pick it up and walk with her, even around the home . She will get there , I promise , sometimes the outside world is a very big scary place and she wants everyone with her, time and patience wins the race, eventually ! ( and than Sasha will want walks, all the time )
Thank you very much, your advice is very much appreciated, I will give it a go, as you say patience wins, thanks again
I'm afraid I don't have any helpful advice, Julie, I'm a new pup owner myself so am learning as I go along. My black lab girl always eats anything she can find in the back garden including her own poo if I don't get to it quick enough! She also loves to play ball but has to be running after it with a stick or some grass or my plants in her mouth at the same time! I just wanted to say what a gorgeous girl and I love the name Sasha.
Just another thought ! if you can possibly arrange it , a walk with another calm dog and its owner would be really helpful . Pups do take on board how they see others behaving , and emulate their behaviour , just a thought x
Thank you, that definitely sounds like sasha too good luck and I hope your enjoying your time with yours as much as I am with Sasha x
Another thought to add to Kate'said helpful ideas is perhaps popping her in the car and going somewhere more interesting for a walk. Bright happy voice, scrumpy treatso and a favourite ball or squeaky toy may well encourage her.
Mollie (20 weeks) is also a reluctant walker. When she stands still I stand with her and move on when she's ready, but I don't let her sniff or play or pull back, we just calmly wait then move on. Sometimes I ask for a 'sit'. No coaxing or luring with treats. She's stopping less and less now, but it's taken a few weeks. When she was small enough to lift I'd carry her to the end of the walk and she'd eagerly trot home. I've not had a reluctant walker before - a new experience for me!
