......where to place this thread but has anyone experienced this? For the past few days, out on our on lead walks, Red has been walking along (she 'pomps' along nicely at my side a lot of the time ) and she will suddenly sit down, lay down or just stand still and refuse to walk. I didn't think much of it the first few times it happened, thinking she's tired or it's perhaps a bit hot. Today we have walked early so I know she is not tired and it's not hot yet. I have given her sniffing time when we have got to green spaces as I always do. Today was quite frustrating as she did it a lot including in the middle of the road a few times. I have tried various tactics - luring her on if it's been a distraction that's made her sit down e.g. dogs being walked on the other side of the road, standing still myself and letting her just sit (using the excuse to myself, that's it's a beautiful day, we are in no hurry etc etc) and pulling her especially when she just stops dead in the road. Not sure what I should be doing but it was quite frustrating this morning.
I get this with all my pups but usually at about 14 weeks. At that age they are taking in the world and processing it all so I just wait until they are ready to move on. I don't think I'd lure as she may begin to wait for the lure, in fact she may be already doing that. The same with attention and/or training. They learn off just once sometimes! I would stand and wait - not speaking or looking at her. She'll get bored and move on. Then, as soon as she gets going - praise lots and treat.
Yes I think you are right about the lure @Boogie. I will try the waiting until she gets bored tactic. Thank you for answering. Felt this morning this was becoming a not good habit .
Whenever this topic comes up I bring out this photograph because it never fails to make me laugh.. This was Stanley at about 16 weeks point blank refusing to walk. If it was safe I used to drop his lead and walk away and he would follow. If it was near a road or whatever I'd just wait until he was ready to move again.
Yup, Luna has done it on occasion, too. What I found worked best for her was actually walking back the way I'd come from a few steps. This seemed to unstick her bum, and then I could turn and carry on. On our mid-morning walk with the whole gang, Shadow stopped for a poo (on our land, so we left it to pick it up on the way back). Luna sat down a few paces ahead of him and didn't move until he'd finished, and then as he moved past her, she started trotting alongside. Normally, she's pretty much glued to my side all walk. You do wonder what's going on in their minds sometimes!