Have you ever fastened on your dog's leash, walked outside and your dog won’t walk suddenly? Whether your dog is freezing on the pavement, sitting down halfway through the walk, or refusing to move the moment their leash comes out, there is nothing to worry, because you are not the only one facing this problem. This is one of the main common concerns among the dog parents, especially the ones with young puppies and newly adopted dogs

Walking resistance is rarely about being stubborn. It is very likely your dog’s way of communicating their fear, discomfort, confusion or even overstimulation. You can make your companion feel safe and confident with patience, positive enforcement and the right walking gear from Petbuds.

In this guide, you will know why a dog refuses to walk, as a pet parent, how we can respond gently to them and some practical tips for a successful leash training a puppy or even an adult dog.

Why does a dog refuse to walk?

When a dog refuses to walk, instead of just paying attention to their behaviour, it is important to understand the reason behind it too. Understanding the cause behind their behaviour is the first step towards helping them.

However, most dogs happily follow their owners around without a leash. Understanding why your dog follows you everywhere can give you better insight into their behaviour when a leash is introduced.

✦ Your dog is frightened or anxious

When a dog is scared of the leash, walks may freeze because it might be scared of going outdoors as it can be really overwhelming. Very loud traffic, people who are unfamiliar, or even the strong smell can make the sensitive dog stop walking in the middle of nowhere. If your dog is frightened or anxious, it would freeze in one place, move its tail between its legs, try to turn back home or even refuse the treats outside. 

In this situation, you should not pull the leash harder, but stay very calm. You should give your dog the time to look around its surroundings and appreciate even its small steps that it takes forward.

✦ Your dog refuses to move because everything is new for him

If your dog refuses to walk, just remember that it is because walking a dog on a leash is something your dog needs training on. Young puppies might not know how or what to do, so they simply sit down or stop walking.

This is very common when you have started your puppy leash training. If you want your puppy to be trained in this, you need to give it training in short sessions of 5-10 minutes and you should primarily focus on making the training positive and giving treats to your puppy on small achievements so that it remains motivated.

✦ The harness or leash is uncomfortable:

Have you experienced discomfort when you wear a shoe that is not your size? Yes, right. In the similar way, when the harness or the leash is uncomfortable for the dog, it might create problems for the dog to move as well. 

You should always check the comfortability of the leash so that it doesn’t create many problems for your dog around its neck, seeing that the straps are not too tight.

A simple Petbuds no-pull harness for reluctant walkers, provides comfort without applying much pressure and causing any pain.

✦ Your dog is overstimulated by the environment:

When a dog is indoors, it is in its comfort space. The outer world is very new and full of distractions. 

It becomes very necessary to let your dog become comfortable with the surroundings and let it take its time to sniff around and explore on its own to make it more relaxed and confident.

How to leash train a puppy gently?

A positive approach and consistency is what makes a successful leash training build life- long practice. You should avoid taking your puppy into long neighbourhood walks if you have just started with the training.

Step 1: Introduce the harness indoors:

While introducing your puppy with the harness, give it some time and let it wear the harness indoors while it is getting treats or playing inside the home. This creates the association of the harness to good things for the puppy.

Step 2: Attach the leash without any tension:

Your goal is to simply let the puppy be comfortable with the feeling of the harness. You can tie the leash and let the puppy explore the spaces indoors without pulling it yet to simply make them comfortable.

Step 3: Reward every few steps:

When you reward the puppy for even a small step, it becomes motivated and is driven to walk on its own. This is how to simply create the first and a huge step for the loose leash training.

Step 4: More outdoors with time:

Gradually, you should let out your pet to some less crowded area, say your garage, garden or a peaceful place that has quiet surroundings to let them build confidence. You should do this so that with time, it doesn’t become a burden for you to slowly take your pet to a more crowded space.

What to do when your dog refuses to walk on a leash?

When your dog refuses to walk on a leash, your reaction matters just as much as  your dog’s behaviour. 

When your dog freezes at a place, you should wait calmly and reward it even if it is taking one step forward at a time. 

If your puppy is sitting down as you are tying it with the leash, you should encourage the puppy with its favourite treats and praises.

And lastly, if your dog seems too distracted, you can simply take it to a quieter place so that it feels more comfortable and reduces the stimulation.

You should always remember that the objective is to teach your dog to feel safe to walk around you and with you with its leash on, rather than feel scared and forced.

Should you use a no-pull harness?

The quality of the harness might not just make the task easier, but it surely can make the training easier.

The no pull dog harness for reluctant walkers by Petbuds is designed specially for a comfortable support. Unlike the neck collar that gives more pressure on the throat itself, a properly fitted harness distributes the force across the chest and makes walking more comfortable.

A good training along with the right harness for your pet can make them feel more comfortable and safer.

Can a hands-free dog leash be helpful?

A hands-free dog leash is helpful and the most convenient for the pet parents whose dogs are now well trained and understand the basic leash manners. The hands-free dog leash makes the walk more carefree and comfortable.

However, if you are someone who has just started training your puppy with the leash, it would be better for you to go for the basic leash rather than the hands-free leashes. 

When your dog learns to practice loose leash walking, changing to the hands-free leash becomes more comfortable and convenient then.

Final Thoughts

If your dog won't walk, you should try to see this problem from the perspective of your dog, rather than just asking it to try again and again. Generally, a dog refuses to walk because it is just telling you the uncertainty that they are facing, the discomfort , and even the fear that they face; not simply because it is just too stubborn to listen to what you are asking it to do. Whether your puppy refuses to walk or whether your dog is scared of the leash, you should try gentle training consistently as it produces the long term result. However, if this problem continues, you should consult a veterinarian as soon as possible.

With gentle training, consistent efforts, and better equipment from Petbuds, every walk can be considered good grooming in the field of building trust and confidence as well.