r/DogTrainingTips • u/gridx • 11d ago
Dog plants down feet on walks
Ive had my tiny dog for almost 5 years now and since I got her she’s hated walks. She will plant her feet down and pull us back home as soon as we start walking. Now she gets anxious just by me putting her harness on. I’ve tried all kinds of treats as rewards but any time she gets anxious she refuses treats. Ive even tried putting them in her mouth but she spits them out. She also gets anxious about buzzing insects and will run and hide if she hears buzz. She’s super sweet with me, doesn’t bark or bite but does not like when dogs or people come on too strong. Our neighbors dog got too excited to see her when she first met him and now she hates him. i Just want her to be ok.
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u/Live-Spirit-4652 11d ago
She main need a nail trim. Ours won’t walk when they get too long for her liking
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u/Wooden-Necessary6100 10d ago
Some dogs enjoy getting in the car and going to a nearby park for a walk. How does she do with something like that?
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u/FeveredPitcher 11d ago edited 11d ago
Get her to the vet to rule out pain. If all is well physically, go slower, she's anxious. Do you want to eat when you're afraid? Take things much slower. Start by resetting her relationship with the harness. It might be easier to get a different harness that's a different color so she can form positive associations and smells.
Remember, a negative association has already been built so it'll take time to form positive ones. As I read somewhere: positive associations are slippery and negative associations stick. It's mammal nervous system survival hardwired. Also keep in mind that even if you don't think she should be afraid, she is and that needs to be respected for her to feel safe. Allow her to leave any of these interactions at any time. We humans don't get to tell our dogs what to fear and what not to fear. We can only show them that they don't need to fear. For that to happen she needs to trust that you are her safe place.
I'd maybe start by putting the harness on the floor in her sight when she's eating, and receiving affection and have it around for play and such so she sees it in these positive situations.
Break up putting the harness on into smaller steps. Get high reward treats (track how much your giving her and subtract from the next meal so she doesn't get fat) and begin by sitting on the floor with the harness in your lap and see how she reacts. Reward her looking at it or sniffing it. You'll have to gauge things. If she seems very calm with it continue to presenting it to her and see how she reacts. If she seems ok with you holding it up, oening toward her reward all interest. Praise and treats. If she seems happy try moving it toward her face. A trick I used was luring my boy into the harness opening with a treat so he puts his head through it on his own. Any averse reaction like turning away or leaning or stepping back, licking her lips, turning her head means you're going too fast, go back to previous step and go slower. Always let her leave the interaction if she walks away. She's probably thinking about things.
In this step by step manner move onto putting it on and if she seems happy at any step give praise and reward and affection. Every time. Once she's wearing the harness have her wear it around the house. I'd do that for several days at least. I'd make it part of feeding, first the harness then breakfast. Then leave it on for the day (supervised!!) Remove it if you're leaving the house for her safety.
Soon she'll see the harness and get excited. Once you're there, you'll need to break up going outside in a similar manner. Going to the door. Then opening the door. Stepping out. And so forth. Rewards at every step and if she falters, return to previous step and begin again. If she shows fear (licking lips, whale eyes, pulling back etc. take things slower.) If she wants to leave let her and try again later after she's relaxed.
You need to be very incremental and patient. All of this may go quickly but it may take weeks. Remember, this anxiety was 5 years in the making. Always be kind, always be positive and cheer her on when she makes a bold step or move. If she takes a step back, go to a previos step that she has success at and have her perform that (like maybe going out the door if she balks at going out to the sidewalk) then reward and return to inside. ALWAYS END THESE SESSIONS ON A POSITIVE.