DOG WALKING PROBLEMS

Hank is a new patient of mine, he is a rescue puppy, half Akita and half Australian Shepherd as far as we know.  His owners brought him in because they were having dog walking problems. Hank was born at the rescue shelter into a litter of 3, he was the runt in the litter and the only male born. Hank is submissive and good-natured (much like our beloved Odie) and as a result was bullied by his sisters. Hank is comfortable when at home, and is most happy when interacting with humans and the neighbors cat Ed. When it comes time to take Hank for a walk his is a different dog, he is stubborn and unwilling to co-operate.  

Dogs that come from a rescue environment often develop psychological issues. Hank now has a loving home, but his early life experiences have caused him to be scared of many things. In order to start helping Hank i have suggested a few simple steps to get his walking under control, so he can enjoy his exercise time.

Socialization is one of the most important steps in a dogs development.

Things you can implement with a group/professional

• Taking your dog to obedience training will help iron out these problems quickly, this gives the dog an understanding about your expectations in different situations. It may be necessary to have some private sessions first before integrating your dog into a group training situation. Ultimately both are great, one on one; you receive individual and detailed care where as in the group situation it is as much about the training as it is about meeting and interacting with other dogs. 

Things you can implement alone

Hank has become accustomed to his home surroundings and is now reluctant to venture outside that environment. He is stubborn and skittish when outside the home, the more that Hank is exposed to elements outside of his control the better.

• A good way to control this as an owner is try and get your dog on a walking schedule, although this is sometimes difficult incorporating into a busy lifestyle it really is wonderful for the dog. This way your dog will get into a routine and be mentally prepared for what is ahead.

Both of these simple things give your dog a great head start on the road to ironing out dog walking problems. I am going to continue to track Hanks progress while i work with him on his problems. So many people now have rescue dogs I feel like these are universal pet tips that can help people struggling to understand where their dog is coming from.