No Interest In Walks

[Mitchell]

Bailey is now almost 15 weeks old and we thought she would be more interest in going out for walks (not really long ones - just 5 houses away). At the moment, she walks to and from my son's school (7 minute slow waddle each way) before and afterschool. She is good about heeling. When given the "forward" command, she moves ahead to explore but, returns to heeling when told. Bailey loves to be out in the yard. However, any attempt to take her on other walks (besides the school ones) down our street meets with resistance from her (such as sitting down and digging in her feet). We tried to coax her with praise and a treat of cheese with limited success. Dragging your dog behind you is not something that we feel comfortable with. Ironically, Bailey will walk once we are headed towards home with energy. Any suggestions? Or, is this situation just a stage that she must go through? Interesting enough, if we drive her to the local hiking trail or to another distant place, she is more likely to walk. We can't always do this type of walk and had hoped to walk her around our neighbourhood. She gets lots of playtime and I wondered if she is just too tired to walk. I don't think tiredness is it because she will still want to play and explore outside in the yard.

 

[Jentarin]

Bessa wasn't big on walks at that age either.

 

[lmfoltyn]

She is still very young...it will change in the future I am sure...just keep taking her on her little walks that you do...

 

[Mitchell]

Thanks for the encouragement. We will keep up with the short walks and exercise her around the yard.

 

[R Taft]

Sh is too young.I only use self excercise when they are that young and little periods of training, which do not require andy distance at all....Some are more energetic, like my Yussie was a go-alholic...but my Katy was slow and steady. I cart my pups around for socialisation. Annabelle pulls the cart (or Lukey) and pups are in there. They loved it and at water training we often have several puppies in the cart. Also keeps the off the ground when we are at places where we do not know the health of the other dogs. So our play/training time is at home in the garden, where they can pick how much energy they hav to spare......Short 5 minute bursts usually

 

[Jeannie]

I agree with Ronnie. She is too young to take walks. She may be 'big' but inside she is still small. I never walk mine until they are older. Not good for their bones/joints to do more than self exercise. Concrete is very unforgiving on joints. As a runner I know to not run on concrete because of risk of injury. Same with your young puppy. Keep her on grass as much as possible. A blacktop road is better than concrete.

Until puppies have completed all of their puppy vaccines they should not be taken around other dogs. You never know what the adult dogs can be carrying. They can carry parvo and not show any signs. If your puppy is exposed to it most likely it will be fatal.

Keep your puppy in your yard and enjoy her. It won't be long when you won't be able to hold her.

 

[wrknnwf]

I agree with Jeannie and Ronnie. Your pup is too young for walks and there is a risk of joint damage. Your pup's reluctance to walk may be her way of telling you that it hurts or is too strenuous.

Also, she may still be in a "fear period" stage of mental growth and if so, leaving home may be very stressful for her.

 

[Mitchell]

We decided to keep her at home until she's older. What is the approximate age that we can start taking her out on short walks? Thanks for the information.

 

[victoria1140]

Do it at their pace.l generally start walking them around our green area at three months old,4 months they do a block and then gradually increase it or decrease as required. All different in their requirements.

My two now would happily do a few miles if l let them.

 

[MROPH]

Raven did the same thing when she was a pup. I think she was nervous. Do you have a friend with another dog that you could walk a short distance with? Puppies seem to get more confidence following what the older dogs do. We had Rocky for Raven to teach her that it wasn't scary and within a week or so she had more confidence to walk by herself.

 

[R Taft]

I take mine out quite young, but I do not do any on leash walking till they are about 6-8 months old.....All my training is off leash or the socialising is on leash, but no distance walking, just getting to a place, mostly by car and short walk. I don't push mine walking at all....i do little bursts of heeling, 4-5 paces or even ten and we have fun, but all off leash, so they have the choice. That gets a bit longer if they have fun and do not seem tired. i work each dog as an individual....yussie had a lot of time training as she was very hyperactive and needed to be busy, katy the total opposite, she would tire quickly, so short bursts..they are totally differnt newfies. Harry sits in the middle, so for him we did a bit and even now he has much more energy than Katy, so let your pup be the judge of when they are ready.. Any tiredness and we stop.....i do however swim my dogs a lot, so they get good muscle tone and are fit and it starts at ten weeks. Keep them fit and happy.....and lean

 

[Mitchell]

I appreciate the info. Bailey's workout today will be playing in the snow that fell yesterday. Sadly, we are still a few weeks away from the lakes having open water. But, Bailey is not complaining like the rest of the family.