Lazy or bored?
I don't want to become an owner who pulls and I know she needs more than what she is indicating. She was doing great the first week I had her and is now bored or lazy with exercise. We have run in the back yard and lightly wrestled but I was expecting more than this. Any tricks, hints, suggestions? Thanks, Murphykat from Michigan and Ms. Olivia |
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| Sprocket loves a good trot around on our walks-investigating new places and pulling if he thinks we should go a diff way to were I am taking us. Saying that whe it was constat rain for 2 days we didn't go out of the garden-he was fine with just his usualy following us around all day,plays with "ropey" etc. Is ther something that is "scaring" her on your walk? Go the other way instead-make it a bit more interesting. She may not need 3 proper walks a day,alter the routine a bit-one long walk and a play one day-2 walks another-whatever fits in with your life.x |
| It could be a couple things. Is she feeling well? Sometimes when they are not feeling well, this is their way of letting you know. Check the color of her gums & ear flaps. They should be pink. Another thought, she may be trying you out to see where she is on the totem pole. Some of these dogs are pretty smart. I'd check the physical out 1st & if all is OK perhaps try a different route or different times of day. Maybe a car ride to walk around a dog friendly park or new neighborhood. |
| I agree with above, if she's not ill....then vary the exercises. They get bored, sniffed all the could one way and want new sites to explore. I had one dog though that was great going out, but hated to come home!!! |
| How long have you had her? Even the most well adjusted dog may not be themselves for the first month in a new home. If she is brand new in your home (a week or so is still fairly new) give her that time to get to know you and visa versa. Also, refusing to walk is either her way of controlling/being the boss (which sheepies are GREAT at) or something is wrong medically. My super insane, playful, bouncy, demanding sheepie isn't always like that, only at home and the dog park. You take her out of the house, into another home, public, walks, etc and she is calm and well behaved. It's like having a whole new sheepie. Bring her back home and your likely to have a sheepie flying at/over you. |
| I walk a lot slower than my wife does, the boys get bored with my pace and lose interest. They are enthusiastic walkers with her. If her health checks out maybe you could pick up the pace? |
I agree that she may not yet feel secure in her new surroundings and doesn't want to venture too far from her new home. So many new smells for her too. I think I would welcome my dogs being a little lazy  |
| Update... Thank you all for the expert takes on my new (5 1/2 year old) addition. Olivia is definitely warmed up to the place and is trying to be alpha in this relationship. Three houses down the street she pretends to go for a sniff or to the bathroom and then full rump facing me and wide stance facing back home. So my new method is to keep her on a shorter leash while walking and when she does catch me off guard, I give her a step in her new direction and while she thinks we are heading back home, we make a quick turn back on our walk. Any other suggestions are welcome as she is still trying to be top dog on our walks. Thanks, Katie and olivia |
| You doing ok-They like to think "we go this way dad/mum" sometimes it is just sheer "brute strength" for you to "get your own way"!! we used to "encourage" Sprocket with a treat but then he decided it was an easy way to get treats so we just say a brisk "this way" and like you said go in a circle or whatever to confuse them and head off in the direction we want to go and not wher he wants to go. Perseverance (can't spell that one!)x |
| Yep, Allyson. Continue to be the boss, even if you have to twirl in circles to confuse the butt-headed one. Might try treating at the far end of the walk. Something yummy that she will gladly "go the distance" for. Too bad there isn't a Three Dog Bakery at the walk's far end. (then she wouldn't want to go home) Realize she's still unsure exactly where "Home" is. Takes rescues at least a month or two to get settled and a year to loose all their "baggage." |
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