Daily exercise is a ritual that every dog should really look forward to. But that's not always the case: some four-legged friends suddenly don't want to go out the door at all.
Why is that? And what can you do about it? You will find the answers in the following lines.
How can you tell when a dog doesn't want to be walked?
It's completely normal that a dog sometimes feels more and sometimes less like going outside: In this respect, four-legged friends hardly differ from us humans. If this persists for several days, it usually has deeper causes.
But how does this manifest itself? In most cases, at least one of the following behaviors occurs.
The animal refuses to leave the house
Often it starts before the walk: When you grab the leash, the dog doesn't even wait until you call him – he hides away and makes it clear that he would rather stay at home.
Constant or very frequent pulling on the leash
But it can also be the case that your four-legged friend leaves the house with you, but behaves strangely on the way. Very often this manifests itself in the fact that the line is constantly under tension.
The dog then either wants to go back or in a different direction. The traditional dog walking route is then very difficult to complete – many owners then lose patience and simply abandon the tour.
The most common causes
The reasons why a dog reacts this way are varied and vary from animal to animal. In some cases, there are even multiple reasons that lead to such behavior.
Most of the time there is at least one of the following reasons behind it:
stress
Daily exercise is usually a joy for every dog. But he also has to feel comfortable. If the animal suffers from a lot of stress, he simply no longer has the head for a relaxed walk.
There are many signs that stress is the cause of the reluctance: If the dog seems unfocused, even refuses to eat food at his daily meal times, pants heavily and commands are not followed, this is evidence of an overly tense dog.
Bad experiences on the dog walking route
If the dog suddenly doesn't want to go out anymore, this can also indicate traumatic experiences during the last exits. There are many reasons for this: Maybe he was attacked by a fellow dog, sudden loud noises like a firecracker also belong to this category.
Bad experiences on the dog walk affect the dog and initially scare him. That's why he's reluctant to leave the house – he feels more secure in his own four walls.
boredom
If the dog comes outside with you but seems rather monotonous on the way, then it is quite possible that he is feeling bored. This could be because, for example, there are hardly any new tracks on the walk – this also reduces motivation, because a curious four-legged friend also wants to be treated to something.
Weather
The weather can also have an influence on the motivation of your four-legged friends. For example, long-haired dogs with an undercoat usually cope with the cold quite well, but on hot days they quickly go into economy mode.
Other dogs, on the other hand, are very reluctant to be outside in cold weather. Rain is also poorly tolerated by many four-legged friends.
All of this can lead to the dog striking when you want to take it out.
Wrong time of day or fear of darkness
Dogs also have a certain daily rhythm. That's why it may be that your four-legged friend simply doesn't feel like going outside at certain times – he simply prefers the comfort of his own home.
If you want to go out with your best friend early in the morning or evening (i.e. before and after work) and he doesn't want to, it could also be because the animal is afraid of the dark. The dog's eyes work significantly worse in low light than during the day – this can lead to fear and insecurity.
Pains
In some cases, the reason is very understandable: you are in pain and therefore want to take it as easy as possible. Usually they not only refuse the obligatory walk, but also move little at home and often adopt a protective posture.
Sometimes the cause of this is acute injuries – these can be wounds, but injuries to the musculoskeletal system such as torn muscle fibers and ligaments also occur, especially in otherwise very active dogs. Of course, short-term illnesses such as colds can also limit the urge to exercise.
But there are also many dogs who no longer want to go outside because of chronic illnesses. Unfortunately, especially in seniors, four-legged friends are often affected by diseases such as arthritis, arthrosis or hip dysplasia.
7 tips to get your dog to go for a walk
There are many reasons that can lead to your four-legged friend no longer wanting to go out with you. Some then capitulate to it and only go out with the dog very rarely or for a short time.
But this should definitely not happen: A dog needs regular exercise. After all, going for a walk is not only important for the animal's physical condition, a large part of its social life also takes place on the street.
But what can you do about it? Luckily, a lot. Depending on the cause of the problem, there are various solutions available – the following tips will definitely help you and your furry friend.
keep Calm
Rule number 1 is always: You have to radiate calm. A nervous or fearful dog is not impressed by shouting. Instead, the problem becomes even worse – the animal feels confirmed and, in case of doubt, even more nervous; even when bored and in pain, excitement is the wrong solution.
Calm and composed means that both body language and tone of voice should be appropriate. In many cases this has an anti-anxiety effect – the dog gains new courage and slowly begins to follow the walking route.
Exude security
Despite all the calm, you should also exude security. Especially when the dog is indecisive, he needs a reference person who can show him the way – and that is you as the owner or pack leader.
Unfortunately, arguing with your four-legged friend or comforting him will not help. Instead, you have to lead the way – without appearing excited. If you lead the walk in one direction without hesitation, the chances are good that your loved one will quickly follow you.
The dog walking route varies
A possible solution that takes the needs of some dogs into account is a slightly different walking route. This option is particularly gentle and often very effective when dealing with traumatic experiences or boredom.
But you should make sure that you set the direction. If you let the dog take the path, it can lead to problems with authority because the hierarchy is questioned.
Accommodate the dog at the time of day
Are you flexible in terms of time? Then it is also an option to simply try a different time of day. Dogs who feel nervous and afraid in the dark and at twilight are often relieved when the sun shines.
Of course, this is not always possible – but if it can be set up, it is often a very effective measure.
Dog clothing against bad weather
In bad weather, i.e. cold and wet, some protective clothing often helps to make going out more palatable for the dog. This requires a period of getting used to, but afterwards the four-legged friend often likes to go out of the house, even under unfavorable conditions – and colds can be prevented in advance.
Particularly worthwhile when it is wet Raincoats for dogswhich are available in very different versions.
If your loved one has problems with cold weather, offers a dog winter coat Protection and security.
Visit to the vet and pain-relieving/joint-friendly aids
If your pet exhibits behavior that could indicate health problems, going to the vet is always the best response.
Modern veterinary medicine knows many solutions that can make lame legs perk up again: pain treatment, medication and physiotherapy are no longer foreign words, even for dogs. As soon as the pain becomes bearable, the desire to go outside again usually increases.
For example, they have proven very effective orthopedic dog bedswhich are particularly designed to protect joints: You can find out more about this here.
There are also many helpful dietary supplements for osteoarthritis and other joint problems. 2020 is very popular Green-lipped mussel (for testing): The natural ingredients include glycosaminoglycans, which help the joints regenerate.
Sedatives as gentle helpers
Sedatives can also help with anxiety, restlessness and nervousness. However, these are usually not an all-encompassing solution – they only help you and your loved one to better navigate the loving upbringing.
Fortunately, there are not only pharmaceutical remedies from the pharmacy, but also many herbal and homeopathic preparations calm your dog down. If you would like to find out more about how it works, I recommend this text.