Lexi= SUCCESS AT LAST
I now have a walking buddy!!
My dog Lexi was -up until today- terrified of going for walks that involved her leaving the yard. She would just sit down and refuse to move. I think it had something to do with being abandoned and a stray when she was a pup.
Anyway, today was my zillionth time trying to get her to go for a walk with me. But this time I was defiant. I was determined to go the whole 2.5 miles around my lake.
So with some pulling and taunting and patience, I finally got her to go. It took us an hour just to get up the street, but after we turned onto Tibet, she relaxed (save for big trucks and other dogs intimidating her.... I ended up having to carry her until they were out of sight).
It was really annoying to start. That first hour took FOREVER. Especially because we barely got anywhere. We inched little by little as I walked until the leash was taught and then waited for her to give up with being so stubborn and walk towards me.
When she got the hang of it, she only tried her shenanigans a couple more times; each of which I pulled at the leash without facing her to remind her I was in control (Thank you Dog Whisperer TV show!), and she realized she had lost the war. I think it was a matter of me not facing her= reminders of abandonment. She's a very lovable dog- she'd rather be curled up in your arms than running outdoors, so treating her like she was gonna lose that (It hurt me too) affected how she acted.
And in the end, she walked the rest of the way (about 2 miles) with me in under 30 minutes!! And she even enjoyed it!! I was so proud!! And now I have a walking buddy!!!!!
My dog Lexi was -up until today- terrified of going for walks that involved her leaving the yard. She would just sit down and refuse to move. I think it had something to do with being abandoned and a stray when she was a pup.
Anyway, today was my zillionth time trying to get her to go for a walk with me. But this time I was defiant. I was determined to go the whole 2.5 miles around my lake.
So with some pulling and taunting and patience, I finally got her to go. It took us an hour just to get up the street, but after we turned onto Tibet, she relaxed (save for big trucks and other dogs intimidating her.... I ended up having to carry her until they were out of sight).
It was really annoying to start. That first hour took FOREVER. Especially because we barely got anywhere. We inched little by little as I walked until the leash was taught and then waited for her to give up with being so stubborn and walk towards me.
When she got the hang of it, she only tried her shenanigans a couple more times; each of which I pulled at the leash without facing her to remind her I was in control (Thank you Dog Whisperer TV show!), and she realized she had lost the war. I think it was a matter of me not facing her= reminders of abandonment. She's a very lovable dog- she'd rather be curled up in your arms than running outdoors, so treating her like she was gonna lose that (It hurt me too) affected how she acted.
And in the end, she walked the rest of the way (about 2 miles) with me in under 30 minutes!! And she even enjoyed it!! I was so proud!! And now I have a walking buddy!!!!!