Golden Retriever will only walk with me

[peperpup]

I have a three year old golden retriever who used to happily go walks with my husband and my best friend. Suddenly she started refusing to go beyond the garden gate unless she is with me. I don't think that anything has happened to cause this behaviour it just seems to be that these people are not me. Tried treats, tried light encouraging voices. No success. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks.

[JudyN]

I'm just bumping this for you, as it seems to have been missed. I'd be interested to see what people suggest, as Jasper refused to budge when OH tried to walk him this morning!

We've had a bit of additional stress the last couple of weeks as we've had a houseful of decorators. Also, as I don't want to leave Jasper with the decorators, he hasn't been left at all for that time. I'm assuming this is what has triggered his current behaviour, though he's always far preferred going out with me than OH.

[Dibbythedog]

Does she do the same when you are out ? I had a dog that was reluctant to go out of the gate without me but was happy to go if I wasnt at home .

They could try taking her out in the car and driving to the park if thats practical It would be interesting to see how she behaves , whether she is ok without you once she is there or whether she tries to run home.
It might be something has knocked her confidence or a bit stressed about something in every day life.
Ali

[peperpup]

Hi JudyN and Dibbythedog. Thanks for your posts and sorry for not replying sooner. Sophie (GR) had been on her own for a couple of hours when my friend arrived to take her up to her house for the day. Sophie just refused to go and had to be coerced/dragged up the road. This really surprised me as my friend must be one of Sophie's most favourite people in the entire world! Funnily, after a while Sophie came to herself and started to walk well. The thing is Sophie is a really strong dog and it doesn't look at all good dragging her on her lead, and not what I want for her either. If she is a bit reluctant to come with me I chuck a few pieces of kibble ahead of her and that usually does the trick. Doesn't work with my husband. We could 'up' the reward but Sophie has inflammatory bowel disease and we have to be careful what we use.

Unfortunately my husband doesn't drive so he is not able to drive to a park and see what happens there. He is very good with Sophs but I am definitely 'her person'. In the past when my husband has taken her for lead walks he usually stops at the shops for a few minutes which means he has to tie her up outside. I am wondering if that has anything to do with her behaviour. On the other hand, when he goes the other way, towards the park, she just puts on the brakes and pulls home.

Really hope we can get over this as Soph is missing out on some lovely walks, not that she seems to care. Oh, she is bright enough and bouncy enough, just prefers to stay at home if she doesn't get out with me.

Judy, if you find something that solves the problem with Jasper, would you let me know

[JudyN]

Sophie just refused to go and had to be coerced/dragged up the road. This really surprised me as my friend must be one of Sophie's most favourite people in the entire world!

Ah, but they're still not Mum! Think of a child on their first sleepover - I had to go & collect DS2 round about midnight on his first two or three sleepovers as he 'felt ill'. I'm sure it's a similar thing with dogs who love their main owner maybe a bit too much.

Judy, if you find something that solves the problem with Jasper, would you let me know

I will do - Jasper's been better with OH this weekend, but he's still taking him out in the car to avoid the issue. I'm sure general stress levels are a factor, so it could be worth thinking about anything else that might be unsettling her.

[Dibbythedog]

Hi JudyN and Dibbythedog. Thanks for your posts and sorry for not replying sooner. Sophie (GR) had been on her own for a couple of hours when my friend arrived to take her up to her house for the day. Sophie just refused to go and had to be coerced/dragged up the road. This really surprised me as my friend must be one of Sophie's most favourite people in the entire world! Funnily, after a while Sophie came to herself and started to walk well. The thing is Sophie is a really strong dog and it doesn't look at all good dragging her on her lead, and not what I want for her either. If she is a bit reluctant to come with me I chuck a few pieces of kibble ahead of her and that usually does the trick. Doesn't work with my husband. We could 'up' the reward but Sophie has inflammatory bowel disease and we have to be careful what we use.

Unfortunately my husband doesn't drive so he is not able to drive to a park and see what happens there. He is very good with Sophs but I am definitely 'her person'. In the past when my husband has taken her for lead walks he usually stops at the shops for a few minutes which means he has to tie her up outside. I am wondering if that has anything to do with her behaviour. On the other hand, when he goes the other way, towards the park, she just puts on the brakes and pulls home.

Really hope we can get over this as Soph is missing out on some lovely walks, not that she seems to care. Oh, she is bright enough and bouncy enough, just prefers to stay at home if she doesn't get out with me.

Judy, if you find something that solves the problem with Jasper, would you let me know

I'm lucky I havea chi sized dog , Dibby puts the brakes on sometimes and I just pick him up and carry him.

From your post it sounds as if she is a bit reluctant to come out with you sometimes?
Also , I still not clear on somethings , your husband can get her to go to the shops on a lead walk but not in the other direction to the park.
Sophie doesnt want to walk to your friend's house but will she walk anywhere else with her?


It might be that Sophie has never been 100 per cent confident to start with and something has or is stressing her now and making that lack of confidence worse.
Perhaps you can find a route where she will walk and stick to that and not try to make her go anywhere else just for now until she is walking more confidently and then try small adjustments to the walk.
Shame she has IBS. Dibby has colitis but he is able to have certain treats . Have you ever clicker trained her?
If you can find a really yummy food that doesn't upset her tummy , you could click and treat for each step she takes or you could train her to touch a target stick or your hand and get her to follow it for a couple of steps Click and Treat , a couple of steps more. pratice in the garden first. One suggestion I've seen on a forum was to put peanut butter on a wooden spoon and hold it in front of then as they walk though thats not suitable for Sophie , the principle's the same
Hope this helps
Alison

[peperpup]

Hi Judy and Alison, thanks for your replies and I will try to explain better what has been happening.

Sophie always goes out when she is with me. Sometimes she is a tiny bit hesitant when we go out of the gate and I encourage her by throwing a piece of kibble in front of her to get her going. Not a problem. When she is with my husband on his own she never goes in either direction, ie not to the shops nor to the park. This was the same with my friend, but she did eventually get going. Now if I try to walk her past my friend's house on a walk, she refuses to go any further and wants to go in and see my friend. Mixed messages, I know, but then I am there with her. My Golden Deceiver can be very stubburn

Yesterday I took my husband and Sophie in the car and dropped them both about ten minutes away. Sophie was as good as gold (until they met my friend and then she wanted to stay with her). Going to try the same thing today and then try increasing the distance.

I did start Sophie on a clicker training course and she responded very well to it. Unfortunately, as well as the inflammatory bowel disease she has allergies and was allergic to chicken, which we used at the clicker training. She is currently having vaccinations for the allergies and things are going well. Don't really want to upset the apple cart just at the moment with food that might trigger off the allergy thing again, but it is something I am happy to try once the treatment stops in March 2013. In the meantime she seems to tolerate little bits of cheese quite well and I shall give this a go.

Thank you both for all your thoughts and suggestions.

Ann

[Nettle]

Are the vaccs steroids? These can often cause personality changes.

[Dibbythedog]

Good luck !
Really hope the vaccinations help Sophie. I understand how careful you have to be , hopefully the cheese will do the trick .
Alison

[peperpup]

Thanks for your post Nettle. The vaccs are not steroids, just minute amounts of what she is allergic to, which is everything! The spot test didn't show up any one thing and the specialist is just treating for general allergies. Her ears are very much better and so far things are looking good

Thanks for your good wishes, Alison.