[doronkoll]

hey everyone, i have a problem that is already a month or so.
once pita loved walks and was excited when i said the word, but now when i tell her that we are going on a walk she hides. after i put the leash on her she doesnt want to move far from the house and i need to drag her along, its really hard to see. she is also very afraid of people walking by and bicycles and motorbikes, this also means she doesnt do her stuff on walks and then sometimes she does in the house! what is the problem? is it a trauma? please help! thank you very much!
doron

 

[geckogirl]

Hmm, sounds like something has frightened her...

I'm no expert, but i'd suggest taking it very slowly...
Praise her for approaching the door to go outside with you (bribe her with some treats), and praise her like crazy!!
once you get her outside (make sure you have treats with you), find a quiet spot, in a park or somewhere, and just sit there for a while, when someone walks past (person, bike etc) talk to her and tell her she's a good girl for sitting still and give her a treat... It will take a while, but she should learn that passers by + her being calm = love, praise and treats...

 

[Murphys Dad]

Doron, I would try getting her used to a leash from the beginning. Put it on her around the house, play with her with the leash on her (short leash), give her treats, praise her. Do it for a minute at first, then increase until she doesn't mind the leash. Then take the leash and walk with her around the house, so that she doesn't feel threatened by anything. Slowly take her outside (make sure you have her favorite treats with you), and literally take it one step at a time and treat and praise a lot. If she doesn't feel comfortable with something/someone during the walk, don't force her, step aside, let them pass you and then continue. It's important that she learns she can trust you and only then she will start building her confidence back. Don't forget, everytime she overcomes an obstacle (scary person, bike, skates....) praise her and treat her. She will be fine eventually - lots of patience.

I wonder what triggered her fear of walks...

 

[geckogirl]

just remembered something i did with mine when they were pups and hated the leash...
put on the collar AND leash at meal times... it reinforces that with this leash, comes really cool stuff!

If possible... get someone to dish up her food, a few meters away from you and her on leash,.. and walk her up to the food... so she does a little walk on lead, but she will probably be so interested in what she's walking towards that she wont even know shes on lead!

 

[doronkoll]

hey everyone and thanks for the comments. i just came back from a walk with pita and it wasnt so successful, while i put the leash on her i gave her a treat, and when she approached the door and the gate a gave her a treat but when we stepped out of the gate she didnt want any more treats because she was stressed, we crossed the road she peed and wanted to go straight home again, i tried to force her to go on a little until a motorbike approached, i held her and tried to calm her down and give her a treat but she just didnt calm down! i will try the leash thing in the house and update you! thank you again and i hope it will be better!
doron

 

[Murphys Dad]

Don't force her on walks. When she stops and shows signs on distress, stay with her until she calms down, pet her (don't take her in your arms), speak to her, give her a treat, and only when she calms down, continue with the walk.

It will be very frustrating at first and takes patience, but I'm sure that it will help.

 

[doronkoll]

but when she is stressed she straight runs home, icant pet her and then go on with the walk.

 

[Murphys Dad]

If she's on the leash, she can't just run home. Have her sit (gently, with you helping her even), pet her and speak to her, smile (they know!). It won't happen the first time, but patience will do wonders.

I'll give you an example: Chloe used to be afraid of this really nice guy at the park. He used to come and play with the dogs everyday after his hockey practice. She just dreaded him (and she loves people), probably because of the hockey stick. It took him more than a week and me encouraging her, before she even came near him and let him pet her without her howling at him like crazy.
It just takes time.

 

[doronkoll]

hey, today we drove to a park and there pita was exited and jumpy, she even swam for the first time, yeepee! she wasnt afraid of people walking by and she was very very good. tomorrow i will see how she reacts when we go out next to the house.. this means that its not walks shes afraid of or the leash, its the area we live, i guess something really frightened her once and its a trauma in the area, but im trying my best to make it stop.

 

[geckogirl]

I'm glad you guys had fun at the park - thats great!!

Yip - patience and being gentle will definitely get you guys thru this!

 

[angelaH]

Yes, it sounds like she is scared of the area outside your house. Has anything hapened to her there? Great that you have the park for her to enjoy.
Have you tried carrying her a short way up your road, just to see if the problem is outside your gate?

 

[doronkoll]

there hasn't been a traumatic event when i walked with her,
the problem is with the whole area, i dont know why but im trying to do what you have told me here.
out of the topic, i bought today a collar that isnt on the neck (i forgot how its called, the collar that goes between the legs). what is the advantage with that collar?

 

[Murphys Dad]

It's called a harness. Basically it alleviates the pressure from their neck and spine. It's good, especially since Beagles are prone to back/vertebrae problems.
I only walk Chloe with a harness, at home she is naked. She has a collar but I hardly use it.

 

[Smeagle]

Sorry, coming into this one a bit late... how old is Pita?

 

[doronkoll]

1 year, the problem started only a few weeks ago, and now the problem is just a little better but not so good, the best walks with her in the area are in the evenings.

 

[Smeagle]

Ok, I would suggest having a read of this, its called the puppy development calendar:

http://www.dolforums.com.au/index.php?showtopic=117592

It explains the different stages of development that pups go through before they reach maturity. Between 8-16 months pups go through what is called their second fear period. Which is when the pup becomes a little weaker in nerve. It is worth having a read of to note which stages to watch out for and so you know when behaviours like the one you are experiences can increase