Lately Louie will protest while on a walk by turning around (opposite the way we're going... usually towards the way home), sitting, and refusing to move. This usually happens closer to the home at the beginning of walks, and also when we finish the first loop (usually we do 2 or 3 loops).

I have tried treats and distractions with no avail and have to resort to pop corrections to get him to follow. Once we cross the street and pass a certain spot, he goes along like nothing's happened (ears flapping, easy walking).

Originally when he did the same thing (a month ago) we attributed it to fear and we'd take him back inside immediately. He stopped doing it for a few weeks and now it's back. To me it seems like he's just being lazy. What do you folks think?

Could it be the dog is simply saying "I know we are going on the same loop again, and I'll pass, thanks?" Is there anything particularly aversive to this dog on the route? (e.g., an aggressive barking dog that scares him - or whatever)?

What about trying a different route? In one of his books, Cesar Millan talks about varying the route every day. Dogs get bored/habituated, whatever, and need new turf to experience, new smells to smell.

Any chance he is in pain?

No aversive dogs or conditions as far as I can tell. Just the normal cars on the street. Yeah he could definitely be saying "I know we are going on the same loop again, and I'll pass, thanks?"

I don't think he's hurt or in pain. His strides look normal. Not sure what else I should paying attention to.

His continued defiance is just bugging me. I forgot about him maybe being bored of the route. We had been walking him along the same route because he was familiar with it and was comfortable walking it (not nervous). Will try some different routes with him and see what happens. Thanks Rob.

Yup. He's probably bored. Once we had no snow in Anchorage, and had to ski loops up by the mountains. It was so boring. My boyfriend's dog would take a couple loops and go sit by the car, while my dog would cut corners, explore the woods, meet me at intervals.

Can you vary the route? I've noticed my dogs are getting bored with the woods trails we usually run around here (so am I). I've found that varying the direction of travel, trail entrance, and choice of route helps- a little. Also a good game of tug or chase halfway through also keeps their interest up. I've started to work some fun obediance in as well. Is your dog motivated by anything? I think you mentioned he's not real food or toy oriented.

If there is a specific spot the dog usually balks at, try to increase the pace while you go by that area, and then praise him once you've passed by. My dog balks occasionally when he wants to go on a longer route (at a specific corner), but if I am pre-emptive, and just keep moving ahead, he gets with the program, and forges onward.

Rather than leash pops, I would try to anticipate his sitting and balking and at that point keep steady forward pressure on the leash, say 'let's go', like it's no big deal, and walk briskly ahead. Hopefully, this will keep him moving and let him know he can't get away with balking, while at the same time not being a 'correction' for what sounds like a pretty insecure dog.

I hope this helps a bit. Have you noticed he'll balk more under certain conditions (even weather? I'm looking at all this rain right now).

 Quote: kiersten lippman

If there is a specific spot the dog usually balks at, try to increase the pace while you go by that area, and then praise him once you've passed by. My dog balks occasionally when he wants to go on a longer route (at a specific corner), but if I am pre-emptive, and just keep moving ahead, he gets with the program, and forges onward.

Rather than leash pops, I would try to anticipate his sitting and balking and at that point keep steady forward pressure on the leash, say 'let's go', like it's no big deal, and walk briskly ahead. Hopefully, this will keep him moving and let him know he can't get away with balking, while at the same time not being a 'correction' for what sounds like a pretty insecure dog.

Perfect. Simon you're about 8 weeks into the rehabilitation of a dog that appears to have lived a pretty traumatic existence. From your early descriptions, it sounds like you've made tremendous progress. I think it would help if you just interpret his noncompliance as "needs patience, consistency, and time" rather than defiance per se. It's difficult and challenging, I know, to maintain your calm-assertive leader self, but if any dog needs that approach, yours does.

(Oh, and good for you for adopting him!!)

All good ideas. He is indeed insecure (made a ton of progress over last 2 months) and has low food drive (zero when outside) and no toy drive. I have tried the walking faster during his balk prone areas, distractions, and using leash pressure with a "let's go" before resorting to leash pops.

If he's walking nicely or after getting through the balk area, I do praise him a lot for it.

I think route varying is the way to go as my wife has had some success in taking him on a different route where he doesn't know exactly where he is. The balking started happening to her first (I think it's because she's more of a softie than me), but it's happens when I walk him as well now.

We do cut him some slack if it's raining or it's just nastiness outside with shorter walks. I'm just afraid he'll develop this habit and think it's ok to turn, sit, and get his way.

 Quote: rob abel

I think it would help if you just interpret his noncompliance as "needs patience, consistency, and time" rather than defiance per se. It's difficult and challenging, I know, to maintain your calm-assertive leader self, but if any dog needs that approach, yours does.

(Oh, and good for you for adopting him!!)

Point taken. Thanks for not pulling any punches, and also for the encouragement.

Having adopted many a dog with an uncertain background, I see mainly lack of confidence in your dog, Simon. Of course, all I see are your posts, but they sound familiar.

Dogs show anxiety differently.

But it's getting better all the time!

 Quote: simon tai

... I think route varying is the way to go as my wife has had some success in taking him on a different route where he doesn't know exactly where he is. The balking started happening to her first (I think it's because she's more of a softie than me), but it's happens when I walk him as well now.

We do cut him some slack if it's raining or it's just nastiness outside with shorter walks. I'm just afraid he'll develop this habit and think it's ok to turn, sit, and get his way.

I would probably march right along and change the route (even by a "side cut") of my own calm volition at the point where I had seen him stop in the past. I want the dog to have the perception that I am in charge, even though I am kind of temporarily caving, in reality. Then in a few days I'd march right through that "barrier" and then turn a couple of feet past it, then six feet past it, then six feet BEFORE it, and so on.

I tried varying our route tonight and it worked with some success. I ran him through the trouble prone zone until we got to a new street we usually don't walk on. I could see him turning his head at times and trying to figure out which way was home. Once I got him on a completely new area we haven't explored much, he started trying to wonder around and was pulling more (nervousness due to lack of familiarity I'm guessing). So it didn't turn into a particularly smooth walk.

It was like I traded the "turn/sit shenanigan then smooth walk around the usual loop" for the "no turn/sit shenanigan but more pully wondery around a new loop walk".

I think for tomorrow's walk I'll try starting out on a new path and then converging into the old path in the middle and see how he reacts to that.

Please post if you have any more ideas. Thanks.