Why is my dog afraid to go on walks?

Is your dog afraid to go on walks? Maybe your dog won't go out the door at all, or perhaps they are willing to walk a short distance but then turn around and pull toward home?  

If this sounds like your dog, and you're struggling to make progress in training, read on and check out the video below.  

Fear of going on walks is one of the most common struggles I am asked about by my clients and in our free Facebook support group. Most people I talk with about this have tried some training on their own, using treats, and they're on the right track. But they're stuck because they're making one or more common training mistakes.

The most common mistake I see when a fearful dog guardian tells me that their dog isn't making progress in going for walks, is that the training they're trying to do is MUCH too difficult for their dog. 

How can you tell if your dog is stuck in training because the training is too hard? Some signs to watch for: 

• Fearful or anxious body language. Learn how to read your dog's body language during this short workshop;
• Refusing treats, or inconsistently eating treats;
• Unable to respond to your cues;
• Requires encouragement to walk (food lures, clapping your hands, cheerleading.)
  
  

In the video below, I show how one fearful dog mom is successfully teaching her dog to go on walks: 

If this blog and video helped you, or if you have questions, shoot me an email at [email protected] and share your thoughts. 

Want to join me for free live workshops coming up in August 2024? Get on the list for an invite here.