Recent problem walking... aaggghhhh

Hello fellow staffy peeps

Gabbi (aged 2 1/2) has recently become a bit stubborn on her walks

She is mainly walked on the lead, I let her off for a run about when we are in an enclosed field, but am not keen on letting her off the lead at other times as she'll get 'selective deafness' when it suits

Normally she (used to) walk fine - a bit of energetic pulling sometimes but nothing too serious

Generally she trots along quite nicely along side me or just in front, HOWEVER over the last 3 months or so she has started **suddenly** stopping, looking up and refusing to budge mid-walk or when we go in a different direction to what she's used to or wants to do

It's a real effort to get her to shift and without shouting loudly or giving her a bit of a "kick" (more a foot shove) to the backside she won't budge - even if she starts moving, she suddenly stops again within seconds

It's driving me mad, and I end up annoyed for a good while until she trots along nicely again for at least 5 minutes

Any suggestions on how to stop her doing this, or suggestions on what to do when she does would be gratefully received!!

Helppppppp  PLEASE!!!

Have you tried taking a toy or treats?

Won't that just reward the behaviour though Janey?!

No use it as a distraction - positive reinforcement really works Xx

Is a boot up the backside not positive enough then?!   

So just hold the treat in my hand as soon as she stops...?

Yep - praise a lot also as encouragement you'll get bored of your own voice but I swear it pays off- if you don't want to treat train use a toy. Its kinda back to basics really.

and no I don't agree with a shove as positive reinforcement really works.

Thanks, i'll try popping a happy pill and a few treats in my pocket tomorrow and see how we go...

I agree with the treats, but give her the treat after she's done a few steps then go for a few more steps. Also telling her how good she is and treating occasionally when she's walking properly should help.
Pete

Is it in the same place did she get spooked by something?

Ledger will do this if there is smoke in the air in the direction we are going and also fairly frequently if we take a certain route along the park at night (we had fireworks set of right next to us around Xmas) there is also a point in town that I haven't figured out yet but find taking a few steps at right angles then carrying on seems to work.

I certainly don't advocate any nudging of the dog but holding the head high on the lead, positive comments of encouragement and a treat when she walks on should help if it is just stubborness

Agree with the treats and I always have something with me when I walk Suki. You can also teach the watch me command

Perhaps Gabbi is just too hot to walk? My Pixee has done the stubborn refusing to go any further on walks, when she is too hot, I tend to give in as I know she is hot, but other times, I wont when I know she is just being stubborn, I just stand my ground and talk in a nice silly voice, then I will do an silly slow fun run off thing in the direction I want to go, works everytime. I would use treats if it didnt work. I always have some on me for recall, so no harm in using a treat for otherthings.

Thanks guys, the treats worked this morning!   

Class.   
Pete

Brillant   

And just to let you know, Pixee wouldnt go walkies this morning, all because my sons friends was asleep in the lounge and didnt want to miss his cuddles. Once they were up, Pixee being allowed (by son) to wake his friend up (poor thing   ) went on her walkie, however once she did her number 2, she looked at me and looked back, her way of asking if it was ok to go home as it was midday and she was panting! So I said ok home now girl.

My Flo does this sometimes. With me and the O/H we just tell her or rather gesture that we are going weather she likes it or not. We have tried treats, didn't work. Have even resorted to picking her up on occasion and boy is she heavy !. The other trick we have used is to walk a different way. This does confuse her somewhat seeing as we live at the blunt end of a cul de sac.

With my sons, she flatly refuses to walk because she knows they will just give in and return home.

If we open the car boot, she will hop straight in and ready to get somewhere for walks   

-Ian- thats a nice dog! She loooks very athletic!   

Also, chaos does that too at times. Especially when its raining, he refuses to leave the house xD

Its like hes gonna melt!   

Anyways, maybe its because she needs more variety on her walks?

I have a lot of trouble finding interesting places to take chaos since i live in london

it sucks, i wish i lived in the country side or at least a small town where i could comfortably take my dog off leash without worrying about him being hit by a car or bothering/being bothered by someone!   

My previous staffy Bree used to do this too but eventually we worked out that it was only when we were on grass. She prefered to walk on the pavement (strange doggy) where she was fine - trotted along no problem. Whether it was because she was wary of other dogs being able to come up to her and felt more secure walking between the fence and my leg on the pavement where no one could 'get' her who knows