How to train an anxious dog to walk outside?
Anais Hahn
2025-08-01 09:05:24
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Don't Force Your Dog To Walk. Training a dog who is afraid of walks to enjoy them can be a slow process. Your progress will likely be even slower if you push your pup too hard. Don't pull on the leash; Don't try to prompt or lure your dog to move forward using treats, if they're scared. If you see any of these behaviors, think about how you can make the training easier for your pup. Maybe instead of asking for 2 steps out the front door, a half a step would be more doable? Or instead of being outside for 10 minutes, maybe try 30 seconds. Find and Use Whatever Makes Walks Easier. For Pancake, having our other 2 dogs out with him helped his training move faster. Common helpful adjustments to training for walks include: Other, friendly dogs; Particular people; Number of people on the walk; A favorite toy; Driving to a quiet park instead of training in your busy neighborhood. Use Food Lures Carefully with dogs afraid of walks. Drop treats on the ground, instead of luring with a treat in your hand; Prompt/lure no more than one step forward at a time, especially in early training; Use “ping-ponging”- prompt/lure one step forward, then toss the next treat back toward “safety”- maybe the house or the car, or wherever the dog is very comfortable.
Denis Abbott
2025-08-01 07:51:44
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First, know your pet’s fear triggers. If your pet fears strangers, then walk somewhere that is private or without a lot of traffic or people. If they fear other animals, avoid busy parks or dog parks. Keep your pet close to you, crossing the street if people or animals that would trigger anxiety start to approach. Routine is comforting to dogs. Choose a route that avoids their triggers as much as possible, then walk the same route every time. Keep walks brief at first. Until your dog feels more comfortable, don’t overstress him. Treats are a great distraction, so buy some small treats for positive reinforcement. Choose something that your dog loves since fear can reduce interest in eating. Make sure they are on a sturdy leash or harness, with current identification tags. If possible, exercise your dog at home before you go, so they are a little tired when outside. This can help take the edge off of their anxiety. You may want to try products like Thundershirt, flower essences like lavender or chamomile, Adaptil products, and Rescue Remedy which have calming properties. Work with a professional trainer to learn techniques for a positive association with former fears or training a frightened dog to walk on a leash. Work with an animal behaviorist to help your dog reduce anxiety and gain confidence.
Madelyn Rau
2025-08-01 05:51:49
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I’ve tried taking treats to get her to focus on me and that works fine until she sees another person - at that point she tries to run away and there is nothing that will get her attention.
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