Why is my dog scared of the word "walk"?

[hers]

If I say "Leeluu, let's go for a walk!", she runs and hides and shakes in fear. If I say "go for a stroll", same thing. If I say it with excitement, she's still scared.

 

She's never had anything bad happen to her on walks and she LOVES being outside, so once we get out there, she's fine and excited. If I just say "let's go outside" or "let's go for a ride", she bounds right up in excitement. She really likes the walks, but it's the word walk that she's scared of. She's also seems to associate "stroll" with the same word, even though I never use that word. She's very smart but confused for some reason.

 

How do I break her of this? I don't want her to be scared of it anymore.

[KG]

Once you get her outside walking, try gently saying "nice walk", see how she reacts. Keep trying it, may get her negative association reversed.

[LemonCheesecak]

Perhaps it's the harshness of the word walk that scares her as opposed to the word itself? I know when we even say 'walk' around my dog he goes mental and starts scraping at the door to get out so it's very strange indeed.

 

Try presenting her leash to her first and then say walk? Then when you're putting it on her, just keep reassuring her while telling her you're going for a walk etc.

[vertigoxo]

Poor dog. Maybe she had nightmares with the word, "Walk".

[hers]

I've done all that. I say "hers loves walks!" (b/c that's how I talk to her haha) and she gets all excited and she understands what I mean. It's before that's the problem.

 

I've tried taking her outside first and then saying "let's go for a walk!" and she gets scared then too. She doesn't associate her leash and harness with bad though, so even if I pull that out, she knows it's time for a walk and gets excited. It's just the word. I don't get it!

 

She's also scared of baths. It's funny, though, b/c if I say "You wanna bath?" she runs up to me and cuddles me, trying to butter me up so I won't give her one. It's like instant love from her haha. She doesn't do that if I say walk though.

[LemonCheesecak]

How old is she? Has she always been like this?

[amipushy]

It's your excitment that is causing her to behave in that way and causing her the anxiety, so be the one in control.... Just put her on the lead and take her. No winding her up the way you have been doing.

 

Oh and she doesnt get to leave the house until you both are calm and even then she leaves after you. That way she gets to know that you are the pack leader

 

(watch the dog whisperer, he's awesome)

[hers]

It's your excitment that is causing her to behave in that way and causing her the anxiety, so be the one in control.... Just put her on the lead and take her. No winding her up the way you have been doing.

 

Oh and she doesnt get to leave the house until you both are calm and even then she leaves after you. That way she gets to know that you are the pack leader ( watch the dog whipserer, he's awesome)

 

Read my thread from yesterday about the Dog Whisperer. I really don't like his methods at all. He is inconsistent and it seems you're playing a lottery with the dogs if you use his methods.

 

Sometimes I don't say anything to her and just grab the leash and harness and put her on it. She does fine with that and will come. I'd rather not get her scared so I do that sometimes but I am trying to break her of being scared of "walk".

[hers]

How old is she? Has she always been like this?

 

She's 6 1/2. She's not always been like this. Just in the last couple of years. She's not scared of traffic or loud noises so I know it's not associating "walk" with loud noises. I have no idea where it came from--it just happened one day and hasn't gone back. She's weird!

[LemonCheesecak]

Read my thread from yesterday about the Dog Whisperer. I really don't like his methods at all. He is inconsistent and it seems you're playing a lottery with the dogs if you use his methods.

 

Sometimes I don't say anything to her and just grab the leash and harness and put her on it. She does fine with that and will come. I'd rather not get her scared so I do that sometimes but I am trying to break her of being scared of "walk".

 

It must be something deep rooted. My dog, for example, is afraid of cameras. I mean really scared. We can't think of any reason why he would be, but he is. For example if I bring out my phone, he's fine with that, but as soon as I use it as a camera, ie turn it on its side and hold it in front of me, he runs for the hills.

 

They're certainly intelligent animals and don't easily forget frightening experiences.

 

I know it doesn't help but yeah.....thought I'd share.

[hers]

It must be something deep rooted. My dog, for example, is afraid of cameras. I mean really scared. We can't think of any reason why he would be, but he is. For example if I bring out my phone, he's fine with that, but as soon as I use it as a camera, ie turn it on its side and hold it in front of me, he runs for the hills.

 

They're certainly intelligent animals and don't easily forget frightening experiences.

 

I know it doesn't help but yeah.....thought I'd share.

 

A client's dog is like that. It doesn't matter if it's my phoen or my camera--he doesn't like either one of them pointed at him. I've yet to get a good picture of him b/c of that. He really gets nervous.

[amipushy]

I still think he's awesome, and you may not like his methods but maybe thats because he blames the owner rather than the dog? But I'll read your thread and get back to you.

 

And I have to say when it comes to passing on excitement it IS the owners fault.

[hers]

I still think he's awesome, and you may not like his methods but maybe thats because he blames the owner rather than the dog? But I'll read your thread and get back to you.

 

And I have to say when it comes to passing on excitement it IS the owners fault.

 

Why the aggression?

 

How about you read my thread before you assume that that's why I don't like him. K Thanks.

[amipushy]

Me aggressive or the dog? I dont understand? If you meant me, I wasn't being aggressive. I was calm and stating my opinion.

 

As the owner of a large adult male German Shepherd myself I know that I as his owner I am the one who should have control at all times and if I don't, then its my fault. I don't think anyone could disagree with that.

 

As for Caesar's methods...- being 'calm and assertive' and giving 'exercise, discipline and affection' are common sense to me, especially with a large breed.

 

But yes, the alpha roll looks distressing and upsetting but I'd sure use the alpha roll if I had a large aggressive dog for sure!! Especially if it works, which it does and its better than having them put to sleep which most of these 'redzone' cases would be if it wasnt for him.

 

And if my dogs was showing aggression in any area I would also take responsibilty for that aggression and fix it asap, for the people around me, for other dogs and for him. Its the least I can do for everyone concerned.

 

And as much as I love him (and God, I love that dog!!!)....I am the boss and he is the bottom of the pack... every single time,, because that way I know I'm safe, other people and dogs are safe, and he is safe.

[greywolf]

amipushy, I think you should do some research on Cesar's methods before you start pushing them onto hersmudders. There are many professionals out there that do not agree with Cesar's techniques.

 

Having said that, it's not like I don't like the guy. I watch his show all the time.

[amipushy]

amipushy, I think you should do some research on Cesar's methods before you start pushing them onto hersmudders. There are many professionals out there that do not agree with Cesar's techniques.

 

Having said that, it's not like I don't like the guy. I watch his show all the time.

 

Well, they work for me and my dog and a few of my others friends and their dogs. In fact some have even bought his book and swear by it saying its the best thing they ever bought and they dogs have improved 100%. (I am so relieved cos their dogs were a pain in the butt lol)

 

I'm not pushing caesars methods onto hersmudders, all I did was I offer what I think is good advice which was to not wind the dog up and take control and say to watch his program (not knowing she had posted that she disagreed with his methods) but I still think its good advice and I would have given it anyway regardless of caesar but its up to her what she does with it.

[EQD]

try asking her in the same tone, "leelu, do you want a pickle?"

i'd guess its the tone you are saying it in.

either that or of course she is associating a walk with something bad. like the vet.

[hers]

I've changed my tone before. I say it like I'm talking to her normally, I've said it in excitement. I've worked it into just conversations with her. I thought it was my tone too. She's so weird.

 

This weekend I had my friend's chi mix at my place to sit for her. When I'd say "gnomes, you wanna go for a walk?", leeluu would get excited to walk! I don't get it!

[EQD]

aha. she is afraid of her name! lol

its time to change her name.

or say nothing at all.

[hers]

Sometimes I call her Steve. I used to have a dog named Steve and she liked Steve. She still answers to it.

 

No, it's not her name though. I know that for a fact. I think it was bc Gnomes was getting excited about the walk so Leeluu go excited about it.

[EQD]

is she secure on the leash or does she have hangups?

my last guess is that something about walking makes her uncomfortable. obviously.

maybe she considers indoors or her area to be the 'safe' area. or... i just lost my train of thought.

[PixelPusher]

This may sound weird, but does "walk" sound like any other word you can think of that she might associate fear with? Has she been yours her whole life or did she have a previous owner? If someone else owned her, then maybe they caused some fear and she associated it wth the word "walk" or a similar sounding word.

 

Dogs are strange, aren't they? Our Trixie is a 5/6-year old rescue dog, which we've had for 3-years now. She had some aggression issues due to her previous abuse but she is THE most loving, wonderful dog to us.

 

However, one day I went and got my hair cut. The hair stylist cut it WAY too short, almost to the point of being a buzz-cut. I walked in the front door and Trixie came bounding up to me like she always does, but when she saw my new haircut, she went screaming, yipping, in fear, cowering, and ran under the couch, whimpering.

 

In THREE years of owning her, we never once saw this type of behavior. I got down on my knees and calmly called to her, and she came out. I could see her looking at me intently and she finally realized it was me, and she was all loving and playful again.

 

So the previous abusive owner must have looked like me with that haircut.

 

My point is that sometimes we never see a type of behavior until something triggers it. Maybe you scolded her one day and before she forgot her scolding, you said "walk!" and she immediately associated it.

 

I dunno. But for now I'd just avoid using that word at all.

[hers]

She's been mine her whole life (she's nearly 7. Oh my baby is getting old). The only other word she doesn't like is "bath". If I say "you wanna go for a bath?" she runs up and cuddles me, like she's trying to butter me up so I don't bathe her. Maybe it's the "do you wanna" part that she's scared of but the reactions with "bath" and "walk" are completely different. With walk, she hides and shakes. With bath, she comes up to me and rubs all over me nervously.

 

I'm at a loss. I tried changing it to "stroll" but it made no difference. To me, the 3 words sound different but to her, do you think they'd sound the same?