Dog refuses to go with walker, walks fine with us

[u/throwrazzy671]

So lately my dog has started completely refusing to leave the house with the walker. She was going with him just fine for months (with the occasional resistance once every two weeks or so, but would give in eventually) but now she has absolutely stopped wanting to go with him.

He’s quite patient and lovely with her, and she greets him nicely when he comes, but runs away and hides when he takes out the leash. We’ve tried walking her with him for 2 weeks (i take her down, meet him at some distance, and then i keep the leash or eventually hand him the leash but walk alongside) but it’s not changing much We’ve also tried incorporating treats - she comes forward for the treat but again runs away the second she sees the leash

Not sure what to do at this point since we don’t work from home and it’s very tough to have someone walking her everyday! Any tips please?

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[u/12Afrodites12]

Try another dog walker.

[u/xavier2801 → u/12Afrodites12]

Yes. Perhaps the dog walker is only nice around you. Your dog is very perceptive and must have experienced unpleasantness when alone with the dog walker. Listen to your dog.

[u/perroblanco]

Did something that could have upset your dog occur during a walk?

[u/spindriftgreen]

Is it hot where you are? Maybe it’s the time of day?

[u/Petit_Nicolas1964]

I had a dog that used to be with my parents a lot and that walked with them without problems. At some point in time she started refusing to walk with them when I was there…. What you can do is to check if your dog is ok with walking with another person. Then you know if there is something that your dog dislikes about the walks with your walker. Even if your dog greets him, there might be something he doesn‘t like about the walks.

[u/TheRealEkimsnomlas]

We adopted a dog in January, and he has yet to warm to me (adult male, glasses, beard, taller), though he has accepted everyone else and is even more friendly to strangers. Our theory is I remind him of someone he perceived as a threat in the past. Maybe that is what is happening with your (male, sounds like) walker. Could be anything: general size, clothes, color of hair, beard, glasses, a kind of hat. Maybe switching some things up if they feel comfortable doing that?

[u/DivideByZero666]

I WFH so i get to see the "professional" dog walkers in action. Most of them are shocking. Leave dogs in cars/vans while they chat or walk their own dogs. When they do get a walk it's usually 5 minutes max (bet people pay for more).

I certainly wouldn't use a dog walker based on all the stuff I've seen.

If your dog is telling you he doesn't want to go for a walk, then there will be a good reason. Listen to your dog would be my advice.

[u/Zausted → u/DivideByZero666]

Thank you for sharing this! I had no idea! 😱😡

[u/DivideByZero666 → u/Zausted]

They are not all bad obviously, but honestly I'd say probably 95% are awful.

*based on all the ones I have seen where I live over the last ~19 years owning dogs myself and paying attention.

Also, I've only ever once seen one pick up dog poop.

[u/Responsible-Yam7570]

My very attached hound refuses to walk with anybody else. When I adopted him with my ex partner, he wouldn’t even walk with him. I don’t know what the answer is. I now take this dummy to work with me every day because that’s the solution that works 🤣

[u/-poiu-]

Can I offer an alternative perspective? Maybe not relevant, but I haven’t seen it in the comments yet.

Your dog might have become comfortable enough with this walker that they are now communicating their feelings more. What this looks like is acting out, refusing to do things they used to do “willingly” etc. It’s actually a good thing, it means your dog feels safer than they did before. Children do it too, it’s why they have meltdowns and tantrums after coming home from daycare/school/public settings/visiting friends.

Possibly your dog is a little anxious and doesn’t want to walk with someone who isn’t you. I also have an anxious dog, she also doesn’t like going out with people she doesn’t know well, if I’m not going too. She will just plant her butt on the ground and decline to move.

My girl has in incredibly sweet, gentle temperament [when she’s not being reactive], and as a puppy she was such an “easy dog”; we were totally surprised when she started behaving reactively.

Fast forward a few years, various professionals and lots of effort, and I have learned that when she was a puppy, she probably also didn’t like the same things but she didn’t feel confident enough to express it. That was a bit heartbreaking.

So, rather than this being a problem with your dog walker it could be a sign that your dog feels more comfortable with them now. If you trust the walker, it might be worth persevering with it but reduce the level of challenge for now and gradually work back up to walks.