I have written on here before about my lab being scared of the lady with the trollley right, well I've tried doing the things people have said, but he still just runs for it, however, it hasn't been too much of a problem lately.

Anyway... on a morning, he goes mental until he gets his walk, especially if I've got up late or whatever, anyway... to help you understand what I'm about to explain, I've drawn a diagram, though it's awful drawing haha



Ok, well to take Bailey anywhere for a walk, I have to walk out of my street and either go left or right to actually get anywhere, however, he stops dead in his tracks, which is where I've marked on the diagram, which means I can't actually get anywhere, to take him to the park, or just a long walk. There is no other route from my house and I've tried coaxing him with treats to move, but he just keeps walking backwards, though I think it might be because of the other day when he saw the lady with the trolley at one end of the street. Yesterday I managed to get him to budge, as he just suddenly got up and started walking again, but this morning he was adamant that he weren't moving either way, so had to come home, which I feel bad about. My mum and I are going to take him out again in a bit and see if he does the same, but any advice or ideas on what I can do would be really helpful.

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How far is it until he stops?

Maybe if he stops just bring him back and put him to bed, he might learn that if he stops then his walk is cut short?

x

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It might work.
I'm no good with distances, but timing wise, it is only about 2-3 minutes to walk to them stops, if that.
I'm about to take him out now, so will let you know if I have any luck.

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Ok this is a tricky one but if I were you I would keep walking- trying not to tug him and praise him and give him a treat as soon as he walks forwards. If he won't budge turn around and walk the other way and then after a few steps turn around and carry on as you were going enticing him with a really tasty treat right by his nose. Praise him and treat him as he is walking forward and then replace the treat in your hand, keeping him moving as much as possible.
The one thing I wouldn't do is go back and entice him with a treat. Reason being could it be an attention seeking thing? I had a simular problem when my dog was younger- he was in the "little sod" stage and he realised (him being a collie and probably more clever than I am ) that if he stopped I would try to give him a treat to entice him, so he got treats and attention for doing nothing. Once I realised that I was doing this, I kept going and praised him lavishly and treated him as he moved forwards and this little occurance soon stopped.
Best of luck and hope this helps you.

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Thanks for the advice.
I don't think it is attention seeking, as he has done it before when I've taken treats out with me and his behaviour was completely different, something had scared him, he usually has his tail up and wagging all the time, as soon as we got to one of these points, his tail was underneath him and he looked scared.

However, I've just been out for an hour with him. He didn't stop at all, so I'm thinking that he might have been scared of the man he saw this morning, I went exactly the same way and had no troubles.

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Is he a foodie or have a toy he loves?

Can you keep him focused on you?

At class we are doing an exercise called 'watch' and you hold the treat up to your eye and ask the dog to 'watch', then gradually just ask them to watch and if they look at you then treat.. That might help, if you can keep him completely focused on you and not the surroundings.

xx

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Oh ok. It was a just a thought.
Poor chap Is it just the woman with the trolley that scared him or something else too?
You could still try the method I mentioned as it will at least turn, keeping moving into a positive thing, if that makes sense. Hope it can be sorted for your poor lad

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For a labrador he's very fussy with food. I'm not sure he really has a favourite toy, they seem to be the ones that are sat on my bed Haha, but thanks, I will probably try that.

Just been up the park anyway and he had his first ever off lead run, cos I've been a bit scared he'll just run off haha, but he was very good.

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Well when I walk him he sometimes sees the woman with the trolley, but not very often, it depends on the time I take him, as I take him different times when I'm not at college. However, the past few weeks, when I've been at college my brother has taken him out and told me he was scared of something, around the place where he just stopped this morning. He also told me there was nothing there, that he thought he would be afraid of. He used to be a little scared of wheelie bins, but he got over it very quickly, so maybe he sense something I didn't? I can't explain it lol, as he was fine when I took him out this afternoon.

I will try the method if it does happen again and I'll keep you updated on progress. Thanks again

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A dog thats scared of something doesnt usually stop it usually runs in the opposite direction? Are you sure hes not just looking for reassurance that everythings ok? sounds lik hes being attentive to a new thing.... you have to tell him that its not wirth his attention by ignoring it or giving him something else to do