06/10/2025
When a dog stops on a walk, the natural temptation is often to encourage them forward — using verbal prompts, treats, or even gentle tugs on the lead.
While I completely understand why this is such a common response (after all, we want our dogs to enjoy their walks and actually walk!), rushing them can often have the opposite effect.
When our dogs show us they need some time, the best approach is to pause and give them time to process their surroundings and adjust at their own pace.
For those of us in urban environments, the amount of daily stimulation right on our doorstep is huge — people, dogs, rubbish, smells, lampposts, cars, lorries, bins… It’s a lot to take in!
The more choice and control we give our dogs (in safe and appropriate ways, obviously), the more confident and comfortable they become. Allowing them time to gather information and process it helps them habituate to their surroundings, learning that ordinary things aren’t something to worry about or get overly excited by.
That being said, there are other reasons why dogs may stop on walks, including training issues and the timing of rewards (it's very easy to accidentally reward a dog for stopping rather than for moving forward!), as well as health-related reasons.
🩺 For dogs who frequently stop or “refuse” to walk, I also always recommend a vet check. Muscle soreness or musculoskeletal issues can influence how much a dog is willing to walk, so it’s always worth ruling out (or treating) any physical discomfort.
This is why understanding the motivation behind a dog's behaviour is so important!
When a dog stops and doesn’t move, it’s worth asking ourselves:
✅ Are they in pain?
✅ Are they overwhelmed?
✅ Is my reward valuable enough?
✅ Is this a training/timing issue?
✅ Are they tired?
✨ By paying attention, giving them choice, and considering their needs, we can support our dogs in building confidence, enjoying their walks, and learning at their own pace.
