Hi all. I have a 16 week old sprocker bitch named Maggie. When we first got her she was so confident but the last few days she’s started going through a scared phase. Her biggest fear is going for walks. As we’ve only been walking her for a few weeks it’s a bit disappointing as she was doing so well and I really don’t want to undo all the good work she’s done. My daughter has a cockapoo who’s at our house at least four days a week, daughter walks her to ours on her way to work and picks her up on way home, so Maggie is used to the company of another dog on walks but also, we’ve been walking her solo so she doesn’t become too dependent on the security of having Honey by her side. I had my both dogs overnight so this morning when I tried to take them out Maggie wouldn’t leave the front garden. I tried enticing her with treats but she was having none of it. We went back inside, let them have a bit of play in the back garden then tried again. The second time I picked her up and carried her halfway up the street, walked a little way, she was actually enjoying the walk until she spied a man on a mobility scooter with a westie. She dug her heels in and refused to walk on. I just turned around and brought her home. The frustrating thing is, on Saturday she met a woman on a mobility scooter with a westie and she was all over this woman like a rash. I really don’t want to force Maggie into doing things she doesn’t want to do. This is the first time I’ve encountered this behaviour at this age in a puppy. Can anyone offer any advice please? Thanks for reading.
Sue

Unfortunately all too often BYBs don't care about temperament and it may be that your little bitch is a bit weak in that department.   Can you take her off somewhere quiet in your car rather than walking her away from her 'safety' as she sees it?  Other than that suggestion, which may or may not work, just give her time.   I'm wondering whether she starting teething.   Sounds silly but when her system is a bit 'overloaded' it may be affecting her confidence?   Just an unfounded idea!

Has your vet given her a health check - could it be there's pain going on?

Hi MamaBas, thank you for your reply.
She’s definitely teething at the moment, which does seem to have clashed with this sudden change.
We started working on her recall off lead just last week, taking her out in the car as there’s no where within her walking distance to do this, and when we get outside our front garden she does seem to head for the car when it’s parked outside. Unfortunately my husband has gone away for the weekend, my daughter had offered to take us out when she finishes work yesterday think I’ll see if the offer still stands this afternoon.
Fingers crossed this is just a passing phase.
Thanks again.
Sue

I have often found when a puppy startles about something in the early days on a walk (often busses, lorries etc here), I have found standing still for a short time without fussing them to let them process it, and then matter of factly walk on encouraging with a jolly hockey sticks voice. 

If they have dug in, then lift them up for a few steps and then put them back down continuing to walk.

Try and keep them always on the side away from traffic but in the direction it is coming from, so things do not come from behind.

I often carry a pup part way anyway, as we usually are going out for longer than the 5 minutes per month of life, with the other dogs.

At 16 weeks her formal walks should be roughly 20 minutes or a mile.