Over the last 3 months my Cocker Spaniel has been going progressively off his walkies. It started by him not wanting to turn right out of my garden gate, then straight on, then left and now he doesn't want to go out of the gate. His tail goes right between his legs, he crouches down, looks into hedges and in trees and just pulls to get back home (if I have managed to drag / carry him out of the gate!! Any ideas?? I recently moved from the town to a village but he was ok - no problems walking - couldn't wait to explore so I don't know what is bothering him.

Hi, dont force him you will only make him worse, take some great smelly treats out side with you and tempt him to go just so far and thats it for the first try give him his titbit and leave it at that this is going to take some time to work but it will if you do it slowly try abit futher the next time give titbit and leave it, this does work lots of luck Jackie

Thanks for getting back to me - I will try this and take his favourite tidbit with me - it is really a shame that he's not walking as there is some great walks round by me - he is missing out on lots of new smells!! I will let you know how I get on.

You don't say how old your cocker is - presume he is grown up i.e. not a puppy. It certainly is very unusual for a cocker not to want to go for his walk. I don't want to worry you but do you think there might be something wrong with him - is he OK in himself apart from this? Has he got a temperature and have you checked his ears? I would have thought too that he would have been happier walking in the country.

Thanks for your reply. Doogle is nearly three years old, there doesn't seem to be anything wrong with him, he was at the vets last week for his Kennel Cough jab and he runs round like a mad thing in the house and in the garden - he is also fine at my mum and dads house - he has no problems there - just seems to be when he goes (or not!!) for a walk here, so I don't really know what his problem is!

The other thing I wondered about is the fact that dogs can see things we can't! I do know that from experience so maybe he is spooked out!