Am I the only staff owner that has a problem with their dog not wanting to go for a walK?

I am lucky enough to live right by a wood/park (100 yards from the house at the top of the road). Anyway, he is very happy to go for his morning walk for about 30 mins, but in the afternoon or evening, he just doesn't want to go. I though he was having an off day, but this has been going on for a while now. Yesterday when I got home, I put his lead on, got just past the house, but then he didn't want to go any further. I tried pulling him a little, and managed to get him moving, then got to the park enterance, walked about 10 paces forward and let him off the lead. He just stood their so I carried on walking. After a couple of minutes, while I was still calling him, he came a little further into the wood, then he stopped again. We both just stood there looking at each other and as I walked towards him, he ran home. There was a man at the enterance with his dog as sam ran past and looked a bit mystified that there was this dog on his own (I couldn't run that fast to catch up with him).

The other day, my OH had to pyhsically pick him up and carry him there to do his business and then he ran home again. This dog puts his full weight down and is impossible to budge. Normally, my OH does the evening shift and this dog just jumps on my lap and growls at him.

He is scared of noises like starting pistols and if one goes off in the athletics stadium, he is well gone and is home before me. This boy is a little on the plump side and needs as much exercise as he can get.

Is this normal behaviour for a staff or have I just got the laziest dog in the world? It was funny at first, but I need help.

Try cutting down on his food and taking the rest with you. Keep him on a long line so that he can't go off on his own and use the food as encoragement to keep with you. If he has heard a noise that he is frightened of , even in the distance, then this could be what is causing his anxiety. Maybe go a different way for awhile and build up his confidence with the food and then after a week or so go back to the park.

But he is happy to go to this park in the morning, its just hard in the evening to get him out the house, let alone go a different way. I live at the bottom of a cul-de-sac, so I can only go one way.

I dont suppose that he could be in pain? I know several dogs that as they have got older have decided that they dont really need a second walk. One even goes to teh park and stands in the middle waiting for his owner to come back round the loop and collect him :D I know mine gest so he dosent want to do anything much other than sleep after his morning walk and whilst he will still dash about like a mad thing in the morning he sometimes wont even get on the sofa for a cuddle in the evenings - he waits to have his rear end lifted up! 

Anything is possible. He is getting on a bit. But if he was in pain, I think he is the kind of dog that would tell us, he talks a lot, and wants cuddles all the time, he buries his head under my arms

Mine loves cuddles etc. But has never shown any signs of pain directly, however once I started lookig I noticed a few changes in his behaviour.

HI Sarah
how old is he and how long has it being going on? I have heard people say that Staffs can go through various fear stages when the most innocuous thing can scare them. I cant say I was a great believer in this theory as ours who is 14months old has off days but apart form that nop problems but maybe this is part of that process. I know this will need to be handled in a certain way if it is that and I'm sure another more behavioural experienced Staff owner will be on to you soon with more advice. I will try and find some more info on this if I can for you

Hi Colleystaff.
He is 11 years old and up until a few weeks ago, never had this problem. I don't know if its do do with the death of my colle X GSD that sparked him off. At the beginning, he used to look round for his friend, this must have lasted about 4 weeks. Then he was fine, but for the last 2 weeks, he just doesn't like the evening walk at all. Like I said to Jumbuck, I don't  think its to do with the park, as he loves his morning walks.
i hope that bringing a new puppy home in a few weeks will help.

Forgot to say that my dog died at the beginning of March

I'm really sorry, cant imagine what that must be like for you.
The fear stages are supposed to be in early adolescence so its not that. It sounds like he's grieving doesnt it? They feel like we do and perhaps this is how it is manifesting it with him now that he realises he's not coming back. Staffs are so sensitive, Giorgia always has an off day when my Husband is on days and is not home , she doesnt want to do anything and quite often wont go for a walk or will only go so far and then heads for home. I wonder if this is similar behaviour. If it were me and I speak as a non expert who just happens to love her Staff very much, I would just keep the same routine evey day, I think routine at this time is essential because he needs to feel secure, increase the length of the morning walk if he is fit enough and if you are worried about his weight. Continue to take him out for his night walk, talk to him continuously, reassuring him as you are walking, keep treats like some chicken ( works for Giorgia) for when he stops and try and encourage him to go forward. If he doesnt then I cant say I would force him in any way but keep trying every night and see if you can move forward a few steps and as time goes on I bet he will improve. I'm sure someone will have a more expert opinion on this. But I feel desperately sorry for you both and all I would want to do is give him a big cuddle!

Some days its like having a tug of war and I let the dog win. The staff is my OH dog and he moved in 2 years ago, but he seems to prefer me to him. He did love Barnie and I did not know how long it takes for dogs to grieve. I miss him terribly and it would seem that sam does as well.
As for taking him for a longer walk, he can't really do it because he can't walk that long at a time, not with his old legs. I am lucky that he goes out at all, but i make sure that he does 2 poos in the morning before he can come home.
The breeder said the the puppy should bring some life into the old dog, now I appreciate that saying. Only 5 weeks to go.... :) I know it will not replace Barnie, but I hope that Sam will enjoy his new friend and his sadness fades.

I wish you all the best, it will turn out ok, with love and patience he'll come around!

It could well be he is missing his mate, our GSD still misses my BC's & the last one left me in September, she still waits for them to come out in the mornig to play, even though I have other dogs she loved my BC boys to run & play with

I don't think that we really appreciate the grief our other dogs feel when they lose their friends. I certainly didn't. I noticed him stop to have a look where barnie was and he looked so sad.

Try the remedy Ignatia for pining. This might help. Sorry to hear about your loss. Take Care.

No expert here but it sounds as if he misses his mate, as do you. The pup may well be the tonic he needs to bring the fun of doggy play into his life again. My two "look" for each other constantly although they are just as happy to stay alone, yet when they meet up its as if they have not seen each other for 100 year rather than 100 seconds ;) or over night.
Hope it works out for you.
Karen