My 3 year old Rough Collie has decided that he doesn't want to go for his walk, first thing in the morning.He gets three walks a day (on average), the first one is to our local woods. It is a five minute on lead walk there and then twenty minutes off lead, free running, chasing squirrels, rabbits and meeting up with several friends. For three years we have done this every morning but last Thursday he got to the bottom of the drive and refused to budge. I eventually managed to bribe him with traets to get half way there, but that was it. Short of choking him with the slip lead I couldn't get him to take a single step. In desperation I took off the slip lead and ran to the woods, I was calling him and after approx 20 secs he followed. Once there he was his usual happy self and walked back home fine.
Same on Friday, Saturday and again this morning.
He is a sensitive soul (some may say neurotic).
Please help... I don't have a clue what to do and don't want to have to slip the lead and run away every morning as it is dangerous tho' it is in a culde sac with almost no traffic. More worried about the local cats really.

Has anything happened to him on those 5 mins to the woods?  Did a fire engine go past and scare him?  A hatchback with loud music?

If he enjoys these walks so much once he gets there, I'd be inclined to take him as far as possible, and if he puts the brakes on again, simply turn round and take him back indoors again.  This would be preferable to 'bribing' him as he will more than likely see the 'bribes' as rewards for the unwilling behaviour ........

Hi Digger, and thanks for your quick reply. I would do as you suggest as I think that if I start looking for other routes, driving him some of the way etc I may be feeding his neuroses (spelling). However, I go to work for 4 hours on Mon Tues & Wed and won't be back 'till 1.30 on those days and I can't bear the thought of him bursting for a wee till then as he won't go on the pavement or the garden.
Under the circumstances would you think that I should just make him wait if he acts up,or take alternative actions like putting him in the car  which I am drawn to.

Is there a different way you can take to the woods?  Could he be associating something scary with a certain bit you are walking past?  Funny noise/scent/strange animal?  Perhaps if you go a different way for a few weeks he'll be fine with the old way after that?  I'm no expert and by all means if someone else comes up with something it'll probably be better.

Can you drive him closer and then walk him home after his run? It might help if he knows he is going home.

Lindsay
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