I have a 10 month old westie and for the last few weeks when walking him he keeps stopping for no reason, at first I thought it was maybe because he wanted the loo, so I stand there encouraging him to go (with no luck). On most occasions whilst out he does go to the loo, but when stopping he shows no sign of wanting the loo at all. he just seems to want to look around

It is the same walk as he has done lots of times before, so I presume it is not tiredness. I have tried a different harness in case the one I am using is rubbing his skin or uncomfortable for him. He just stands there, I have tried encouraging him along sometimes it works for a few steps, but the other day, he stopped and almost lied down.

sounds like hes bored, try some different walks?

thanks, i do. I thought of that already

He may have a muscle strain or something similar which has no obviously visible signs.  The fact that the behaviour is sudden I'd have him vet checked in case he has a condition which is causing pain and being exacerbated by exercise.

regards, Teri :)

cheers, i noticed a few weeks ago that he had a slight limp, vet checked him over and could see nothing wrong, he said it could just be 'growing pains' the limp went away a couple of days later  over the last couple of days he seems to be limping again although not much, when I take him into fields and let him off lead he can run for ages with no signs of injury. it only happens on his lead

Hi again Julie,

I don't believe in growing pains in humans never mind animals - IMO there's always a cause for pain although not necessarily one that's easily discovered.  It may be that his collar or harness is putting pressure on an area which isn't then affected when free running.  If he's insured perhaps a visit to a chiropracter could be arranged?

regards, Teri

hi thanks for info

a chiropracter for dogs, I didn't know they had such things, how do I go about finding one, luckily he is insured

Your vet should be able to arrange a referral to the nearest practitioner in your area.

Teri :)

thanks Teri, you have been most helpful. Fingers crossed

IF you need it, this man trains Canine Osteopaths and should be able to tell you of one in your area.
Mr Stuart McGregor   Phone: 01235 768033

thanks all for brilliant information, I have been talking with a frind of mine and she suggests I try a slip collar. I will give this a go first as maybe it is his harness that is rubbing and uncomfortable

"[...]she suggests I try a slip collar[...]"

Just out of interest why can't you use a 'normal' collar?  A slip collar seems a bit drastic especially for a young pup.

:)

i could do, but I am scared of him getting out of it, although if he did i am pretty sure he would not do a runner as he is pretty good like that

I am willing to try most things at the moment

Hi Julie, I would just use a normal web collar and lead, dont get the  collar that have the plastic clip, get the one with the holes in it., or you could get a show lead, this has a collar attatched to the lead, I find they are good for puppies.   Get your vet to check for Legge Perthes, some westies can be prone to this, although sounds as if he has strained a muscle whilst jumping  i.e.(off furniture). Dont take him long walks he is still a puppy and really does not need that much exercise, you usually find westies want to run about most of the day so get plenty of exercise in the back garden or house. Not saying not to take him for walks.

thanks,

i forgot to metion before that he is on steroids for lion jaw and is slightly over weight, vet checked him over and could not find any problems, and said that if he had any then the steroids would help him. although I think the extra weight is not helping him. His jaw is getting better and should only be on steroids for another couple of months and vet says he will lose some of the weight. I am hoping that it is the harness that's the problem.

does he meet other dogs on the walk?
does he regularly meet dogs he knows and is he allowed to play with other dogs?

when i take my girls out for a walk, they knwo when they are going to the big field to play off lead and meet there doggy frinds (the long walk) or when they are going to the park for a on lead walk (short walk) and they are always more eager to go on the route where it is going to be more fun.

i find that however once you start to stop when the dog stops it can end up teaching them to control you, in the sense that you never end up getting anywhere.
i never stop for my girls on walks and if they do stop to sniff or look at things i make an excited "come on" and it ussually sends them on there way.

it could be discomfort, but once it is ruled out maybe it would be worth seeing if there are any triggers for the stopping and noting them. maybe choose a new route and see if it helps.

Yes he does often meet dogs on a walk, I also have a Border Collie and they play together, I also have about 6 or 7 different walks and I try to vary them as much as I can, also I try to do both on lead and in fields. yesterday I took them on a walk where we havn't been for a few weeks, going was fine, but about half way home that is when he began to stop (sometimes he does it going)he doesn't stop to sniff he just seems to look around. I try to encourage him to walk on which works for a few steps, then he stops again. after a few stops he seems fine again.

As well as the other EXCELLENT suggestions! I would restrict his off lead exercise as well...just until you have discovered the cause of the pain/problem. It may be that he is doing too much with a minor injury, but as he is overwieght and on steroids I would restrict him for a while. Take care, all the best, Dawn

If he's got the odd health problem he may be feeling a bit under the weather, dogs can get off days just like us :)

Hi there

I have a Westie with lion jaw, and another who stops and stares whilst out on walks!  He only tends to stop though if he doesn't want to walk for a particular reason, for example, if I've put his rain coat on (now binned), he'll stop and refuse to walk until I take it off, if the grass we are walking on is a bit spikey/thistley/nettles overhanging the path, he'll stop and refuse to walk on it and if he has a twig stuck to his undercarriage/a stone stuck in his paw/ a thorn stuck in his pad he stops and refuses to walk.  He sometimes thumps his little bum down too and refuses to get back up again until whatever is troubling him has been dealt with :rolleyes:.

It doesn't happen very often I have to say, but when he does stop, there is always a reason for it that he wants sortingout to make him comfortable.

So perhaps your dog is just a bit particular, like mine?

Hate to ask but what is "Lion Jaw" ive had westies for years and never heard of this before !!!!!! Is it calcifaction of the jaw? if so, this should clear up as the puppy gets older, or is it another name for an overshot/undershot mouth?

The proper name is Cranio Mandibular Osteopathy (CMO)

Have a look here http://www.westieclubamerica.com/health/cmo.html

Thanks Val, I know this as its proper name, not Lion Jaw. Just had not heard it called that before.