dog refuses to come home

[harvey2k11]

i have a 6 month old chocolate labrador, but recently having problems getting him home from walks, we live opposit a large field and have to cross a road so we attatch his leader just before the road, and he then lies down 100metres away from home and refuses to move, we have tried tempting him home with treats, this did work for a short while, but he is now getting wise to this and refuses the treats, this is quite stressful, any help is appriciated

[Rodge2]

Is he getting enough walks/ runs to tire him out during the day? He should be quite tired after a run, and ready to go home. Maybe putting an extra one in earlier in the day will use up any excess energy?

[harvey2k11]

as i dont work or anything he is out quite often first walk at about 10am last about 8.30pm, and then about 3 inbetween each walk lasts around 25 minutes, as i have said in the question we live opposite a large field so he can run and chase the ball but most times he doesnt he just walks by your side, so we are going to ask vets when we go if there is a problem with his legs or something, becasue we have herd a lot about labradors having bad legs etc

[harvey2k11]

or if its just lazyness

[Rodge2]

Is he behaving like this every time you walk him?

[harvey2k11]

yes every walk we go on he refuses to come home

[Rodge2]

It might just be puppy cussed akwardness that he'll grow out of. How do you get him home then? Carry him?

[harvey2k11]

he is getting slightly heavy to carry lol, we used to but not now, its just perseverance trying different things, like today we have had to phone me grandma when we get near home, so that my grandma can standoutside the gate to tyse him along, but this isnt always possible

[Euphemia]

My daughter's 9-year old chocolate lab does this when he wants his walk extended or if he doesn't want to get in the car. He eventually gives in. It must be a lab trait!

[Rodge2]

Surprised that he's refusing treats though, they (labs) are usually foodaholics. We've got a 13 year old one in the kitchen right now sitting at the door to the doggie cupboard and looking gorgeous.

[islasmum]

What about varying your walk? Could you just take him in another direction , just to very things for him a bit? or take him somewhere different in a car? Also, if he's only six months he shouldn't be walking for that long in any case. Rule of theumb is 5 miutes per month = 30 minutes, he's still got a lot of growing to do. Labradors do not have "problems with their legs" any more than any other breed do

[sallybb]

do you take the same route both there and back or do the vary the route home.
Our dog doesnt like walking through thistles or nettles even when the farmer has mowed and they are short. If coming home by different route are there any in the grass. Just a thought!

[Rodge2]

I think maybe the idea of labs having problems with their legs might be that they can sometimes have problems with hip dysplasia. If your pup had this I think you'd be aware of it by now. Often breeders provide the hip scores of the parents before you buy a dog, to reassure you that it is not an issue. Varying the route might be an idea. My sister is on to her 4th guide dog, and has noticed that each of them has had routes they would get bored with, as they'd slow down to a crawl when having to do them and have to be consoled with the odd treat and words of encouragement!

[islasmum]

Sorry about the spelling! Thumb and minutes

[CAJ1]

What do you do when you get in? What about next time you come home from a walk you play with him for 10 - 15 minutes and maybe he'll associate going home with playing and your attention and be more willing to go with you.

I have a 5 month old black lab and it takes a treat to tempt her into the car when her walk is over at the park.When we get back she'll stand on the garden path and refuse to come in the front door if I try to make her so I just walk in and leave the front door open, she soon works out her attempts don't get my attention lol! (obviously you can't do this 100 metres away but just another example of a lab trying to stay out longer!) By bundle of fun is currently trying to pull my sock off my foot :)

[roxie_09]

lol @ CAJ1, my pup does the same with socks, you leave one hanging around and shes sure to get at it, try getting it off her and away she goes around the house x

[CAJ1]

haha, exactly the same with mine. Mine likes underwear too, I came home the other day and in my letterbox was a note to say the window cleaner had been round and lying in the hall way was one of my bras lol!

[roxie_09]

haha oh dear, touch wood, she hasn't had a fascination with underwear. hehe. but socks yes, she will literally take them off your feet if i'd let her. and doesnt matter where i hide them, she will always sniff them out ;)

[CAJ1]

Mine has a fascination with everything, she likes to have something of mine to lie on if she goes to sleep. I came home one day when she was maybe 3 months old and couldn't find her anywhere. I eventually found her curled up in the laundry basket, she must have tried to get something out of it but fallen in and not been able to get back out again lol. Awww, I love my little puppy as annoying as she is sometimes!

[harvey2k11]

thanks for all the responses, we have recently been trying with 1 of his toys but this also doesnt work, when we get back from a walk he just lies down under the chair and goes to sleep so no time to play haha

he doesnt pull socks off feet but he does like pulling clothes out of the washer lol,

[Rodge2]

Have you tried giving him a really tasty treat when he gets home? You know, one of those really smelly liver treats they can't resist. That might give him the incentive to get there once he knows he gets it every time.