Ask Dr. Diane: My Dog Stops Walking

My rescued female dog whom I had for three years is very insecure and dominant. When I walk her she’s fine going no matter how far but coming back she stops frequently and sometimes she parks herself and just won’t continue. It is like she doesn’t want to come back home. Does it have anything to do with her coming from a puppy mill????

If you haven’t recently had your rescue dog examined by a vet, I highly recommend that you do so. She may have hip dysplasia, early onset arthritis or other health issues that are problematic and limit her ability to walk without discomfort or pain. Does she display this same behavior during shorter walks? Observe her gait as you walk and play with her. I had a purebred German Shepherd named Katie who was diagnosed with hip dysplasia at the age of two. One day in her very young life, she stopped jumping and playing as exuberantly as she had been, and exhibited a very similar behavior to your dog. She would just “plop” down during a walk and “refuse” to get up. Our vet assessed her condition, x-rayed her hips and put her on medication and that eased her discomfort and lessened her pain. German Shepherds, Rottweilers and many other dog breeds are prone to hip dysplasia. Certainly, her ancestry and her puppy mill background may have contributed to her condition and personality.

Do you have a question for Dr. Diane? We’re proud to say she’ll be providing expert tips here on DogTipper so please send in your questions on our Ask Dr. Diane contact form! Dr. Pomerance is an animal behavior specialist and an expert on topics such as deciding which puppy is best for your family, how to pick out a rescue, and on healing from the loss of a pet.

For More Information on Dr. Pomerance:

• visit www.animalcompanionsandtheirpeople.com
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About Paris Permenter and John Bigley

DogTipper publishers Paris Permenter and John Bigley are a husband-wife team of full-time writers. The couple has authored over two dozen books and 2,500+ magazine articles.

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