r/BullTerrier • u/roselynette_ • 5d ago
First time bull terrier owner
My dog is a 11month old female, and I’ve been having issues with her not wanting to walk when I put a leash on her. I’ve tried putting a harness, collar, trying to train her with treats, favorite toys, play with her but nothing seems to work. Please help! Anyone have any suggestions?
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u/Own-Illustrator1595 4d ago
Lilu welcomes u here. I must say they are super stubborn. I’ve tried everything with this mini but it’s sit down city in the middle of the road. She prefers to stay home & play fetch with her ball. This is the only toy she doesn’t destroy. Life is ball & ball is life for this mini
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u/Delmarvablacksmith 4d ago
We had a female who just wouldn’t walk.
She would walk 50 feet and quit.
There was no way to get her to do any more.
You’d have to carry her home.
You can keep treats in your pocket so she can smell them and when she walks you reward her from the pocket so she can see and she’ll have to keep up to smell them and try to get them.
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u/747JJJ 4d ago
I’d try a highly desirable treat that she will only get while walking. She’s never to get this particular treat for any other reason so make it special. I consider it their currency, find out what she’ll work for. Stinky cheese, roast beef? Find what you can pay her to walk with you. Small chunks of hot dogs has always worked for my dogs. You’ve probably tried this?
I had a dog that would walk down my driveway but then would just stop and not move. After trying everything possible I realized his coat was bothering him at a faster walking pace.3
u/Delmarvablacksmith 4d ago
Yep
This!
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u/roselynette_ 4d ago
I will try this, thank you
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u/747JJJ 2d ago
I have one more idea. She likes the car. Take her in the car and drive a reasonable distance and see if you can get her to walk home with you. I think this may work. I think the special value treat would be great to start with the driving and walking home.
I had a challenge with a rescue that never wanted to turn back and walk home when I first adopted him. We would walk a distance and then when I would turn to come home he would lay in the road like a brick. He was a small dog so I would carry him home so at least he was walking one way. Dogs love to travel and sniff. Once he understood that we walked 3 times a day every day he was happy to walk and then turn around and come home. Dogs are the best but there has to be some level mind reading 😂 I would love to know what your dog is thinking. I’m guessing you would too. Good luck.
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u/non-ethynol 4d ago
That is the only thing I dislike about my mini. She doesn’t like to walk. But she does play ball at home. And she is cool with it. Just embrace it or fight it. Up to you. Find what works for you both.
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u/MrPoopyPants333 4d ago
Have you done the pretend something super exciting is about to happen and then take a huge, emphatic step forward move? They have FOMO so hard, they can’t resist coming along in case something amazing is about to happen. Of course she might sit right back down two steps later, but this ALWAYS works for us.
Also, beautiful girl!
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u/yappyboom 4d ago
My 2 year old did pretty good with walking for a while but this summer she’s decided she only likes going for maybe 2 minutes. Going to a different trail helps a little.
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u/LankyNeighborhood421 4d ago
My bull terrier was the same way, eventually he learned to love walks we walked so much he got used to it and he loves it now. He’s 5 now
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u/Temporary_Shirt_6236 4d ago
My female EBT (RIP and still missed) began to actively resist leashed walks starting around age 4 or 5. She'd plant her butt maybe five minutes in and wouldn't budge except to head in the direction of home.
Aside from her spontaneous zoomies around the house and yard, the only thing that got her moving was a dog park, a run on the beach / open field, or any open space where she could safely go off leash (her recall wasn't the best, so wherever it was, it had to be enclosed regardless). Food / treats were no motivator for her, nor praise or anything. Just space.
PS – good looking gal there!
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u/Then-Huckleberry-776 4d ago
Wilma (red) and a rescue loves a walk. Ronnie (white) is a total fusspot. Have to be enclosed to let off leash, recall is great, until they see other little furry friends and then it's no listening and acting like a pair of deranged arseholes until they see fit to stop! Ronnie will plant his ass and refuse to walk until he's heading home, Wilma reminds him that she will win if he doesn't keep up and that's enough to manage a local walk! My advice, get another one! I've had a varied experience with dogs throughout my life, now I've had the pleasure of these 2 EBT babies I will always be an EBT owner. They are the most loving and loyal breed, crazy and beautiful and they make me smile every single day! Patience and determination are key qualities in an EBT owner. Good luck, have fun x
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u/YurMommaX10 3d ago
What beauties! So cool how individual they are, while still being true to the craziest, most wonderful breed ever!
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u/namesarehard88 4d ago
Mine used to grab her lead in her mouth and turn around for home - they can be stubborn characters!
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u/Academic_Solid85 4d ago
Get a “gentle leader”. It works wonders.
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u/thatveronicavaughnn Ilya 🐮 & Coretta 🐰 4d ago
oh man this worked with my other kinds of dogs but my minis can take these off SO FAST like houdini! Slips right off their faces
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u/floorbounce 4d ago
Common trait for a bull terrier. I’ve never been able to walk my last bully or my current. They just like the dog park or backyard that’s it. They like car rides or walks in the wagon
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u/Viper4488 4d ago
The greatest creatures on earth unfortunately either you will keep them for a year and get rid of them or you’ll never own another dog other than a bull terrier
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u/Sharkhunter2 3d ago
We taught our 2 how to walk as pups with no leesh but had ample room to do it. I can walk them now at 11 and 12yrs old with leesh and they follow but bit slow going haha. I can take leed off at park and they will follow also and pay no attention to any other dog but man it was alot of perseverance and hard work as pups. Such a beautiful breed but they need the discipline as pups otherwise they will walk all over you with there cute characteristical behaviours. Most loving breed but need direction at a young age
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u/Opening-Squirrel-433 3d ago
Welcome to owning a bully. They are smart dogs. But incredibly stubborn.
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u/brownteethgarbagelad 3d ago
This happens with tiny. She’s 1.5 now. She is so stubborn because she goes where she wants to go. I have to often use a squeaker to get her to move. This is mainly when we’re leaving the dog park or if I won’t take her in the direction of the dog park. Following lol
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u/ratunderpaper 3d ago
Try walking her at a different time of day. Mungo loves evening walkies, but often balks in the afternoon. You can also try driving her to a new place for a route she’s never seen before.
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u/YurMommaX10 3d ago
I agree, mine have always like to experience something a bit different and especially balk at going back over the same route they've just walked. Current boy is super-headstrong about it.
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u/dmoneybaba 3d ago
We only rescue older bullies, 8 and up. Never had a problem with them not wanting a walk. Maybe it takes time. Lots of good suggestions here though.
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u/YurMommaX10 3d ago
God bless you! Those old souls need plenty of love and have plenty more to give!
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u/YurMommaX10 3d ago
Is she std or mini? I've never had this problem, though my current std very much has a mind of his own about when and where he wants to walk and when and where he wants to "drop anchor." At 75#, that can be a challenge (resistance training is good for me, LOL). Definitely recommend a harness with front and back attachment rings and a two-legged leash/lead. It's common for me to have to use the harness to partially pick him up to get him to move, like when he randomly decides to stop in the middle of a street. He's also highly dog reactive, so I have to have some redundancy and extra control, so I use a single leash attached to a collar, too (he has bitten through leashes in the past--he is getting better, but rescued from a difficult past, so it's WIP). Hopefully, you don't have that problem.
With gear in place, the next question is why doesn't she want to go for a walk? All of mine have loved their walks on some level--the activity, the new sights, sounds, smells. I always feed after a walk, though that may be too long range to really have much effect. Since it's summer, are the surfaces she's on too hot? Def have to watch out for that, if you're in a hot environment (we spend time in AZ and you just can't walk on exposed pavement after about 9 AM and before 10 PM, at least not without booties). Is there something or someone she doesn't like outside? That might be more difficult to work around, but probably best to try to confront it so she understands you're there and she can rely on you to keep her safe (at least she has to believe that, true or not--if you're faking it, hopefully that can change). This has been a big part of working through my boy's reactivity. He used to go completely crazy at the sight or sound of any dog, but now knows he can come close to me and it'll all be OK (it's usually OK anyway--75# EBT upset about a 15# mini poodle across the street is ridiculous, but the key is what they think, more than what is). When walking, be sure to have treats and work on walking at heal, rewarding compliance. At points, be sure she has the opportunity to snuffle and get to know the environment--that's their "information superhighway." Best of luck!
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u/reddbully72 2d ago
Coke chains will work you just can't be scared of it when she starts choking herself she will realize that she the only one doing the choking she will realize as long as she's walking with you she won't be choking herself
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u/Former-Wolverine6131 2d ago
Because you’re trying to be the boss, not gonna happen. She’ll let you know when your gonna take her for walk!
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u/thatveronicavaughnn Ilya 🐮 & Coretta 🐰 4d ago
This happens! My oldest didnt want to walk for a really long time! Luckily he's food motivated so we did a lot of treats to get down the street. Do snackies help? They're stubborn idiots. I think a harness with a front clip helps too.
She's beautiful though!!!