Why a dog is stubborn on a walk: a secret that dog handlers keep quiet about

You walk outside and your dog suddenly turns into a motionless boulder.

He sits down, rests his paws on the ground and looks at you as if you are asking him to jump into the abyss. Sound familiar?

Many people write this off as a whim, but the reason is often deeper than it seems.

Cynologists rarely talk about it, but a dog's stubbornness is not just an attempt to annoy its owner. It is body language, a cry for help, or a trick that has been honed over the years in the process of evolution.

Dogs can't talk, but they sense emotions very well. If your pet is stubborn, it may be reacting to your tension.

Imagine: you are in a hurry, nervous, tugging at the leash - the animal perceives this as a danger signal. It seems to it that something is wrong, and it needs to wait out the threat.

At such moments, the dog is not “educating” you - he is trying to protect himself and you.

Another secret is smells. A dog's nose is thousands of times more sensitive than a human's. When a pet suddenly stops, it can pick up a cat's scent, another dog's mark, or even a passerby's illness. Its brain is overloaded with information, and its body freezes to process the data.

Sometimes stubbornness is manipulation. If the dog understands that after persistently sitting on the sidewalk you will turn to the park or give him a treat, he will use this technique again.

But more often the problem is related to health. Joint pain, itching from allergies, discomfort after eating - all this makes the dog avoid movement.

Check if the behavior has changed abruptly. If the dog used to run forward, but is now afraid of a step, it is worth visiting the vet.

The key to the solution is observation. Write down in what situations your pet is stubborn: in the morning or evening, after eating, in crowded places. Try changing the route, using different equipment, giving more time for sniffing.

Sometimes it is enough to stop pulling on the leash and wait 30 seconds. The dog will understand that you are not an enemy and will follow you.

Remember: a walk is the main adventure of the day. If you turn it into a rush or a fight, your pet will respond with protest.