How do I get my dog to move?

[JillsdogCeCe]

CeCe is a 160 lbs rescue Mastiff. She is laid back and sweet, but just lays down wherever. I can't get her to move! When it is time to go to bed or go outside, she won't budge. I try treats, lots of treats. No movement. Help.

 

[DennasMom]

Ah, yes... even having Denna from when she was 7 weeks old, she pulled that one on me a few times, too. If we were leaving a park and she wanted to stay, she'd drop to the ground behind the car - in the parking lot - and not move. Sometimes a treat would work, but when those stopped, I just got in the car and started the engine... she JUMPED up to get in the car right quick, then, not wanting to be left behind.

It's a major mind game.... If being nice doesn't work, go the opposite... you need her to go outside, go outside and leave the door open, then start yipping excitedly like you see a squirrel, and see if she'll come join you.
Time for bed... turn out the lights and leave her where she is, alone, without you. Assuming it's ok for her to sleep there... once you get to the bedroom, clap your hands or make some other interesting noises to make her too curious to ignore coming to see you... and/or start a new habit where she gets a treat AFTER she's in the bedroom tucked in for the night - and it will need to be a really high value treat to start, so it's motivational.

Do you think there's any reason why she wants to lay down in strange places and has a hard time getting up? Could her legs/joints be stiff or sore? How active is she otherwise? Do you have her on any supplements for joint health? Is she overweight? I didn't think Denna was heavy, but we still found 10lbs to lose, and that's helped her perk up a bunch, too.

PS - welcome to the forum! Would love to see a picture of your pup. Click on "upload a file" to add a photo to a post.

 

[Vantage]

Dennas could you please clarify, when you say start yipping excitedly like you see a squirrel, do you just mean to become very enthusiastically-excited? NOT to actually pretend there is a squirrel and use the word Squirrel as a bait? (Because that can become a big problem in itself.)

Is she engaged and focused on you when you are out or does she check out and ignore you and do her own thing?

 

[JillsdogCeCe]

Ah, yes... even having Denna from when she was 7 weeks old, she pulled that one on me a few times, too. If we were leaving a park and she wanted to stay, she'd drop to the ground behind the car - in the parking lot - and not move. Sometimes a treat would work, but when those stopped, I just got in the car and started the engine... she JUMPED up to get in the car right quick, then, not wanting to be left behind.

It's a major mind game.... If being nice doesn't work, go the opposite... you need her to go outside, go outside and leave the door open, then start yipping excitedly like you see a squirrel, and see if she'll come join you.
Time for bed... turn out the lights and leave her where she is, alone, without you. Assuming it's ok for her to sleep there... once you get to the bedroom, clap your hands or make some other interesting noises to make her too curious to ignore coming to see you... and/or start a new habit where she gets a treat AFTER she's in the bedroom tucked in for the night - and it will need to be a really high value treat to start, so it's motivational.

Do you think there's any reason why she wants to lay down in strange places and has a hard time getting up? Could her legs/joints be stiff or sore? How active is she otherwise? Do you have her on any supplements for joint health? Is she overweight? I didn't think Denna was heavy, but we still found 10lbs to lose, and that's helped her perk up a bunch, too.

PS - welcome to the forum! Would love to see a picture of your pup. Click on "upload a file" to add a photo to a post.

Thank you for the warm welcome and the advice. Makes sense. I have been implementing you ideas successfully already. No magic, just catching her interest!

 

[Hector]

Learn how to apply leash pressure. Search youtube conversational leash work, leash pressure, collar pressure, etc.

 

[DennasMom]

Right, Vantage... just making excited noises, not necessarily using words or labels. Just "ooo's and aaaaah's" and giggles normally does the trick.

 

[Brinks]

Agree with DennasMom- when treats don't work (though the word "carrot" still works magic most days for us), we resort to leaving him (not off leash unless he's in a fenced area because we never got really good at "recall").

I'll usually will say, "ok, I'm going inside....stay out here if you want" and walk inside. I know he doesn't understand but it somehow works.
Same thing at night, lights get shut off and I head to bed and he'll shuffle in right after me. Most nights though he's in bed LONG before we are so this rarely ever happens LOL.