Dear Cathy, We recently rescued a four-year-old lab/pit-bull mix named Vesna, who has bonded strongly with me. The issue is, she refuses to walk with my wife when I’m not there, sitting down in the driveway or sidewalk despite positive reinforcement. How can we train her to walk with my wife? The second issue is her reluctance to walk on gravel.
We live in the desert, and so it’s hard to avoid. We’ve been moisturizing her paws regularly and putting her in boots to help her walk down the driveway. She’s slowly improving, but sometimes regresses and I have to pick her up or run with positive energy saying, “come on punky,” which sometimes works.
Any advice on these two things? — Beth, Arizona Dear Beth, First, I commend you for rescuing Vesna and giving her a loving home. It’s hard to know what Vesna may have experienced that makes her reluctant to walk on gravel or become less attached to her other caregiver. But it’s clear; she has found a patient and loving family who listens and responds to her needs.
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Let’s start with the first issue — Vesna’s reluctance to walk with your wife when you aren’t around. It’s common for dogs to form strong attachments to one person and feel anxious or uncertain when that person isn’t present. This could explain why she hesitates when your wife tries to take her for a walk.
To help with this, focus on building Vesna’s confidence and strengthening her bond with your wife. One way to do th.
