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Dog doesn't want to go for walks anymore

Herscovm

New Member
Hi,

I have an approx 8 year old Boerboel, who used to love going for walks. We'd go for up to 2-3 miles per day, at his pace and direction. Then around mid-August, he just stopped wanting to go, and now will only go for car rides. He is not sick or injured in anyway, so that does not seem to be the problem. He's still very active in and around the house and yard, and is very anxoius to go out everyday, but only for car rides.

Ive tried new routes near our house, treats, and even driving him to new distant locations to take our walks, just in case maybe he was bored with our usual routes. He'll jump out of the car, walk for maybe 5 minutes in the new location, and then pull me back to the car. He's not even interested in going to off leash parks where there are other dogs with which to play. He just heads back to the car.

Has anyone else had this kind of problem with their Mastiff/Boerboel?
 

Smokeycat

Well-Known Member
Kryten can have similar behavior but his is mostly due to the fact he has bad elbows. He will be extremely excited to go for a walk but once out he seems to change his mind. How long he has been out can vary. Sometimes we get a block or 2 but other times we go out one gate and in the other. I have learnt that if I try to push him to go further than he wants he will be in pain afterwards. He clearly knows how far he can go at one time. I know you said he is healthy but if he hasn't had a recent check up for his joints I would get one done especially since he is at an age where arthritis can be a problem. These guys can hide pain very well.
 

Michele

Super Moderator
Staff member
Could something have possibly spooked the dog? You might want to try to bring some very high value treats with you. He takes some steps, you give him a treat.
 

Nik

Well-Known Member
If I had to guess I would say that Smokeycat is likely right and this is likely a pain issue. He is the age for it and as Smokeycat said they can hide pain.
 

Herscovm

New Member
It's just that he still jumps on and off the furniture and runs around like a puppy chasing things in our back yard. But as soon as I take him out for a walk he just runs to the end of the driveway and stares and whines at the car until I let him in. I guess I can ask the vet to xray his knees just to be sure, but he doesn't seem to act like he is any discomfort.
 

Smokeycat

Well-Known Member
It's just that he still jumps on and off the furniture and runs around like a puppy chasing things in our back yard. But as soon as I take him out for a walk he just runs to the end of the driveway and stares and whines at the car until I let him in. I guess I can ask the vet to xray his knees just to be sure, but he doesn't seem to act like he is any discomfort.
Kryten actually jumps around more now than he did before his surgeries but his elbows are still bad. I nowk now how to see how much pain he is in but it took acute trauma before I could, he hides it that well. I hope your guy doesn't have arthritis but if he does thankfully it is manageable if he does.
 
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Courtney H

Well-Known Member
It's just that he still jumps on and off the furniture and runs around like a puppy chasing things in our back yard. But as soon as I take him out for a walk he just runs to the end of the driveway and stares and whines at the car until I let him in. I guess I can ask the vet to xray his knees just to be sure, but he doesn't seem to act like he is any discomfort.
Cora leaped off my porch several times with a partial CCL tear. It’s just what they do. I believe it’s a pain issue of some kind. Get you pup checked for osteoarthritis maybe. Start glucosamine and fish oil!