Dog stops walking and won’t move – reasons and what to do

Pets Can Smile – 29 April 2024

Suddenly… your dog stops walking and won’t move. 

What’s going on? 

Is your dog in trouble? 

The short answer is: Your dog stops walking and won’t move because:

• Not enough leash training
• Your dog is in pain
• Your dog is afraid of something
• There are underlying medical problems
• Your dog doesn’t want the walk to end

But there is more!

This is why this article will also tell you everything you need to know about: 

• All main reasons your dog stops during walks
• What to do when your dog just stops walking
• What NOT to do when your dog suddenly stops and won’t move

Let’s do this. 

Let’s find out how to make you and your dog the best walking buddies ever!

Main reasons your dog stops walking – and what to do

Dogs stop during walks for various reasons.  

Some of those reasons can be easily fixed. 

Other reasons can be more serious. 

This is why every dog owner should know: 

• Why do some dogs suddenly stop walking?
• Is it dangerous to your dog?
• And what to do about it? 

Assess the situation 

If your dog suddenly stops walking, stop too and assess the situation. 

What’s going on? 

Why did your dog stop walking? 

Just observe your dog for a moment. 

Be patient

When your dog suddenly stops, your automatic reaction may be to pull on the leash. 

But pulling can injure your pooch (more on this later). 

Pulling can also make your dog even more reluctant to move (more on this later). 

So, what should you do? 

Here are the main reasons why your dog may suddenly stop walking – and what you can do about it. 

Another common reason for dogs stopping during walks is not enough leash training. 

If that’s the case for your dog, just slow down. 

Your pup needs more time to get used to the leash, collar, or harness. 

A dog without leash training may stop walking because of the pressure around its neck or body. Such a dog will need to learn to give in to leash pressure rather than opposing it.

Also, if you have adopted a dog, we recommend that you find out if the dog was properly introduced to leash walks by its previous owner. Walking on a leash can be overwhelming (even frightening) for a dog without previous leash training. 

LEASH & COLLAR TRAINING STEPS

Introduce the leash

Start the leash training by showing the leash to your dog. 

Let your dog sniff and get to know the leash (reward with treats). 

Don’t skip this introductory step or your dog may develop a negative association with the leash. 

Introduce the collar (or harness)

Once your dog is happy about the leash, introduce the collar. 

Start by putting the collar (or harness) on for brief periods of time. 

Gradually increase the time your dog spends with the collar or harness on. 

Next, sit down on the couch and pick up the leash (your dog is wearing the collar or harness). 

Call your pup to you and praise and reward it with a treat for moving toward you. 

Next, apply some gentle pressure on the leash while calling your dog to you. This will teach your dog to give in to the leash pressure.

Important: Make sure the collar (or harness) is of the appropriate type, fit, and weight for your dog. Note that for training, a lighter gear (leash, collar, harness) is usually best. 

Before the first walk

Before taking your dog for the first walk on a leash, let your pup wander around your home with the collar or harness on for several days. 

Several days should be enough for your dog to get used to the gear. 

The first walks

Start taking your dog for leashed walks inside your home. 

Next, introduce your dog to outdoor walks in enclosed areas such as a fenced backyard or an enclosed dog run. 

If your dog suddenly stops walking, the poor thing may be in pain. 

Here are some of the most common conditions that can cause pain during walks:  

• Joint pain (arthritis or hip dysplasia)
• Cruciate ligament injury (most common in large or obese dogs)
• Peeling nails (usually due to overgrown nails or poor diet)
• Nail infections (often fungal infections leading to thick, flaky, and weak nails)
• Cracking paw pads (usually caused by wear & tear, contact with surface irritants, or mineral deficiency)
• Other paw issues (such as allergies or matting caused by fur tangles and knots)
• Badly fitting harness or collar (make sure everything is secure but not too tight) 

Quite a painful list, right? 

This is why it’s essential that you learn to recognize when your dog is in pain. 

For example, here are the signs of joint pain in dogs: 

• Putting less weight on the affected area while stopping
• Letting out a whimper or yelp shortly before suddenly stopping

By the way, if you suspect joint issues, contact your vet. 

Luckily, you can prevent (and deal with) most paw & leg pain issues yourself. 

This is what we do for our dogs. 

To prevent issues with our dogs’ paws and legs, we use dog claw clippers and paw moisturizing balms. This helps prevent injuries and infections.

If we suspect a paw issue during walks (we walk with our dogs a lot), we first check under each paw. We especially look for any embedded objects such as glass or small rocks. We also check in between the dogs’ toes.

Your dog stops every few steps during walks? 

This is exactly what happened to our friend’s dog.

Our friend adopted a rescue dog, a lovely and intelligent mongrel (Cooper). 

During walks, Cooper froze every few steps and nervously surveyed the area. 

So we took Cooper to a vet. 

The vet suggested that Cooper was most likely getting overwhelmed during walks. 

This was most likely because Cooper wasn’t socialized as a puppy. 

There was also a chance that Cooper was previously kept chained up in a small yard (or patio). 

This is why all the new sights and smells during walks were overwhelming to Cooper. 

So the veterinarian recommended taking toys and treats for walks. 

We used the treats and toys to distract Cooper on walks, whenever the dog was getting overstimulated and overwhelmed by the environment. 

We just threw a toy or scattered treats. 

This made the dog focus on its owner (our friend), rather than on the “scary” surroundings. 

The vet also recommended that we reward the dog generously for eye contact.   

It took some time… but it worked!

Cooper is now a passionate and well-behaved walker.  

A dog with underlying medical problems will not only stop during walks but at other times too.  

But walks may bring on certain types of pain that may not be noticed at home. 

Here are some of the medical issues that can stop your dog during walks: 

• Intestinal parasites & other stomach issues (can cause uncomfortable feelings in the hind end or abdomen and make a dog reluctant to walk)
• Congenital malformation of hips, legs, or back 
• Some heart issues (can cause exercise intolerance and fatigue) 
• Joint problems (especially in older dogs) 
• A pinched nerve in the dog’s neck 
• Full anal glands (can make a dog too uncomfortable to walk)

Contact your vet if you suspect an underlying health issue. 

Check if a harness, collar, or anything else on your dog’s body is not causing discomfort to your poor doggy. Look for any sources of potential squeezing, pinching, or chafing. 

Some dogs may also refuse to walk if you put on them something unfamiliar such as a new tactical harness or a weird Halloween costume.

A dog may refuse to walk because it’s afraid of something. This is more common in younger dogs. 

But an older dog can also become afraid in a new area. 

A dog that experienced a traumatic incident, such as getting attacked by another dog or hit by a car, can also become afraid of the outdoors.

So, if you suspect your dog is afraid of something during a walk, stop and assess the situation, including the environment. 

The first thing you should do is to locate the source of your dog’s fear. 

Look for anything, from a large dog in the area to strange sounds, signs, trash cans, or odors.

For example, if the source of fear is a specific smell or sight, your dog may stop walking in the same spot every time you walk by it. 

Once you know (or at least suspect) what’s causing your dog’s fear, you’ll be able to start working on desensitizing your dog to the fear trigger and building up your dog’s confidence.

But be patient and don’t push too far and too quickly outside your dog’s comfort zone.  

If your dog is reluctant to even leave the house, start by getting your dog a few steps outside, after which let you pup return indoors. 

Here are the best strategies to reduce your dog’s fear of the outside: 

• Walk your dog back and forth across the street in front of your house
• Join another dog (and its owner) on walks – the more confident dog should help your dog gain its own confidence.

Your dog just stopped walking. 

Your dog may simply be tired, especially if you’re returning with your dog from a training or energetic playtime. 

Dog breed

That’s right, not all dog breeds make ideal running or hiking partners.

Also, certain dog breeds are simply less energetic (needing more breaks). This includes pugs, bulldogs, and flat-faced breeds.

Also, while some small dog breeds need tons of exercise, other large (and giant) breeds need very little exercise.

Age 

In general, very young puppies and senior dogs need less exercise, compared to middle-aged dogs. 

Look for signs of exhaustion, such as: 

• Excessive panting
• Very slow pace
• Stopping

Also, talk to your vet about the optimal amount of exercise for your dog. 

If your dog needs regular exercise but gets easily tired, you may need to consider taking several small daily walks instead of one long walk.   

It’s possible that your dog stops during walks due to uncomfortable gear (leash, collar, harness, shoes, and more). 

So check your dog’s gear. 

Make sure everything is secure but not too tight. 

If you notice chafing or marks on your dog’s body from the dog’s gear, consider replacing the problematic piece of gear. 

If your dog usually stops near the end of the walk, your dog is simply letting you know that it loves the walk. And it doesn’t want it to end!

Yep, your dog doesn’t want to go home. Not yet. 

If this is the case, just make coming back home more exciting. 

For example, our dogs know that their favorite toys are always waiting for them at home. 

Your dog’s reluctance to end the walks may also indicate that you’re not providing enough physical or mental stimulation during walks. 

In this case, consider longer walks. 

We also recommend adding some fun games during walks. 

If your dog struggles to follow you during walks (and frequently stops walking), you may be overdoing it. 

So, slow down during your walks. 

You should also consider talking to your vet if you think your dog gets exhausted too easily. Your vet will check if there are no health issues.  

Also, if your young puppy struggles on longer walks, remember that although puppies have tons of energy, that energy often comes in short spurts which should be followed by a restorative nap. 

Yes, a dog can also get… unreasonable. 

This can make it impossible to ever find out why your dog just stops walking. 

Bot worry not. 

With some time and patience, your dog will learn how to walk properly. 

Sometimes, it’s just too hot or too cold for your dog to feel like walking. 

Bad weather for a dog can include: 

• Too hot
• Too cold
• Too sunny
• Too icy
• Too wet
• Too windy

One of our dogs is very sensitive to hot weather.  

On hot days, our dog will sometimes just stop in a shady spot and chill. 

Because our dog can’t handle higher temperatures, we schedule the walks for early mornings or late evenings, when it’s cooler. 

And we never forget to take plenty of water for our doggy. 

But what about winters? 

During winter walks, your dog’s toes can get uncomfortably packed with ice and snow. When this happens, your canine companion may ask for a break.  

It’s worth noting that different dogs have different heat (and cold) tolerance. 

The general guideline is that short-coated dogs often struggle in cold weather, while long-haired and shaggy dogs often struggle on hot days. 

Some dogs will prefer to go for walks with their favorite owner. 

Some dogs may even refuse to go for a walk unless their favorite owner is joining. 

Our situation is a good example. 

Our dog (Doberman) is hyper-attached to me. 

When going for a walk with my wife (without me), our dog often experiences separation anxiety. 

So we took our dog to a vet. 

Our vet recommended that we work on reducing our dog’s hyper-attachment to me. 

For example, I needed to ensure that the dog wasn’t following me everywhere at home. 

We also started to work on developing a stronger bond between the dog and my wife. This involved plenty of treats and playtime, using the dog’s favorite toys.

It took some time, but our dog is now happy to go for walks with either of its owners (me or my wife). 

When one of our dogs suddenly stopped during a walk, we discovered that the poor thing injured its paw pad. 

Luckily, this was a minor cut – although quite painful. 

So yes, if your dog refuses to walk, check your dog’s paws, nails, and legs for any obvious injuries, including scrapes and cuts.  

More serious injuries can include an open wound or a foreign object stuck in one of your dog’s limbs. 

This is why we recommend that you carry with you a canine first-aid kit for your walks. 

Lucky us, we always do. 

One day, we found a thorn stuck in our dog’s paw. Using a canine first-aid kit, we removed the thorn and cleaned the area with antibacterial spray. Luckily, there were no complications. 

But if the area is swollen, apply an ice pack to the injured area (twice a day for 15 minutes each time). We recommend that you also contact your vet, just to be sure. 

Yes, dogs have their preferences, just like people. 

For example, our dog seems to enjoy the reassurance of doing the same walk, at the same location, at the same time, every day. 

The moment we try other walking locations, our dog loses its usual enthusiasm for the walk. And will occasionally stop walking, as if telling us that we’re going the wrong way. Quite funny. 

If this also happens to you, we recommend that you don’t let your dog dictate the walking route and location. 

Just stand for a while (patiently) and let your dog realize that it’s you who is in charge of the walk. Then move on.    

Never do this when your dog stops walking

Yes, a constantly stopping dog can be annoying. 

But there are certain things you should never do when your dog just stops walking. 

Never bribe your dog to keep moving

It may seem like the obvious thing to do. 

Your dog stopped walking, so you give it a treat to resume moving. 

Never a good idea.

This is because your dog may quickly learn that stopping means getting a treat. 

But you can reward your dog for walking properly by your side. 

Do this by rewarding a hesitant walker every five steps, then every ten steps, then every block. This will help build your dog’s walking confidence. 

Never drag your dog

Never drag your dog, especially if the dog is wearing a collar. 

The extra pressure on your dog’s throat can cause serious trachea damage. 

Furthermore, dragging your dog will only make matters worse. 

Most dogs will pull in the opposite direction if dragged by an impatient dog owner. 

Never yell at your doggy

If your dog suddenly stops, the dog is trying to tell you something. 

Yelling at your pup will solve nothing.  

So relax and assess the situation – there may be a clear reason for your dog stopping (as discussed earlier). 

Never rush

Make sure you’re not pressed for time when going for a walk with your dog. 

Because your doggy may have a bad day and walk slower than usual. 

If you’re in a hurry, you’ll get frustrated with the situation more than it’s worth it.  

Never leave your dog behind

Your dog suddenly stops and refuses to walk. 

You get frustrated, drop the leash, and leave your dog behind. 

Not a good idea!

It’s never safe to leave a dog unattended in a public space. 

You never know what may happen next when you’re too far from your dog to step in on time. 

Never punish your dog

You may not know why your dog suddenly stopped walking. 

So don’t pull the leash with force, don’t yell at your pup, and don’t get impatient. 

Instead, take your time to understand why your dog stopped. 

With some knowledge and patience, you’ll soon become the best walking buddies ever.  

Frequently asked questions

What to do when my dog just stops walking?

When your dog suddenly stops walking, stop and assess the situation.

Then act based on your assessment:

• Your dog hasn’t enough leash training (start a leash training)
• Your dog is in pain (check your dog’s paws and legs for any injuries)
• Your dog is afraid of something (start the desensitization training & build up confidence)
• Your dog is exhausted (take a rest & give your dog some water)
• Your dog doesn’t want the walk to end (make coming back home more exciting)
• Your dog needs more out of the walks (consider longer walks & fun games during walks)
• Your dog’s gear is uncomfortable (make sure the gear is secure but not too tight) 

What to do when my dog refuses to walk in cold or rain

Not all dogs are made for the cold or rain. 

In fact, a cold-sensitive dog is vulnerable to hypothermia and frostbite.

So no, never try forcing a cold-sensitive dog to go for walks in unpleasant weather.

But if you want to take a cold-sensitive dog outside, consider buying your dog a warm jacket and boots.   

Also, you can always provide your dog with plenty of exercise inside your house. You can even get your dog a treadmill!

What to do if my dog refuses to walk in certain directions

A dog who refuses to walk in certain directions usually has a problem with the destination. 

We have personal experience with this. 

Our dog had a bad experience at our vet and now refuses to walk in the direction of the vet’s office. 

Some dogs may also refuse to walk in a direction that takes them away from their favorite location like a dog park. 

Also, if your dog refuses to walk in a specific direction out of fear or anxiety, consider using the gradual desensitization method described earlier in this article. 

But if your dog refuses to walk because it has its own ideas about where you should go, it’s time to remind your pup who is in charge.  

Dog stops walking and won’t move CONCLUSION

Suddenly… your dog stops walking and won’t move. 

So you want to know:

• What’s going on? 
• Is your dog in trouble? 

The short answer is: Your dog stops walking and won’t move because:

• Not enough leash training
• Your dog is in pain
• Your dog is afraid of something
• There are underlying medical problems
• Your dog doesn’t want the walk to end

But there is more!

This is why this article also told you everything you need to know about: 

• All main reasons your dog stops during walks
• What to do when your dog just stops walking
• What NOT to do when your dog suddenly stops and won’t move

Our team hopes you and your dog will soon become the best walking buddies ever!