Dog Wants to Go Home During Walks? Here's What It Could Mean...

The first thing you want to do (just like most issues when it comes to dogs) is rule out pain and discomfort. If your dog suddenly refuses to walk, it could be a sign of a deeper issue they may be struggling with.

Your dog could potentially be struggling with pain issues such as joint issues, cuts and grazes, and too long nails (long nails can cause a lot of discomfort).

When feeling pain or discomfort, a dog will want nothing more than space and to be somewhere they feel safe, which could even lead to unpredictable and possibly even reactive behaviour.

A good rule of thumb is to always check with the vet when there is a sudden change in their regular routine or if things are consistent.

For some dogs, mainly the younger dogs, pulling home is a natural instinct. Home is a safe place and venturing away can feel unnatural. For those younger dogs and pups, this instinct is to reduce straying away from the safety of home and as they grow and become more independent, curious and confident, this becomes less of a thing, but you have to realise that home is where the resources are - food, water, safety, warmth etc.

Emotions like fear and overstimulation will trigger the fight, flight or freeze process. With fear and overstimulation being the most common, a dog may want to run [back home], or if they experience too much, it can freeze them in their tracks.

Dogs can develop a fear of many things, and if not worked on, this can become an issue, e.g. a dog may find something scary on walks, and if it isn't worked on, walks can become associated with that scary thing, leading to nervous and anxious behaviour.

Some dogs, get overstimulated. The sounds, smells, other dogs, people, and cars can get overwhelming and cause frustrated behaviour such as pulling on the leash, jumping up, and even more unpredictable, impulsive and reactive behaviours.

This build up is called trigger stacking and it can drive a lot of problem behaviour in dogs.

👉🏾 [Click here to read more on my blog post about dogs getting overstimulated on walks]

👉🏾 [Click here to read more about trigger stacking in dogs]

Emotions like fear and overstimulation will trigger the fight, flight or freeze process. With fear and overstimulation being the most common, a dog may want to run [back home], or if they experience too much, it can freeze them in their tracks.

Dogs can develop a fear of many things, and if not worked on, this can become an issue, e.g. a dog may find something scary on walks, and if it isn't worked on, walks can become associated with that scary thing, leading to nervous and anxious behaviour.

Some dogs, get overstimulated. The sounds, smells, other dogs, people, and cars can get overwhelming and cause frustrated behaviour such as pulling on the leash, jumping up, and even more unpredictable, impulsive and reactive behaviours.

This build up is called trigger stacking and it can drive a lot of problem behaviour in dogs.

👉🏾 [Click here to read more on my blog post about dogs getting overstimulated on walks]

👉🏾 [Click here to read more about trigger stacking in dogs]

If you constantly go through the same walk every day, or you're constantly rushing your dog, or not giving them the opportunity for engagement or sniffing, they may start losing motivation and realise it just isn't worth the effort.

Dogs that find walks boring may be resentful to leave, walk slowly during the walk acting disinterested or even scared, or they may even walk quicker especially when closer to home.

Switch things up!

Boredom is a common issue when it comes to walks. We can get stuck in routines due to simplicity, but sometimes switching things up can add a burst of freshness and excitement to your dogs walk. Going to areas where your dog can explore and sniff the new smells may be all that they need to get them enjoying their walk more.

If you have the access to a car, driving to somewhere your dog hasn't been is also an amazing way to add that spark back in.

Believe it or not, it isn't that hard to makeyour dogs walk more interesting. Allong with switching up location, other ways to make walks more interesting can include adding play, off leash exploring, training, mental stimulation etc.

Many of us just walk our dogs in the same boring way, on the same route. Adding some play can actually go a long way to meeting your dog's needs on top of their walk.

Sometimes it can be very effective to find a good spot to do nothing in. This is more for dogs that are uncomfortable in their environments. By taking your dog to a safe area and doing nothing you can start working on desensitizing your dog to things that could be caused by fear and overstimulation in the environment.

Stopping in a new environment every day for a few minutes can be very beneficial to helping some dogs get used to things.

If your dog wants to go home during a walk and pulls the closer you get to home then a great option is to slow down. Even those dogs that get overstimulated on walks will pull to power through. Allowing a dog to go through this behaviour will strengthen it, you want to avoid allowing this which is easier said than done, but allowing this will make a dog a nightmare to walk.

Slowing down will let your dog deal with the discomfort and show them that the environment isn't that bad (just like the previous point above).

Finally, having shorter walks is always an option. I wouldn't recommend cutting walks out entirely as it is a good activity to do even if just a few days a week, but shortening them is no issue either.

Creating shorter walks and then focusing on meeting your dogs needs, adequate exercise, enrichment and mental stimulation throughout the day can be a game changer for dogs struggling with behaviour issues.

For a lot of dogs, daily walks can actually do more harm than good—especially for reactive, anxious, or high-energy dogs. Walks are often used as the main source of exercise, but when they’re filled with stress, chaos, and overwhelm, they leave dogs more wound up than when they left the house.

Over time, this builds up of stress in the body, makes dogs more impulsive, unpredictable, and reactive. If you and your dog are consistently struggling on your walks then it’s a sign that the walk routine might be working against you—not for you.

Taking a short break from walks and focusing on meeting your dog’s core needs—like rest, outlets, and stimulation (the holy trinity) can help give them the reset they truly need. It might feel counterintuitive, but stepping back can and will make future walks (and life) easier in the long run.

👉🏾 [If you want to understand why stress builds and how it fuels difficult behaviour, check out this post on Stress and Arousal in Dogs].

👉🏾 [Want to try this approach? Download my FREE Detox Plan for a guided reset that helps reduce stress and overstimulation].

It's common to find your dog wants to go home during walks. It can be frustrating and upsetting seeing a dog show disinterest in walks as it is a great time to bond. The best thing to do is figure out what the cause for this would be, how important it is for you to constantly walk your dog, and then find a way that'll make your dog and you find the walk more enjoyable.

If your dog wants to go home during walks, then chances are they’re not being difficult—they’re communicating. It’s up to us to learn to listen, compromise, and support them through it. With the right routine, outlets, structure, and foundation, walks can feel good again.

Trust me.