Not wanting to go for a walk

[holdan]

Hi. We rehomed our greyhound four days ago and initially for the first two days she loved going out for a walk but for the last two days she has refused to leave the house to go for a walk. She stands rigid at the front door and will not move. The last time we took her out she appeared quite nervous after hearing a car door slam shut and then a group of teenagers playing football in the field near our home. Obviously these may be new sounds to her .We don't want to force her to go out for a walk and risk upsetting her further. We are going to leave her walks for a couple of days so we don't stress her out but has anyone got any ideas how we can tempt her out of the front door in a few days time?
Many thanks

[Lisa]

I think your right to hold off for a couple of days give her time to relax again. Have you got some rescue remedy if not head to the chemist and get some and put it in her water and give her a couple of drops in her mouth.
Have you got a backdoor on the property maybe try taking her out another way and taking her by suprise. Also try to take her out at quieter times to get her back into the swing of things.
If she still refuses to walk do you have a friend with a dog who could come to visit a few times and then once she has struck up a rapour see if you can get her out to walk leaving the house with the dog pal?
This teemed with the wanting to hold her toileting does sound to me like you have taken on quite a nervous girl bless her and it will take time.
Give your vets a ring in the morning and ask them about a DAP diffuser. You plug it in near her bed and it often helps with upset, unsettled and nervous dogs.

ALSO now its assertained that she is nervous PLEASE dont reassure her, if she digs her heels in DONT give her a come on come in a soft voice you will reassure her she has something to worry about its very important not to reinforce. Ignore her and just dont push it.

[holdan]

Thanks for your reply is has been very helpful. We are now taking Poppy out of the side exit for her walk. ( I dont think she likes our front door step! ) But we have a new problem now . Poppy is terrified of other dogs. She was fine with the other greyhounds at the homing centre but bucks and tries to slip her lead when we see other dogs while out on a walk. We have posted a new topic on this asking for any advice.
Thanks again for your help.