Well, I've given up trying to persuade Yuki to walk any distance with me. She seems to have more confidence when out walking with my two sons and quite content with just walking a short distance with me. I used to tug her along until she got into walking mode, but it was rather exhausting. Now when I take her out she wonders around our yard at home looking for sticks and branches to chew and break up with teeth like secateurs. After she's run out of twigs she'll walk to just outside the gate and stand or sit and watch the traffic going by. Eventually, after between 5 and 30 minutes she'll start walking in the direction I was planning to go, looking like she's trying to make up for lost time, then, all of a sudden she'll stop stare around her for a moment, then turn and go back the way she came, but diverting to the end of our road before returning to the house.

She behaves quite differently with my two sons - straight out the gate and along the road whichever way they're going - occasionally she takes a dander round the yard first. Someone was telling me they'd heard that some female dogs prefer male humans and that certainly seems to be true of Yuki, although she is rather fond of my daughter, but then my daughter doesn't take Yuki out for walks, due to mobility issues.

Gillian

As long as you have a routine that seems to be getting her the exercise she needs, that is the main thing that matters. My female doesn't really want anything to do with my husband. She's mellowing with age so you may see a change someday but you just gotta stick with what works now and not let it hurt your feelings. Some dogs are just funny that way.

Thank you for your sound advice, especially about not letting it hurt my feelings. I have to make sure I don't dwell on why Yuki behaves like she does. Although it's strange behaviour for a husky, she does seem happy enough with her routine and does look to me for her other needs such as food, water and play time.

Gillian