January is Walk your Dog month. While millions of dog owners walk their dogs everyday they don’t always have a clear purpose of these walks aside from exercising their dog. Through simple engagement and basic training your daily walks will become more enjoyable and less like a chore. Engagement Walks are also key in developing a strong and lasting bond with your dog through clear communication and leadership. After one session with me on learning these Different walking styles dogs are calmer, more engaged with their humans and less concerned about the world around them, making walks more enjoyable for owners and dogs alike.
Structured Style Walk
Engagement starts before you leave your house. Ask your dog to sit as you attach the leash to the collar or harness. Then ask them for a wait as you open the door and scan your surroundings. When clear release your dog and begin you walk. What was once was just a stroll downtown is now structured style walk with a purpose. Start your dog off on your desired side. I recommend the left side as I typically walk against traffic so cars can see me if I have to walk on a busy road. The Leash should be loose with your dog next to your legs.
Engagement Cues to work on:
– Sit & Wait before crossing intersections, streets or even driveways
– Look – focus engagement throughout whole walk
– Loose Leash Walking/ Heel – holding the dog accountable when he does pull
No two walks are the same and Aussie and I love that. Through engagement and basic training your dog will learn to better follow your leadership through clear body language communication what is expected. Remember Dog Training is Progress over Perfection.
Recommended Tools for Structured Walk: Easy Walk Harness, No Pull Harness, Martingale, Standard 6 ft. leash, and a Treat Pouch with yummy Treats
Socialization Walk
This style of Walking is most beneficial for puppies, however dogs of any age can benefit from them. Proper exposure, engagement and socialization in puppies at a young age is key in avoiding them developing fear. Proper socialization means bringing your dog to new areas/ situations to expose your dog with positive experiences. Examples are walking past lawn mowers, scooters, skateboarders, wheelchairs, stairs. New sights, sounds, locations, people and more are made positive through engagement with your dog. When walking your dog and you see a bike coming toward you, watch to see what your dog does at it approach’s if they seem to show fearful signs take a few steps back and ask for a look or maybe throw some treats on the ground and say find it. Engage your dog with behaviors you want them to do when they see the moving objects or people walking. Asking for a sit and look is a great example. They are allowed to look at the object just not react to it.
Be careful by not letting your dog engage in such bad behaviors (lunging, barking) by simply walking in the other direction and letting loose leash pressure (not tugging) guide your dog to what you are asking them to do.
Confidence building is key for all dogs.
Recommended Tools for Socialization Walk: Ball, Tug Toy, Treat Pouch, yummy Treats , Long Line, Harness or Collar.
Exercise Walks
This style of walking is most popular amongst dog owners. While it does provide an outlet for the dog to burn some energy off and provide health benefits such as joint function, heart health, weight management, it is also not enough alone to satisfy your dogs needs. Engagement is a key component in these styles of walking mentioned throughout this post. Mental and physical stimulation is the key to a happy dog. Always check with a vet if your dog has specific health issues. A tired dog is not always a good dog.
Cognitive stimulation Walks
Let them sniff. Dogs love to use their noses to explore the world. Let them do what they love, sniff. I recommend investing in a long like 15-20ft from amazon or chewy (link in blog post) and 1-2 times a week go to an open field or place where your dog can have some space to walk and explore. This is great for anxious dogs and not as confident dogs.
If you are struggling with walking your dog in any aspect, please contact me today to schedule a stop by session.
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Happy Training!