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5 Different Areas You Can Improve on For a Safer Dog Walk.

All dog guardians will be aware that one of the responsibilities of choosing to take care of a dog is to make sure they get enough walking. Daily walks are a great way to stimulate your dogs’ senses and make sure they get plenty of exercise to prevent becoming overweight and unhealthy. However easy it may seem to walk a dog; it is something that some owners struggle with especially when their dog is a puppy. It is important that both guardian and dog remain safe on their walks, and this starts with being prepared before you leave and being aware of potential challenges you may encounter on your walk. Here we are going to discuss some ways to get the most out of your daily walks as well as remaining safe.

Apparatus: Harness? Collar? What is a slip lead?

Just a stroll into your local pet store can be enough to induce panic when trying to make the correct decision on what apparatus to use when walking your dog. You will see aisles full of harnesses, collars, leads, choke collars, slip leads and more! Why isn’t there one universal solution for walking your dog? The answer is, each apparatus has a different desired use and you need to match your breed and personality of dog to the correct garment. For example, the harness was designed for sleigh dogs like the Siberian Husky. The fact that the dog has an advantage for pulling in a harness, is a good reason to avoid them until you have trained your puppy/dog not to pull. They can be great later on down the line for guiding your furry friend once they have learnt how to walk alongside you. Slip leads work in a completely different way to the harness. They were designed to be used on working breeds such as spaniels and get tighter around the neck as the dog pulls more. To get the best out of a slip lead, it should be positioned high on the dogs neck, almost around the base of the skull. We recommend training your dog to walk safely on a collar. It allows you to guide your dog and takes away the advantage they have to pull you around the park that a harness has. Collars should be tight enough to prevent them slipping off but not too tight that it prevents breathing. A rough rule of thumb is the ‘two fingers rule’ i.e. two fingers should be able to fit between their neck and collar.

Please remember that different breeds won’t suit certain styles of walking apparatus. Brachycephalic dogs should not use a collar or slip lead and would be more suitable to a harness. Whichever piece you chose it is important to follow the instructions to make sure it is fitted correctly and your dog is comfortable.

Before you leave: Stay calm!

Ok, you’ve visited your local pet shop and bought a brand-new collar and lead for their walkies. Our next piece of advice starts before you even step out of the front door. Dogs will look to their owners on how to act and therefore if you want a nice and peaceful walk it is important to be nice and calm yourself. There is no doubt that your dog will get excited when you say “Walkies” or touch their lead. This is fine, allow dogs to get excited, it is only natural. However make sure they calm down and sit before you head out on a walk. How you start is how you mean to go on. Oh finally, remember poo bags!

Pulling: The Daily Game of Tug of War

Depending on the size of the dog you are walking, pulling may be a little nuisance or a dangerous problem. If you’ve remained calm before leaving for the walk you should have the upper hand. Walkies can be the most exciting part of your canine’s day and therefore it is no surprise that they might want to pull you to the park, however this is dangerous for both your shoulder joint and your dog!

To begin training your dog not to pull start with a simple and stern ‘No!’ whenever your dog tries to get in front. If your dog doesn’t correct themselves then a sharp tug on the lead as a little punishment should follow the ‘No' command. Repeat this technique until your dog corrects themselves without the need for the tug on the lead. Sometimes when training a dog, we love to criticise and tell them what is wrong without praising them, so they never learn what we do want. If your dog corrects themselves to your command or walks in the correct position for a few seconds, remember to praise them with your voice (treats are not necessary but if you have a food-driven pet it might work wonders). It is important to always keep the lead laxed and ideally it should create a J-shape between you and the dog. This may sound like a very simple technique but with the correct tone of voice and timing we have seen it have major improvement with the dogs we care for. Please note, if your dog becomes too excited or constantly pulls you, it is best to stop altogether and allow for them to calm down.

Meeting Other Dogs on Lead: You Best Get Ready for That Awkward Dance with A Stranger

If you are taking your furry companion for any sort of walk, it is likely that you will encounter other dog owners doing the exact same thing, especially if you go around 5pm. There are a few things to keep in mind when meeting other dogs on lead. One of these is that some dogs might not be as friendly as yours and it is always best to ask the owner from a distance if they are friendly. “Hi, are they friendly and would they like to say hello?” works perfectly! If they are, happy days, it is a great time for your dog to socialise but with caution. When meeting on lead, dogs lose their option to run away if they get scared. They essentially lose their flight response. This can lead to your dog choosing to freeze or fight instead. This is very common problem on lead, and you should always watch your dogs body language when they are interacting with any other dog. We recommend a maximum of 30 seconds for each interaction on lead. When your dogs are interacting with another dog on lead, try to prevent the unpreventable situation of leads getting tangled and having to awkwardly dance with your new stranger friend to undo them!

At The Park: Recall, Recall, Recall!

When you finally make it to the park after a calm walk with no pulling and successful interactions with other dogs and owners it might be time to let your dog off lead. This is a decision that is never easy to make and you should always make sure you have trained recall before doing so. If you are unaware on how to train recall, then keep an eye out for a future blog post about it. A good tip regarding recall is to exercise it constantly throughout the walk even if there is no perceived danger. It is better to make it a habit for your dog to keep coming back and sitting than it is to wait until there is a danger and try and recall your dog. If you do see another dog that is on lead, it is best to recall your dog and put them on lead. It is likely that any dog on lead at the park doesn’t want to play. If you do meet another friendly dog that wants to play, make sure to keep an eye on both as you are talking to the owner and make sure the interaction is maximum 5 minutes. This prevents overstimulation!

Return Home: Time for A Cuppa

Once you get back from your very successful dog walk after following the tips it is time for you to put your feet up and relax. Good Job! One final tip, your dog should do the same. It is important for them to sleep after their walk to cement all their smells and memories and make sure they do not become over tired. What better time to have a snuggle on the sofa with your furry friend!

Written By Jack Fairclough

Published 27^th February 2023