The walk is one of the most important moments of the day for your dog. If you want your pet to be in good shape and happy, you need to walk it at least 3 times a day. You must also remember that one of these 3 walks must have a minimum duration of one hour. All dogs are not the same and some of our best friends need more time to relax. Take into account the breed and character of your dog when you go for a walk.
How to walk your dog effectively:
If you have a dog, you will have already realized that walks do not always go as you would like. Sometimes our pet leaves the house upset and barking without rhyme or reason at everything that crosses his path. Other times he does not stop pulling on the leash or sniffing every few minutes every trace he finds. If you no longer know what to do to make walking your dog pleasant, in this post you will find the solution to all your dog walking problems. Let’s get started!
What do you need to walk your dog?
To walk your dog you will need
- Patience and affection
- Dog collar
- Short strap, preferably leather
- Practice in training your dog
- Read this post carefully
- Practice, practice and practice!
Instructions for walking your dog
Step by step to learn to walk your dog
- Try to be the one to mark the departure times and not the dog. As César Milan says, you are the leader of the pack and as such you have to act. This does not imply that you should leave your dog without going out when he needs it. Look at his actions and be attentive to his needs. Try to always take him out at the same times, so your pet will get used to adjusting his intestinal rhythms to the walking times.
- If you don’t normally wear a necklace, put it on when you leave the house. Another way is to use a leather strap and wrap it around his neck like a necklace. Whichever style you prefer, always take him out on a short leash and remember that the collar should be loose and allow your dog to breathe easily and not feel tied down. The perfect measure is that a couple of fingers fit between the collar and the neck of your dog.
- It is normal that when the dog detects that he is going to go outside, his nervousness increases slightly. Nothing happens, as we say it is normal behavior, however, we must not allow our pet to “lose the papers” and forget that you are the boss of the walk. For this reason, before crossing the exit door of your house, your dog should calm down by your side while being tied. A good trick is to make him sit down and be patient until his anxiety level goes down. When you get him to respond favorably and his nerves get over it, it’s time to cross the threshold of the door. Remember that you are the one leading the pack, so you must cross first so that he can follow you.
- If the door of your house does not give directly to the exit, that is, you have to go through several flights of stairs, take an elevator, and go out through the portal door, remember to follow step number 3 continuously: you have to go through first all outings, you have to take the lead, and you should not move forward if the state of your dog shows that he is anxious. He must be fully relaxed to start the walk.
- In addition to the dog, you should also have a relaxed and calm attitude. Animals are very empathic and are able to easily feel our emotions. If they notice us nervous at the time of the walk, they will be too. If they notice that you are afraid, they will try to defend you. Do not forget this advice; try to eliminate any remaining anxiety from your body when you go for a walk with your best friend.
- The time has come to go outside. Set the pace of the walk and the place your dog should keep. Choose if you want him to go to your left or to your right so that he takes the habit and gets used to it. And above all, do not forget that you are the boss and that you have to behave as such during the walk. What does this mean? That pulling is not allowed or that the dog passes in front of you. He has to follow you and not you him. If you see him exhibiting any of these behaviors, be patient and correct his actions by giving the leash a slight tug and regaining control. If he still insists, immediately interrupt the ride until you are back in the lead. At that time you can continue walking.
Tips for walking your dog
One last tip for learning to walk your dog
When your pet sees other dogs approaching, remain calm. Our dogs often get nervous because they notice our nervousness and try to protect us. It is important that you socialize during your walks and that you see and interact with other animals. Release him on open land where he can play with other dogs and don’t forget to keep moving, otherwise he will think you are claiming the land and may become aggressive.
