What's in a Walk?
"I'm walking the dog" "I'm taking the dog for a walk"
​
My favourite expressions are "I'm walking with my dog", "I'm off out with the dog", "Time for a walk"
​
So what is a good walk for our dogs? I get asked so often 'How do I get my dog to walk to heel?" "I can't get my dog to sit at the kerb", "My dog sniffs all the time - how do I stop this?", "I want my dog to be off the lead but they never come back when I call them"
​
When I think of a walk with my dog it's as time spent with her, enjoying her excitement at new sniffs, enjoying watching her exploring, a chance to teach her that something new is safe, she gets to learn about her environment through sight, sound and smell and we improve our fitness and well being.
I asked a client recently why they needed their dog to sit at kerbs. They said that was what they thought they should do. It's such an out dated idea to me. Yes, you want your dog to stop at the kerb for safety reasons, but why have them sit when this could put strain on their joints, they might not feel safe to do so, they can't move easily if they had to, they might not want to sit when it's raining... so instead, why not ask for a solid 'Wait' ? I teach my dogs that if I stop, they stop. The edge of a pavement is a boundary and they wait until they are released. Both my Kelpies do not sit comfortably - Molly didn't and Rosie doesn't so I don't ask. Luna, my Collie, sat at the kerb because she chose to - I didn't ask - she just did! My first dog was rarely on a lead (a long time ago) and the kerb was like an electric fence! She just never put a paw over the edge until I did. Every dog is different, but the key is to teach safety.
​
On lead walks do not mean our dogs have to walk tight up against your leg. This is for the obedience ring, but not for a wander with your dog! Just because a lead is involved, your dog can still have the opportunity to sniff as they walk, to stop and watch something, to walk a little ahead. What we want to see is a 'smiling lead' - a loose, relaxed lead, with a happy dog at the end. If your dog is pulling ahead and sounds like a steam train, your are going to have a very aching arm, develop a bad posture and your dog will be causing itself a lot of discomfort, especially if walked with a collar and lead. So teach your dog to want to walk beside you but be able to head off sideways for a sniff or just amble along in front, but without the pull.
On lead walks are also when reactivity happens, as dogs approach from opposite directions and are replicating a challenge on pavements as they cannot curve out and around. There are good techniques to overcome this, so please employ a behaviourist if your dog needs help here.
Off lead walks are where the play can happen - water, balls, running, chasing, rolling, exploring in hedges... and the key to good off lead walks is a solid recall. This is a golden rule for me. If I don't have a solid recall, my dogs stay on long lines until they have learned to return when I ask, whatever the distraction. If I see something that look like it will cause my dogs to break the recall, I will pop them on leads until I am confident all will go well. I'm not saying it's 100% perfect (especially when you have a Kelpie with a very independent nature) but I strive to make sure my communication with my dogs is good and I am more of a pull than anything else out there.
Sniffaris are the best walks! They help dogs to be calm, to learn their environment and to map their walks. Scatter feeding and find it games can be great sources of fun, but can also help to redirect focus for an anxious dog.
All my dogs have been completely different when it comes to playing on walks - my first dog grew up with children (me included - I was 11) and she played everything we did, including climbing the ladder for the slide in the playground! She loved stealing shoes and playing with my rabbits who often slept in her bed with her during the day. My German Shepherd loved football, tug games and chasing games. Her walks were also very much centred on water as she loved to swim.
My first Kelpie, Molly loved chasing waves. She was happy to chase a ball but never brought it back!
Luna, my Collie was an altogether different story. She loved to chase a ball, but this created aggression, so I had to find other ways to tap into her 'fun' side. It turned out that if I used classic sheepdog training techniques she excelled. She could round up crows in the field so gently that they would walk into a huddle but not fly away! Luna loved learning, so her walks were all about that.
Rosie was terrified of soft toys when she came to live with me, and didn't really play, but after a year she now loves to rip up soft toys and cardboard boxes, she plays fetch and is cheeky - but she can't see the point in balls at all!! Rosie does not play on her walks - they are all about sniffing and watching out for squirrels!
​
So walks come in all shapes and sizes, but whatever they look like, they are enrichment for your dog - a chance to replicate the hunt, learn about their world and bond with their people. They can wander, race about, swim, play with their friends, chase a ball, but above all else, it's their time to enjoy life.
​
Happy walking everyone.
