The walk is, without a doubt, one of the most important moments of the day for our dog. Not only does it allow you to relieve himself, it also helps him continue to socialize, lower stress levelsor exercise if possible. However, many owners overlook essential details for their dog to have an enriching and complete walk, turning this routine into an unmotivating habit for their companions.
In this article on our site we will give you some basic handling tips so you know how to properly walk your dog, as well as some tips that you can apply to offer extra stimulation to your dog's day-to-day.
1. The right equipment, according to the dog
The tools you use to walk your dog will determine the quality of the walk, so it's essential to choose correctly. Here's a look at the most popular fasteners:
- Collar: indicated for dogs that know how to walk correctly and without jerking.
- Anti-escape collar: recommended for fearful dogs that walk without pulling on the leash. The suffocation system prevents them from being released from the restraint in the face of a stimulus that causes them fear, and they may suffer an accident, for example.
- Hook collar: it is totally inadvisable, especially for dogs that pull on the leash, as it can choke the dog and cause injuries severe, apart from stress, fear and anxiety.
- Spiked collar, semi-hanging or punishment: like the previous one, it is totally inadvisable, especially in dogs that pull on the leash as it can cause serious neck damage and creates stress, fear and anxiety.
- Harness: recommended for dogs that pull a little on the leash, sporting dogs or those who seek more comfort in holding the harness. dog. Also useful for those who have a fearful dog trying to get out of restraints.
- Anti-pulling harness: especially suitable for dogs that pull a lot on the leash, as it avoids the he alth problems that it can cause a necklace.
We recommend always using a long leash, also called training leash, which we can adjust according to the occasion. It will serve us both in an urban environment and for our excursions to the countryside (if we do not leave our dog unleashed). Likewise, avoid using the extensible leashes, since we lose control over the dog.
Remember that whatever accessory you choose, it must be comfortable o for your dog, wearing it snug but not too tight. Oh, and don't forget the poop bags!
two. Handling
Many people have handling problems, especially if the dog pulls on the leash, won't walk or hasn't learned to walk. That is when they apply techniques indiscriminately, creating confusion in their partner and turning the walk into a tense moment for the animal.
Try to walk in a relaxed way, guiding him gently and stopping whenever the animal stops to urinate. Avoid running, yelling, or trying to get the dog to keep an eye on you, as well as yanking on the leash to get somewhere or stop him from pulling you. Acting calm teaches your dog to walk calmly, too.
Avoid wearing the leash too long or too tight, since in the first case we will not have any control over the dog and in the second we will be stressing it. Whenever possible, try to wear the strap a little loose, to allow some freedom of movement.
At this point it is important to highlight some false myths such as, "don't let the dog go in front of you, because that means he is dominating you" or "if your dog yanks at you, you should pull your leash too."These claims are not based on scientific studies and do not give good results, on the contrary, they cause stress in the dog, who just wants to enjoy his walk. Let us also remember that the dog does not want to dominate us (dominance exists, but it is intraspecific, that is, between members of the same species).
If your dog is not walking properly, it may be due to a behavioral problem, a lack of learning, or high levels of stress (stress can also be positive, for example when the dog is very excited to go outside). In these cases it will be essential to review the five freedoms of animal welfare.
3. Ride Time
This point is very important and varies greatly depending on race, age or individual needs. In general, we could indicate that a dog needs to walk between 40 minutes and two hours, distributed between two and three walks a day. Here we explain how they should be:
- Tomorrow: The first walk of the day should be the longest, most complete and most stimulating, lasting between 15 and 40 minutes.
- Noon: This walk will help us calm our dog and is mainly focused on relieving him. It can last between 10 and 20 minutes.
- Night: Although it is normally the walk to which we spend the most time, the truth is that the chaos and nervousness of this moment of day do not help the dog to relax. The ideal is to dedicate between 15 and 30 minutes to this walk at most.
Remember that molossoid dog breeds, such as the boxer, pug or Dogue de Bordeaux should not be exposed to long walks or intense physical exercise, since the structure of their snout does not allow them to breathe as well. better than other breeds. Likewise, we will not extend the walk to dogs with he alth problems or elderly dogs. Finally, remember that it is essential to avoid high temperatures, as they can lead our dog to heat stroke.
4. The welfare of the dog
Once out on the street, our goal will be to ensure the well-being of the dog, trying to make the walk as enjoyable as possible. Enriching this moment of the day will be very useful to improve the bond with us, help us eliminate stress and will also help us avoid the appearance of behavioral problems.
Some tips to promote well-being during the walk are:
- Let him sniff plants, urine and any trace, as it is a great way to relax and also helps him to know the environment in the one who lives.
- Take him to new places or modify your walk route so that the diversity of stimuli entertains him and makes the walk more enriching.
- Let him lick some urine. Even if you find it annoying or unpleasant, it is part of the natural behavior of dogs. Also, if he is properly vaccinated, you do not have to suffer, since he will not be infected. Although this behavior is more common in males than in females, carrying it out allows them to better identify the dogs in the area.
- Reward behaviors you like, either with treats or kind words.
- Bring water for both of you if you're going for a long walk, dehydration can also lead to heat stroke, don't forget that.
- Learn to enjoy the walk with your dog, without nervousness, punishment, shouting or discomfort. Also don't pay attention to the clock or walk in a hurry, that translates into a bad walk.
Besides everything mentioned, it will be important to learn about the language of dogs and calm signals, in this way we will know which situations seem positive to him and which ones worry him and should be avoided.
5. Socialize whenever possible
If your dog has been properly socialized in his puppy stage, he probably won't have any problems in relationships with other dogs, however, if we prevent our adult dog from continuing to interact, fears may begin to arise or conflicts. It's important to allow dogs to interact with each other, regardless of size, age, or impression they may make on us.
Of course, we must allow our dog to approach other dogs if he wishes, we will never force an interaction, since that can generate discomfort in the dog and, therefore, a bad reaction.
6. Off-Leash Moment & Games
Allowing our dog to enjoy at least 5 or 10 minutes off the leash is very positive for improving the quality of the walk. In fact, many ethologists recommend this practice in each of the dog walks. If you are afraid to release him in an open place, you can always look for a pipi-can or a fenced area. This also allows them to show their natural behavior, which is essential for the well-being of the dog.
At this time we can take the opportunity to practice sniffing exercises, such as the sowing, as they relax and tire them mentally. We can also play a game with him (ball, fresbee, etc.). Of course, avoid forcing him to run if he does not want to, that causes stress.
7. Street Training
If you are practicing basic obedience (sit, come, stay, etc.) or canine skills with your dog, it is highly recommended to practice indoors and outdoors, in this way, your dog will get used to responding correctly in the different situations in which it finds itself, without being influenced by new smells and environments.
However, remember that we must practice obedience once the dog finishes doing his business. Otherwise, your dog will be easily distracted and more nervous, trying to please you and relieve himself at the same time.
Do not forget that a training session should last between 5 and 15 minutes, depending on the dog, so as not to overwhelm him and ensure that he does not get distracted. Reward him with a treat or kind word whenever he does well, so that he relates the walk and obedience in a positive way.
