The 7 Habits of Highly Successful Dog Walkers...

Have a new puppy that's ready to start going on walks, or maybe your dog is a little older but you feel like you could use a change and don't know where to start? This post is for you! We've compiled 7 of the main things we prioritize with all the dogs we've raised over the years from walk 1 to walk 1,000! These tips/approaches are things we do ourselves and would recommend to anyone, no matter the dog or it's age. Let's begin!

1. Approach your daily walks like they're business, not pleasure.

Hear me out...

That doesn't mean you can't enjoy yourself or have fun, it simply means this is supposed to be a structured activity, and isn't play/free time for your puppy (that comes later). I see so many people approaching walk time with their dog like letting a toddler pick an entire day's events (hectic af 😜), usually because they don't actually know how to fulfill their dog and unconsciously think a free-reign walk will do the job.

Your daily walks aren't just for stretching the legs, they are training sessions, especially as you're establishing a baseline! My advice? Always be intentional and structured about them.

2. Teach your puppy boundaries from day one.

Do not let them wander wherever they want (aka, up people's drive-ways and lawns). This is so common to see and is SUCH a bad habit people unfortunately encourage in their dogs, by saying "oh, they pulled for the grass, I had to let them go smell it..." The world is not your puppy's playground. They may pull towards something, but that's why they're on a leash that is controlled by a human who knows rules, boundaries and limitations ;) They don't get to have everything they want. That's not mean, that's just reality & respect.

YOU are leading them on this walk, not the other way around.

3. Walks are not play-dates

This may be controversial but...we don't need to stop and interact with other dogs we see on walks. My general moto: See a dog? Pass a dog!

Neutrality (which is what you want) is mainly taught by seeing, hearing, and co-existing, not necessarily interacting. If you're reading that and thinking, "how do you socialize then?" let me tell you something... What I mentioned above is socializing 🤯

⤵ Socializing isn't just the act of PLAYING with other dogs, it can be anything from watching dogs, co-existing in the same shared environment, doing a task together (a structured walk, for example), as well as eventually smelling, playing, and investigating each other. The latter, however, is usually prioritized, most times with the wrong dogs, and at inappropriate times (when one or both parties are excitable, nervous, hyper, tense, etc). That part should always come later, when things have cooled off and dogs are comfortable and respectful.

Dog's make habits quickly, all it takes is 2-3 times of repetition, and they begin to expect the same outcome each time. This is one of the many reasons we don't suggest daily walks to be a "stop and meet" everyone time, as it can create an expectation that every dog they see is something to pull, bark, and demand for. Your dog being unbothered, and even disinterested, about other animals is a pretty good place to be coming from, and that doesn't happen when you stop and meet every dog you pass.

4. Dedicate at least 10 minutes of your walk time to desensitization

Find somewhere to sit and observe a construction site, a parking lot with people coming and going, a school during pick up/recess time, etc. Again, this isn't so your puppy engages with the activity around them, but to expose them in a controlled way to the energy, noise, and activity. Remember to reward their calm behaviour and engagement with you with some treats 😋 If your puppy is a little too distracted/spooked to physically sit and watch, do structured walking back and forth through the area, or at a slight distance. They are still hearing and seeing the activity, so it still counts!

We cannot stress the importance of desensitization enough!

5. Embrace your role as the security detail

I like to joke with teens & kids learning what to do on walks that they are their dog's bodyguard. There's a lot of crazy stuff out there, and if you're really trying to be proactive about shaping your dog's experiences and associations, you need to be paying good attention to what's around you and how you're going to respond to it (like a security detail 😉 consider yourself Kevin Costner in The Bodyguard).

Your job as a good pet owner is to make decisions that will be best for you and your dog, whether other people understand or respect it or not.

If someone wants to have their dog meet yours, or wants to pet your dog, you're allowed to say yes -- WHEN you want it. However, you're also allowed to say no. Again, your puppy doesn't physically have to be touched by people to be "socialized". Observing people, sitting calmly while they talk, passing them, etc, all is part of the socializing, desensitization process.

I like to go with this answer when someone asks if they can meet/pet my dog and I don't want to: "Aw, thanks for asking! We're actually doing some training right now." and keep walking! Remember, if your tone is upbeat and you pair it with a smile, you can't really go wrong. This goes for all kinds of situations -- need to cross the street because you're unsure of an incoming dog? Cross the street. Don't be afraid of how it looks. You're their "bodyguard", and the best thing you can do for them is to be paying good attention, be confident enough to choose what you need, and at the end of the day, be calm and certain about it!

6. Keep moving

It's so common to see well-meaning owners allowing their dog to stop moving every time they see something on their walk, and I know why they normally do it...They think they're helping their dog by giving them time to "figure out" what they're seeing. But here's why you don't want to do that, unless it's a specifically chosen time to practice some desensitization: This kinda circles back to the above point where we said YOU were leading the walk, not them. Your dog doesn't get to decide when its go time, stop time, dig in your heels time, etc. You are the one making the decisions, because you make better decisions than them 😉

Motion is helpful when you're training dogs, and teaching them to keep going despite there being something distracting they noticed is a skill you will be glad you worked on (TRUST ME!). You don't want a dog that plants their weight and won't move once they've decided they want to fixate on something -- that habit quickly turns into the "look, load, launch" reactivity trio. You don't want that.

So if they see a bag floating on the breeze or a squirrel crossing the street and want to stop moving and get all weird, give a gentle tug of the leash (and sometimes a little mouth click to get attention) and keep moving!

7. Spend a few minutes on confidence building

Never underestimate how BIG small things can be to a puppy, especially when they are having their first out-of-the-house experiences. Things such as bins, pylons, large vehicles, sculptures, shovels, lawn mowers, etc are all new and confusing and you want to start the association on the right foot, so walking them close to and around these items when the item isn't on/moving is excellent and in fact, CONFIDENCE BUILDING. Encouraging them to explore and climb on boulders, steps, and various things off the ground is also great for that. A little challenge (especially when your pup is in the right headspace for it) is what the growing puppy needs!

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Once your walk is complete, it's a great time to let your dog sniff, wander and explore. Go to a field or boulevard and let them have some "free time" for 5-10 minutes to finish off the walk!

We hope this post was helpful as you begin embarking on the next fun adventure with your dog!

You've got this! 💪🏼

-The RLD Team