The Walk
If you’re lucky enough to have a large garden, you may think it does save you taking the dog out for a walk. But beware, because in the dog’s mind, his home and garden are his den. Even if he has an acre to run around in, it is still his home territory and he needs to travel!
Other canines in the wild
If you study other canines such as wild dogs or wolf packs, they will leave the den every day to hunt, scavange or look for other possible places to set up another den. This is set down in their DNA. It is something fundamental to all canines. It is necessary for their well-being psychologically.
Habituate your dog
For those dog owners who think their dog will be happy running around the garden, think again. Your dog needs to walk away from his home and explore other environments and habitats. They need to see different sights and enjoy new smells. They need to be habituated regularly so they can be comfortable and confident with new experiences. They also need to meet as many dogs, different animals and people as possible.
Is your dog bored?
So what happens if a dog does not leave home at all. He will likely become anxious and nervous. Any new noise, smell or event that happens at home will be concerning for him. He is likely to become bored and make his own entertainment such as chewing, barking, destroying his bed, wrecking the furniture, stealing food, going down the bin. There’s no end to what a bored and anxious dog may do. He could even become aggressive.
A working dog is a happy dog
Those dogs that can be happy in and around their home environment, are those that work. Dogs such as farm dogs who are always on the go, herding sheep and travelling the farm with their owner. Working dogs usually have a fulfilling life, doing a job and getting to the end of the day tired from their work. Enjoying their food which they have earned and spending the remainder of the day resting and sleeping.
Take him to the shops!
If your dog does not have a job to do, you must make sure he is well exercised and stimulated by walking around as many different places as possible. Even taking your dog down the high street is of value. He can learn to deal with strange sights,
loud noises and different environments. What’s more, you could take your dog to a dog friendly cafe such as Georgie Porgies in Builth Wells, Powys. The more your dog experiences, the more confident and fulfilled he will be.
Consider your dog’s needs
A bored dog leading a humdrum life with no excitement or new experiences, can become troublesome and difficult. He may yearn for attention from his owner by barking, mouthing, jumping up and being a nuisance to all and sundry. The thing is, if your dog is exhibiting such unwanted behaviours, look into his life and see if you can improve it. After all, his needs are important too. We should not acquire a dog just for our own gratification. He is our best friend, faithful and devoted to us. Give him all he needs to have a happy, healthy and fulfilling life.
Don’t enjoy walking your dog?
Perhaps you don’t walk the dog because he pulls on the lead or he is aggressive towards other dogs? If that’s the case, then you need to address the problem.
Pulling on the lead
The most common reason owners dislike walking their dog is because of pulling on the lead. If you own a powerful breed such as a Rottweiler or German Shepherd, you really need to get to grips with pulling. Apart from the danger of the dog pulling you over or pulling free and running off, a pulling dog is uncomfortable and makes the walk miserable.
First steps
Lead control must start in the home. You can do much of your lead training in house and in the garden, if you have one. Also, you will be more relaxed in your home environment. This means your dog will be relaxed too.
Anxious owners
Many problems of pulling are caused by an anxious owner. If you are expecting problems on your walk, you will likely induce them. If you see a large dog coming towards you what do you do? Do you tighten up the lead in readiness for trouble, or do you relax the lead and look forward to a friendly encounter? Whatever you do, your dog will react to it. Try it when next on your walk but be aware of your own emotions and consequent actions. Be calm and assertive at all times!
Hello, I really want to first appreciate your effort in putting this great website together and writing this article. at first i was reluctant to take my dog for walks because it was not really familiar with me but at the point when it became comfortable i do it every now and then and it is awesome
Hi Benny, your dog would really benefit from being walked every day. In fact, it is essential for a dog’s wellbeing psychologically and physically. Don’t forget to play with your dog too. Teach some basic commands such as sit, stay, down etc.. Having a dog is a full time job and he has needs just as we do. Owning a dog is so rewarding especially if you can connect with him and understand what he is communicating to you. Learn about a dog’s body language. Dogs do not lie to you, they are honest and live in the moment. They are amazing animals.
Thanks for the information. I try to walk my dog as much as possible, but she has neverending energy. She is a little over a year old and is constantly energetic. I have bought toys and chew toys and done as much as I can to keep her busy, but I do have to work and run errands. I can play fetch with her for over an hour and she still is full of energy when we get back to the house. It can be time-consuming. My dog doesn’t pull me when I walk her, but she does pull all of my kids so they don’t like walking her. Do you have any suggestions for an energetic dog?
Hi Jenny, using her brain is just as draining of energy as exercise. Try to encourage her to use her nose to find treats for instance. Also teach her some basic commands such as sit, stay, leave, down etc.. If she already knows basic commands, up the anti with some tricks such as giving a paw for a treat, rolling over, walking on back legs for example. Dogs love to interact with their owner, especially if there are tasty treats on offer or a favourite squeaky toy or ball. Dogs love to play. Make time every day for some play at home, along with regular short training sessions. Dogs are time consuming but the more time you spend with her the more rewarding you will find her to be.
How old is she and what breed? Read up on the breed traits of your dog. It may identify what she may be interested in. The reason she pulls the children is she does not consider them in charge of her. She obviously looks to you as being her leader, so she doesn’t pull you, which is good. I’m sure you will think of some ways of stimulating her mentally as well as physically.
Oh god! I wasn’t aware of this. I thought that if my dog was running around the backyard she’d be fine. She’s a mixed Labrador and she’s really lazy so she doesn’t even bother running around in the yard. Though, I have been noticing that she’s been getting anxious. She has been bitting my bed for the past few months and I just thought that it was her trying to get my attention or wanting to bite something, but I’m guessing it’s because she’s really bored due to her surroundings. I’ll take note of this article and give her more freedom.
She seems to be showing signs of stress. Walking her every day will help her physically and psychologically. You can also teach her some commands and play with her. Get her interested in finding hidden treats around the house for instance. Start by letting her see you putting a treat somewhere simple like on a chair and tell her to ‘find it’. Once she takes it, put another somewhere else letting her see. Once she gets used to the idea, you can start to hide treats and encourage her to sniff them it. This game is our dogs’ favourite and increases their confidence and self esteem. Also, using their brain is just as tiring as exercise. Good luck!
Hi
I like this post; it’s well written and informative, and I love the use of pictures here, it helps with the flow of the article. The choice of topic is a good one as some people do have trouble taking their dog for a walk, so it was good to see some of the ways that you can get better with how you handle the dog when it wants to run off after something.
Thanks for your comment Larissa.