The Walk - Walking a Dog

The proper way to walk your dog on a leash - Pack Walks

Walk your dog, do not let your dog walk you. If you allow your dog to walk in front of you while on a lead you are reinforcing in the dog's mind that the dog is alpha over you. Leader goes first. This can lead to many behavioral issues that some regard as a "Breed Trait" or "Personality" when actually it is just your dog in charge of its humans. A dog walking in front does not drain their mental energy. They are not relaxed and following, as they have a big responsibility to be leading the pack. This mental anguish can build up inside of a dog. When a dog is hyper or high strung it means the dog is not getting the proper amount and or type of exercise. If your dog runs laps around your yard or house it is an indication that they are not getting enough exercise.

If you take your dog for long walks daily and they are still hyper ask yourself, when we left for the walk who led the way out the door / gate? Who leads on the walk? Was the dog following you, watching you for direction or were you following the dog? Was the dog smelling where they pleased when they pleased? If you answered "yes" to these questions you are walking your dog while they are in an excited state of mind. They are worried about leading which does not calm the mind. If you answered "no" to the questions than you just may have one of those super high energy dogs who needs even more exercise. It is not a natural state of mind for a canine animal to be so hyper.

Keep in mind it is not solely the act of heeling, but also that you as the human are making the decision for the dog to heel. How often do you walk? Do you MAKE your dog heel or does the dog heel when it pleases just because it gets tired. Just because a dog walks well on a lead, not pulling and for most of the walk walks beside the humans does not mean the humans are being pack leaders. It really is about who is making the decisions. Was your dog calm and in a submissive state of mind when you snapped on their lead? When you left your home who went out the doorway and/or gate first? You or the dog? Is the dog deciding to heel when it wishes, but pulling to the side to sniff or walk out in front when it pleases? Or is the human consciously making the dog heel? If the humans allow the dog to decide because after all he walks "pretty good", then the dog is making the calls and that is allowing your dog to be your leader. If it is all about who is making the decisions, can I decide to let my dog walk in front? No, since instinct tells a dog the leader leads the way, your decision to allow your dog to walk in front will be communicating to your dog that you are allowing him to be your leader.

A pack walk is also the best way to introduce new dogs to one another or to get dogs who already do not like one another to accept each other. Any unwanted reactions from one dog to another should be immediately corrected. By the end of your walk they will feel like they are one pack. It is important that the dogs who are out on the walk are all heeling beside the person holding the leash. Any dog who is walking out in front of their humans will begin to regard himself as the alpha of the group. By making the dogs heel beside or behind the person holding the lead, you are communicating to the dogs that the humans are above them in the pecking order and that the dogs are on the same follower level. Remember, it only takes one alpha dog to set off any other dogs around. If you are walking multiple dogs that usually fight you may need more than one human to walk the dogs. Make sure all human walkers are making the dog they are holding heel and that they are correcting any signs of aggression towards the other dogs. You may allow the dogs to smell one another's back end, but make sure you keep walking in the process. The key is to keep moving forward. Keep the dogs walking and remain confident. The dogs will feel your authority or your weakness. Stay strong.

"The Boxer on the right used to get into awful bloody fights with the two white Great Pyrenees that were very difficult to break up. We began to correct the dogs using Cesar's Way. The results were amazing. After 6 years of fighting it only took a day to communicate this was not acceptable and they never fought again. We still had to watch them for signs and correct them at the right moments. However as soon as we started walking the Boxer with the Great Pys all signs of the desire to fight between any of the dogs vanished. Here she is walking right next to them."

All dogs, regardless of size or breed, need to be taken on daily walks, jogs, runs, bike rides, rollerblading, any means you have to get your dog moving. Taking your dog for a walk is an important ritual in keeping your dog mentally stable. A dog, as an animal, is a walker/traveler by instinct. Packs of dogs get up in the morning and walk. Simply having a large back yard or taking your dog to the dog park is not going to satisfy this instinct in your dog. As Cesar Millan, the Dog Whisperer says, "To your dog, your back yard is like a large fish bowl in which they are trapped inside. Fish swim, birds fly and dogs walk. Having a dog should not be about only fulfilling our human needs, we owe it to our dogs, to give them what THEY instinctually need."

For a dog to be mentally stable, you as an owner must take your dog for daily walks to release mental and physical energy. The proper way to walk a dog is the dog walking either beside you, or behind you, never in front of you. This may seem petty in a human's mind, however it means a lot in a dogs mind. When a human allows a dog to walk in front of them, they are sending signals to the dog that he is leading the human. Instinct tells a dog that the leader goes first. A lack of exercise, allowing the build up of the mental energy which a proper walk releases, and permitting a dog to be pack leader can cause many behavioral problems in a dog -- such as, but not limited to, hyper activity, neurotic, and/or obsessive compulsive behaviors, which are signs of a dog who is not mentally stable. An unstable dog is not a happy dog. Excitement in a dog is NOT a sign of happiness. Dogs who act very excitedly when their humans come home are showing signs of a lack of exercise and or leadership. For a dog, excitement does not indicate happiness. In most cases it is a sign of a dog who is not mentally stable. When you come home after being gone, avoid speaking to your dog in an excited manner for a few minutes. Go and do something else first. If we see dogs has human, the thought of a dog's excitement not being a sign of happiness, does not make sense, however, we must remember dogs are canines, not humans.

I have heard many people state that making a dog walk beside or behind them is mean. Those who actually believe this are seeing the dog as having human traits. It is actually more cruel to assume your dog is just like you in his feelings and instincts and not see him as the canine animal that he is. Think outside the box and accept that your dog is an animal with different needs than a human.

Many people take their dogs out for a walk daily, however, the dog is walking in front of them. Getting a dog to walk properly on a lead is not as hard as it may seem, yes, even your dog(s). (You can walk more than one dog properly on a lead.)

When getting ready to walk your dog, call the dog to you, do not go to the dog to put the lead on. After the dog comes to you make him or her sit calmly before snapping on the lead or slipping on the collar. Retractable leashes are not recommended, as they give the handler less control. The way you leave your house and property is also important. Your dog has to go out the door after you. If you put the leash on the dog and or leave the house while the dog is excited and leading you, you will be setting the mood for the rest of the walk to an excited state.

Take your dog to the front door and open the door. Make the dog sit quietly, do not allow the dog to bolt out the door. The dog needs to see you are the one deciding when it's time to leave.

As soon as your dog is sitting quietly at the exit it's time to leave. Be sure you exit the house before the dog, even if it's just a step before the dog.

The collar should be far up on the neck, giving you more control over the dog. A body harness is not recommended for walking dogs. Harnesses were designed for pulling. Weight pulling, sled pulling etc.. The harness goes around the strongest point on the dogs body making it difficult to control the dog. Keeping the lead high up on the neck the same way they do in dog shows gives you more control with less effort. A great tool for keeping the collar high up on the neck is the Illusion Collar. There should be no tension in the lead. Do not allow the dog to pull and don't constantly pull on your dog. Relax.

The lead should be short and hang loose. If the dog starts to pull, snap (tug) the lead up and to the side throwing him off balance, then hold the lead loosely again (a very quick tug). If the dog starts getting too excited and you're not keeping him beside or behind you, stop and make the dog sit. Wait until he is calm than start again. Do not call to the dog when you start walking again, just start walking. Pack leaders do not call the pack to come with them, the pack instinctually follows. The dog needs to learn he is following you, and tune into the person walking the dog. Do not praise your dog for walking calmly. This only creates excitement and you are more likely to pull your dog out of his calm, submissive mind.

The dog is not to sniff the ground and relieve themselves where they please; they are to concentrate on following their handler while walking. The person walking the dog decides when the dog is allowed to sniff or pee, not the dog. It is ok to allow your dog to sniff around and do his business, however, only when you decide it is ok. The dog needs to see you are leading him, he is not leading you.

If you pass a barking dog or other distraction, keep moving forward. If your dog averts its attention to the distraction, give a tug on the lead to avert the attention back to the walk at hand. If the tug does not work you can also use your foot, not to kick the dog, but to touch him enough to snap his attention back on you. If you find the dog pulling, stop and make the dog sit. Correct any excited behavior over the distraction with a tug, and if that does not work you can also use a firm touch to the neck using your hand as a claw. Do this as soon as you see the dog starting to avert his gaze toward the distraction, or as soon as you see a look in your dog's eyes that tells you he is going to begin barking or growling. Timing is everything. This must be done right before the behavior happens or at the exact moment it starts. You do not want to wait until it escalates. If you wait too long before correcting a dog (were talking seconds), the dog may not even hear you; he will be too focused on the distraction. When correcting your dog, match your dogs intensity.

Walk at a good pace, keeping your shoulders held high. Dogs can sense tension or lack of confidence. Walk proud, like you are a strong leader. A dog will respond to this, they will sense it. Notice how there is no tension on the lead and the collar is up high on the neck.

I like to have my dog sit when I stop at crosswalks, etc... Sitting down is not necessary, however, the dog remaining calm is necessary. This dog decides to lie down while his owner stops to talk.

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Incorrect way to walk your dogs.

Correct way to walk your dogs.

Picture taken two weeks later after working with the dogs on a daily basis. Read a true story about how the proper walk has helped this owner and her three dogs. A Dog Fight - Understanding your Pack.

Putting a dog back pack on a dog is one way to make the walk more meaningful by giving the dog a job to do. Throw a couple of water bottles in the pack to add some weight. The dog will get a better workout, and it will also slow him down a bit, making it easier to walk. This is a good idea for some of the more active breeds who have high energy levels.

If you are going off to work for the day, the dog should be walked before you leave the house. This will put the dog into a rest mode for the time you are gone.  Dogs should also be walked before they eat, fulfilling the dog's instinct to work for food.

See Video of a Vizsla who needs more exercise. Notice how very eager to please the dog is, yet has more built up energy than she knows what to do with. Hear the whine? She is obviously stressed and not relaxed. To put it into perspective stand up and start acting like this dog. Do it for 15 minutes straight (don't forget to whine). Now picture yourself acting like this all of the time, day after day. This dog needs extensive daily exercise in order to drain her energy and be calm.

Troy, the 6 month old Blue Nose Pit. "My fiancé and I would like to thank you for the information provided on your site. Our puppy was pretty well behaved, but after reading your site he is even better than we thought he could be. After only two walks he is now heeling perfectly- and we didn't even have to use a special collar. We had already been doing most of the things on the maintaining dominance list, but with the addition of making him go out of the door after us and waiting to eat his food, he is listening even better."

Sometimes bad weather prevents us from getting outside and walking our dogs. Even on these days dogs still need to release energy. Teaching your dog to walk on a treadmill is an excellent way to do this.

While getting outside and walking is best, a treadmill can work as a substitute when that is not possible. It also can be a very good bonding experience for both owner and dog as the dog exercises side by side with the owner.

Dogs, of all breeds and types, who are taken for daily walks, and who are made to walk beside or behind the owner, are less likely to be destructive, obsessive, have separation anxiety and/or dominancy issues, among many other behavior problems. Dogs with higher energy should be taken for longer, more vigorous walks, some two or more times a day. For a dog, walking is a primal instinct. Fulfilling this need in your dog will make for a happier dog and happier owners.

It only took one day to teach these two 120 pound Great Pyrenees how to walk properly on a lead. Both went from unruly, pulling every which way, to walking right next to the human. A couple of backwards boots in the butt (not a kick, but a bop) and a verbal, one word "Hey" along with a sideways tug at the moment they were thinking about pulling, and the dogs got the message that the human was boss. Let's not forget the ever-so-importance of the calm, firm, confidence of the handler making a huge difference in the success of the walk. The dogs can feel energy and would not have responded to nervous, hyper, scared or tense human emotions. The rest of the walk went smoothly with neither trying to pass. The dogs enjoyed knowing where they stood, and the human can now take them on more walks, because she is able to control both dogs by herself.

Walking off Leash

A commonly asked question: Some of us are fortunate enough to have a secluded, safe place to walk our dogs off leash. I am often asked if a dog who walks off leash is still seeing you as pack leader. Yes, it is possible for a dog to run and explore the woods on a walk off leash in a safe area and still see you as pack leader. To accomplish this they need to see you making the calls and deciding when it is ok to explore and when it is time to come back to you. A simple test, and something you should do before giving the command to explore is, ask your dog to walk with you heeling without the leash. If they are willing to heel next to you when you ask them without a leash, you are doing something right. A truly happy, balanced follower will enjoy walking beside you when you ask them. Leash or no leash. If you are not able to do this keep working on it. Our best friends are worth the effort.

Walking FAQ:

1. Question

Our dog obeys most commands but when we walk her (which we do morning and night) she has a split personality and goes crazy when we pass other people or dogs. She tries to pass us on the leash when she sees them. Any suggestions would be most appreciated.

Answer

The goal in walking is to have the dog heeling beside or behind you with a loose leash. The loose leash is the reward, the tension on the leash is the correction. Avoid pulling your dog as a correction as that instinctually makes the dog want to pull back. The correction is a snap, not a pull.

The trick to getting a dog to stop this behavior is convincing the dog you are stronger minded than they are, along with good timing. First in your own mind you have to not picture your dog spazzing towards the things she passes or your dog will feel it and will be more likely to do it. (dogs can feel the emotions of others around them). Therefore think in your mind something confident. No anger, no anxiety just confidence. Like a mother grizzly bear. With my own dogs I lower my voice so it almost sounds like a growl. Do not use the dog's name but rather a sound or another word like, "Hey! Or "Atttt" Or "Leave it!"

As you are walking watch your dog for signs that she even THINKS about getting excited and give a snap to the leash, up and to the side to throw the dog off balance. For larger breed dogs who get over excited you can use the side of your foot to boot the dog in the butt behind you. Not a kick but a redirect. Your timing must be right. Not a second after she is already excited or it will he harder to control her. Watch the dog's eyes, watch for their ears to become alert. Watch the tail to go up. Correct as soon as the thought crosses the dog's mind, and before the dog reacts. You have to match your dog's intensity without going too far over. If you go too far over it will not work, if you are less it will not work. Use your body to step in front of the dog if you have to block them because they are going for it.

Try and keep walking. Do not stop at the person or object. Keep walking. Seek out other things the dog barks at and practice. The more you pass things and correct the dog the less the dog will react if you are convincing that you mean it. In your head think of something you are passionate about. Not angry but passionate and use that energy towards your dog. It is a mind game. Who is more strong willed. Think of people who own horses. Somehow a 100 pound lady is able to lead a 1,000 pound horse. The horse's strength can easily drag the person, no matter how large the person is. Its all in the mind to be able to lead them and have them listen. Who is the stronger being inside, not outside. You have to convince the dog that the stronger minded being is you and you mean business.

I also recommend the Illusion collar for medium to larger size breeds. It keeps the collar that controls the dog high up on the neck, like they do in the dog shows. That is the weakest point of the dog's body. The chest is the strongest so you want to have something that allows you to use less muscle power. Note: this collar is not recommended for dogs who's neck measures less than 13 inches at the base, or weighs less than 18 lbs. Dogs with any breathing problems, such as "pushed-in faces" that restrict breathing; dogs with trachea or throat problems, such as Pomeranians; and dogs with elongated, overly slender necks, such as Greyhounds, should NOT use the collar. The collar was also not intended for dogs under the age of one.

2. Question

Is forcing your dog to walk beside you still establishing that you are the leader if the dog is pulling but you are able to keep the dog next to you?

Answer

No, it's not the same thing to physically have to hold the dog next to you. The dog has to be willing to heel on their own because they are following you, not because you are strong enough to hold them back.

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To help you learn to do this, we strongly suggest Cesar Millan DVD's and or Cesar Millan Books to every dog owner, from Chihuahua to Pit Bull. An excellent guide to communicating with, understanding,  and controlling your dog.

© Dog Breed Info Center® All Rights Reserved. Written by Sharon Maguire

 

 

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