A tired dog is a happy dog, right? Well not necessarily. A dog that has been appropriately exercised and has all of their needs met is more likely to be a happy dog!
For many dogs the daily walk is the most enjoyable part of their day, sometimes people get stuck in a rut doing the same walk, for the same length of time, playing the same game of fetch. But in truth each dog is an individual and what is the perfect walk for one dog is going to be different to the next. This could change over your dog’s life as their needs change.
There are so many ways to enhance walks with your dog so I’m going to give you a few things to think about below:
What are your individual dog’s needs?
Is your dog getting older, do they have joint problems, are they anxious, fearful, dog reactive? Do you have a young puppy? A new rescue? It’s important to consider these things.
🐾 Elderly dogs or those with health problems will often benefit from more frequent and shorter walks.
🐾 Dogs with joint problems such as arthritis may have preferences as to what substrate they find more comfortable to walk on.
🐾 Anxious or fearful dogs will likely benefit by going out at quieter times of the day or avoiding specific things.
🐾 Those that are ‘reactive’ towards other dogs fare better in locations where other dogs donot rush up to them.
🐾 Young puppies may not want to walk far and can be easily overwhelmed.
🐾 A new rescue dog will often benefit from a smaller world for now, lots of walks and experiences during the early stages of settling in often causes problems; even if they seem okay.
What makes your dog tick?
Every dog is different and walks need to be tailored to them to ensure they are getting what they needfrom them.
The social butterfly: Do you have a dog that wants to meet every person or dog? If you have a dog that is a social butterfly they may feel their happiest when you walk with friends/family and their dogs. If your dog is boisterous you may have avoided doing this if the other dog prefers to be left alone but you could consider going to enriching places such as woodland and keeping your dog on a long line, walking parallel with the other dogs at a suitable distance. It really does depend on the individual dogs and we can’t force them to be friends.
It is important to ensure that playful dogs are not pestering other dogs; just because their intention is to play it does not make the interaction appropriate and it can be outright unpleasant for the other dog. If the other dog is not mirroring those play signals and is trying to get away then you should make sure your dog is not able to persist by keeping your dog on a lead (or long line) and rewarding them for coming away from the other dog, you can encourage your dog to sniff around at a distance (see the training tip from the April newsletter!) to give the other dog space and to encourage your dog to behave calmly rather than pestering and becoming a nuisance.
The fetch addict: Do you have a dog that would play fetch all day? There are so many different games you can play on your walks other than fetch that are more beneficial for your dog’s well-being.
Did you know that repetitive fetch games can be detrimental to your dog’s physical, mental and emotional health? Some dogs will become addicted to ball throwing to the extent they will not do anything else, they don’t sniff, explore of experience the world around them and may even bark out of frustration if the ball is not thrown. This prevents them from engaging in normal canine behaviour which can have negative effects on their emotional health because their needs are not being met. The ‘rush’ they feel during repetitive ball games activates the stress response and this can even cause behaviour problems. The physical exertion can lead to injuries and joint problems such as arthritis.
But what to do instead with your fetch addict? Well you don’t have to go cold turkey on them….this could be frustrating for your dog! And it’s okay to do a little bit of fetch but it’s best to do shorter distances to avoid your dog running at high speed and coming to a sudden stop and you can mix up the odd ball throw with other activities. You can encourage other behaviour such as sniffing, finding hidden treats, sniffing, finding the hidden ball, safely climbing on or jumping overthings. Both fields at Martham Paw Ground are a great location for trying out a few different activities safely that you can then transfer into the real world.
The pavement pounder: Do you usually walk your dog around the block every day? Does your dog have the opportunity to engage in normal canine behaviour such as freely moving around, sniffing, exploring, watching things and using their body in different ways?
Pavement walks can easily be topped up into a more enriching experience. Try taking a different route, or let your dog choose which route you take! Most dogs love the opportunity to explore new locations and you can think outside the box with this; empty car parks and quiet towns can be an enriching experience for many dogs. My own dog absolutely loves to walk around towns and car parks but she doesn’t like it when the pavements are extremely busy with people or during heavy traffic so we do this at quieter times.
Allowing your dog to choose the walk is an enlightening experience that you may not have even considered allowing, we influence so much of their lives already. Even a weekly ‘choice walk’ will add value to your dog’s life. What would happen if you setaside 1-2 hours so you’re not feeling rushed, attach the lead and then followed your dog? Of course you will need to ensure they are not leading themselves into danger such as roads/private property and are not invading anyones personal space; but it is such a rewarding experience for many dogs to be able to choose. They may go further or less far than you expected, they may take you to a location you hadn’t considered before. Allow them to sniff for as long asthey wish, it’s a great way to get to know your dog and their preferences.
The couch potato: If your dog is not so keen on exercise you may find that they benefit from switching up your walk locations. Novel, fun places and shorter walks can keep them enjoyable. Are there places you can drive them to, then allow them to explore at their own pace?
It is important to consider your dog’s needs and if there are any underlying problems; is your dog in pain? Are they overweight? Are they anxious but feel safer and happier at home? If your dog is not wanting to engage with the world around them or refusingto walk; please see your vet to check for underlying issues.
If your dog enjoys a quieter life, then a short walk around a quiet estate may be suitable, or taking them to the countryside to mooch around. If they love to sit and watch the world go by; why not have a short walk to a bench where you can people watch or listen to the sounds of nature. If your dog enjoys it; why not.
If the walk was short you can always top up by playing any games they enjoy at home.
The canine athlete: Do you have a working breed, high energy or very intelligent dog that thrives on mental stimulation? These dogs are unlikely to be fulfilled by the average walk around the block or a quick run at the park. These dogs need to use their body and their brain. Often these types of dogs can have behaviour problems because their physical and mental needs are not being met.
Dogs like this usually benefit from adventure walks involving various terrain and lots to explore and see. Being on a short lead can be very frustrating so do consider using a longline in open areas if safe, unless they have great recall and can be let off the lead. Dogs like this usually love to train, play and do jobs for you.
Think about what your specific breed (or breed type) was designed to do; a spaniel will probably relish in the opportunity to find things with their nose; this can be as simple as hiding a treat or their favourite toy. Hounds will likely enjoy following smells on the ground. Changing directions is often particularly enjoyable forscent-driven dogs: do you go to a park and walk around the edge? If so you can zig zag in different directions instead.
If you have a dog that loves a mental challenge such as a collie or a poodle they will likely love learning or practising tricks. You can practise these around distractions (just ensure you’re not making it too hard for them, if they are too distracted you should try in a quieter area or further away from those distractions).
What about a game of tug, or hide and seek? The possibilities are endless! If you know what your dog enjoys doing; be creative and turn it into a game to replicate in different places. The fields at Martham Paw Ground are great if you have games or activities that require props as you can set them up beforehand in the field without having to carry them too far.
Dogs like this may benefit from training classes if they are comfortable in a group or from the expertise of a good trainer to show you the activities you can play to work their body and brain effectively.
The young puppy: With young puppies I recommend forgetting the “walk” as we know it. Puppies don’t need daily exercise in the same way that adult dogs do and doing too much risks overwhelm. Instead you need to aim for novel, positive experiences several times per week. This includes introducing your puppy to various new locations so that they can be familiar with and cope with these types of environments when they are older and you want to walk them there.
And your puppy may not yet be fully vaccinated. But this doesn’t mean you can’t take them out. You can carry them, you could use a buggy, allow them to watch from the safety of the car or you can even take a tarpaulin and place a large blanket over the top to allow your puppy to observe the environment at ground level.
Please do not wait until after the second vaccination before introducing your puppy to different places as the best time to do this ends as early as 12 weeks of age.
It’s important to not overwhelm puppies and you also need to prove them with safety and familiarity. So it’s best to avoid taking a puppy to busy dog walking parks where they may get mobbed and overwhelmed by other dogs. But you could attach a longer lead and go to quieter places where dogs are on-lead so your puppy can observe other dogs at a distance and explore the environment. Puppies need plenty of time to sniff and watch everything and to process all of the information they are taking in. If your puppy is scared you’ll need to provide them with safety; perhaps retreating to an area they felt happier or by sitting on the floor next to them.
The puppysocialisation stage is a big subject, too big to cover here but this gives you some pointers and there are some puppy sessions coming up at Martham Paw Ground.
Other things to consider:
🐾 Rest days. How do you feel when you are very busy and active each day? Probably a bit stressed! Rest days are so important and don’t mean doing nothing (unless your dog is okay with that) but could involve reducing their walk, reducing the intensity of the walk, avoiding certain stressful triggers and doing calming activities at home instead.
Allowing those stress hormones to reduce is so important for your dog’s well-being, particularly if your dog has any behaviour problems as these are often fueled by stress hormones.
I recommend always having a more restful day after a day involving lots of experiences or high activity.
🐾 Expectations. Careful not to create a need or expectation for daily high levels of exercise. I meet plenty of people that say their dog needs 2+ hours exercise each day or they will not settle. Unfortunately this may not be sustainable in the longterm; what if you are unwell? What if your dog is recovering from an injury and is ordered by the vet to rest? What about extreme weather when long walks are not possible?
Also consider if you are setting up an expectation to have a walk at a certain time each day and if this is suitable for you and your dog in the long term. Some dogs thrive on routine so it is important to consider each dog as an individual. Some dogs are betterbeing able to go with the flow meaning they can cope if your daily routine is not consistent.
Do ensure that your dog can cope with less and this is where being creative can come in useful. Once you’ve created a few activities you enjoy doing together you can vary what your dog does and expects from the day. You can introduce calmer activities at home to top up shorter walks.
🐾 The weather! We are lucky enough in the UK to have quite unpredictable weather. One day might be hot and sunny; the next rainy and windy. Not all dogs are happywith all types of weather so you can vary where you go and what you do to ensure they are having a positive experience. There’s no point dragging your poor dog behind you on their lead in the rain if they find it unpleasant. It can be helpful to have a few different locations that you know are more suitable, for your individual dog, in different types of weather.
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Blog written by Claire Mcknespiey of Educating Paws.
https://educatingpaws.co.uk/
