Essential Dog Walking Information and Techniques
All dogs need exercise, and one of the things that they love most is a good walk. Unfortunately, many dog owners either don’t have the time, or don’t realize the importance of walking their dogs regularly.
Others give it a go, but give up after being hauled around the neighborhood one time too often by an unruly dog. If any of the aforementioned scenarios describes you, pay attention, because I’d like to share a piece of information that every dog owner should know.
“Dogs have to have their walks!”
Any dog trainer will tell you that daily exercise is a must for all dogs. For some, 30 minutes to an hour may be enough, for others 2 hours will just be getting started. But the point is they all need exercise, and walking should be the core component of that.
But dog walking is more than simply clipping on the dog’s lead and heading out the door. A few simple guidelines will make it an altogether more enjoyable experience, for you and the dog.
Here are some of the things you should be doing;
* Choose walk times carefully, avoiding the heat of the day. If you do have to walk when it’s hot, be sure to take water along for your dog, because dogs can overheat quite easily.
* Walk with your dog beside you, not in front of you. Allowing the dog to always be in the lead gives him the notion that he is the pack leader.
* Always keep slack on the lead. Every time you pull the dog back you just encourage him to pull in the opposite direction. Rather stop, wait for the dog to calm down, then continue.
* Maintain control of the walk. Don’t allow you dog to dictate direction and particularly when to stop. Sniffing around and marking should only happen when you allow it.
* Avoid other dogs. You never know how two dogs are going to react towards one another. Quite often these encounters will end up in a fight. If you have a small dog and a large dog approaches, pick you dog up and turn your back. If your dog is large, turn and walk in the opposite direction.
An unvaccinated dog may also be a health risk to your dog, so its better to be safe than sorry.
* The right leash or collar. Pick a leash / collar combination that is strong enough to keep the dog in check, but still comfortable for him to wear. Also ensure that your dog wears his id tags. You never know when he might slip his leash.
If your dog does escape, the id tag will hopefully result in him being returned safely. For an extra level of security you may also want to have your dog micro-chipped.
* Lastly, enjoy yourself! Hanging out with your dog is one of the funnest things you can do, two buddies working out together and enjoying the pleasure of each others company. What could be better.
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