8 Dog-Walking Mistakes Experts Say Too Many Owners Make
These missteps can stress your dog out.
There’s no denying that taking your furry friend on walks has big-time benefits beyond just a bathroom break. According to the American Kennel Club, walks keep dogs active, bust boredom with mental stimulation, build confidence, and thwart potential behavioral issues like anxiety and aggression. And, of course, it’s a bona fide way to bond. But even the most attentive pet parent can have some missteps along the way.
“Dogs get out of the house for such a short time every day, so it’s important to make the most of their walks,” says certified dog behavior consultant and trainer Juliana DeWillems, owner of JW Dog Training. “It’s up to us as humans to help our dogs be successful.”
Five minutes of training a few days a week can make a huge difference in your dog’s behavior on leash. “Not only does this open up lines of communication between you two and improve their behavior, but it’s also great mental enrichment for them,” DeWillems says.
Here are the top strolling mistakes owners make and how to correct them.
Holding the leash too close to your dog
While your instinct may be to rein in the leash with a death grip, not giving your pup enough room to roam can cause him to pull more, DeWillems says. The goal should be a secure, comfortable hold with enough slack that your dog has space to move around without tripping you.
Approaching another dog without asking first
It’s a big no-no to assume every pup you pass is approachable. “On-leash greetings can be very challenging for dogs because the leash inhibits their natural communication,” DeWillems says. It’s best to skip the meet-and-greet unless the owner says otherwise.
Relying only on leash walks for exercise
Most dogs spend just 30-to-90 minutes a day outside the house, with their main workout happening on a six-foot leash. “Dogs, especially young ones, need to run and move their bodies, so when they are restricted to a short leash as their only exercise, it’s no wonder they pull,” DeWillems says.
Not bringing treats on walks
“Behavior goes where reinforcement flows,” DeWillems says. If you reward your dog for walking well on leash, they are more likely to keep up the pace. Offer treats when your dog walks close enough to you that there is slack in the leash or when they “check in,” i.e., look at you while walking, she says.
Using a leash that’s too short
The shorter the leash, the more likely dogs are to pull, DeWillems says, noting that the traditional six-foot leash is often too restrictive for most dogs. She suggests using an eight- or 10-foot leash instead. “They’ll likely pull less and get more out of their walk because they can sniff and move more freely.”
Going too far—or not far enough
When it comes to walk length, there can be too much of a good thing—or not quite enough, says Mary Burch, Ph.D., certified applied animal behaviorist and AKC family dog director. The sweet spot depends on factors like where you live, outside temperature, and your dog’s activity level. After all, your pup’s ideal stroll isn’t one-size-fits-all.
Not letting your dog stop to sniff the roses
Dogs experience the world nose-first, so sniffing isn’t a detour, it’s a basic need, DeWillems says. Just make sure you’ve got the reins, notes Burch. “Practice walking at different paces—slow for when you need to walk carefully, faster when you need to run to get out of the rain,” Burch says.
Using a retractable leash in a crowded area
Retractable leashes typically aren’t vet-recommended as the best possible choice for your dog, but they do give your pup space to explore. However, that extra freedom can be tricky when navigating a crowd; more leash also means more risk of a human-canine entanglement, which can cause an accident. Save the retractable leash for areas with fewer people around, such as an open field or hiking trails, DeWillems says.
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