Thinking Beyond Dog Walks

In our pursuit of keeping dogs healthy and happy, we often default to the classic routine of daily walks. In many cases, dog walks are great!

Walks may not work for dogs negotiating reactivity, fear, and other limitations. Also, I hear guardians struggling with young, exuberant dogs who pull that they need extra motivation to leash up because walks just aren't fun. Understandable!

There are myriad ways we can offer our dogs alternative forms of exercise. From mental stimulation to physical challenges, countless activities can engage their body and mind. These are a few!

• Online tricks classes

• Swimming

• Fetch

• Tug

• Agility

• Hide and seek

• Nosework

Many dogs pull more at the beginning of the walk, which makes sense! They're more likely to be excited or have pent-up physical energy, and burning excess energy beforehand can potentially make walking easier.

Remember, taking breaks from walks is okay as long as you’re meeting your dog’s needs in other ways. If a walk isn't going well, abort the mission and try again later!

TRY THIS: Before you take a walk, put five minutes on the clock and play a game with your dog that gets their body moving and their heart rate up. Two faves around here are playing "Getcha" in the yard, where my crew plays keep away, and "Upstairs/Downstairs," where they chase treats that I toss for them up and down flights of stairs.