5 Tips for the Best Dog Walks
Whether you have a lazy potato or super energised dog, daily walks are a fact of life for any pawrent. Here are 5 quick tips to help your walks run smoothly (pun intended).
Stick to a routine
Dogs respond well to R-O-U-T-I-N-E. A daily schedule that is unpredictable or regularly changes can increase your dogs’ stress levels because they like to know what to expect from their environment. Keeping a routine with walks at the same time and on the same route each day can help to alleviate bad behaviours from your dog such as pulling, sniffing everything, and moving in different directions. Walking on the same route removes the excitement of ‘newness’ because your dog knows the path and has already sniffed the smells and knows what to expect on his daily walk.
Use a front clip harness
If your dog pulls on walks, then a front clip harness might be a big help in alleviating this bad habit. A front clip on a harness provides more control over the shoulder and chest area in comparison to using the back clip. Pulling is deterred because when your dog pulls, the front clip pivots them to the side towards you, rather than keeping straight ahead with full momentum. This pivot allows you to guide your pup back to walk by your side. Our Lifestyle Harness gives you two options with the traditional back clip and a front clip d-ring, both in a strong metal. If the front clip doesn’t work for your pup, you can always switch it up to use the back clip and vice versa!
Bring treats
When out and about on walks, your authority with your fur baby is only as good as their interest in you. If the dog across the park or noises in the distance are more interesting to them than your command, they will prioritise and respond to the other stimulus. Enter the ultimate training tool - treatos! Bringing dog treats along on your walks are an excellent incentive to redirect your dog’s attention to you when something else takes their focus. For weight management, we use our pupper’s kibble on walks as traditional dog treats can be high calorie and harder to feed on the move.
Wear an ID tag
Our dogs are like our children (fur-baby is an apt name), so even if you always walk with your dog on leash, it doesn’t hurt to put an ID tag on their collar with your contact details in case they ever get lost. It’s much easier and less effort for someone who finds your dog to quickly call the number on the ID tag, rather than take your pup to the local vet and get their microchip scanned. If your pup goes for off-leash walks, wearing a dog ID tag is particularly important should they ever venture too far one day. A little trick with the Bisous Lifestyle Harness is to secure your dog’s tag to the front d-ring (see image below), so whether you walk with a harness or collar, your pup can always be easily identified.
Stay focused
Please - leave your phone at home, or at very least in your pocket. Not paying attention to your pooch and being distracted on your phone while on dog walks can present many dangers. Although dog walks can be tedious, use the time to practice your dog’s training program and strengthen your bond with them. Enjoy the simple moments and memories with your fur baby - joie de vivre.
