The dog walk is not a complicated activity. You walk and the dog ultimately follows. But for some it can be a dreadful experience. This is my second article that focuses on the important subject of dog walking. Please make sure you read my first article titled “The Uncontrollables Walk the Dog & Save Yourself” as we look at the not so pleasant dog walking companions. You know them, the barkers, jumpers and the lovable pullers of course.
I know that walking the dog sometimes ends up at the very bottom of your priority list and it seems there’s always a reason not to walk the dog:
- There are those days when you’re tired and you just don’t want to move, let alone go outside.
- Perhaps you don’t have a good relationship with your dog, in fact you might even dislike him.
- Your TV shows are about to start.
- Today you have absolutely no time for a dog walk because of your never ending busy schedule.
- The dog you’re in charge of walking isn’t even yours!
- You don’t like picking up after your dog takes care of his business, so no walking for you.
- The kids will do it.
- The dog needs a bath.
- It’s raining, it’s windy and you haven’t bought any rain gear.
- You’re lazy.
- The backyard is a good dog walk substitute.
- Maybe you just don’t like walking period.
I have to tell it like it is, whether you like it or not.
If you have a dog, big or small, if you have a lovable furry monkey, then you absolutely must walk him. It’s as simple as that. There are no excuses for not walking your dog. You have to dig deep down inside your heart and gather up some willpower and strength to gear up and take the cutesy for his greatly needed walk. Stop making excuses and just do it. You can’t possibly come up with a new reason everyday to cancel the walk because you’re going to drive yourself and your dog ‘bonkers’.
Stop exonerating yourself from one of your dog’s most crucial activities in his entire life. It’s a waste of time, trust me. I assure you that it’s not as bad as you might think. In fact if you stay open minded and follow some of my super easy tricks, you might actually learn to enjoy it, even if it’s just a little bit.
3 Easy Peasy Dog Walking Tips for the Rationalizing Dog Owners
1. Change your mindset about the famous dog walk. You’ve created a certain negative image and label of the walk and I want you to throw it away. It’s that negative attitude that’s locking the doors and contaminating the very nature of what a dog walk actually represents. One of the most important times that you will share with your dog. A walk represents mutual respect and trust between the dog and his owner. You don’t want to miss out on all that. I promise that walking your dog will greatly strengthen the wonderful bond you have with your canine companion. From now on I want you to associate happy thoughts to the walk. Put a huge smile on your face and kindly invite your dog for a wonderful walk. Go on out and enjoy these special times with your buddy.
2. You come in, dog goes out. The moment you enter your house, grab the lead and your anxious dog and hit the pavement. Don’t think twice and ruin the great flow at the front door. A quick dog walk around the block for 10 even 20 minutes is all it takes to get started. It’s an excellent opportunity because you’re already kitted. Use that energy and go for it.
3. Combine quick errands with your dog walk. If you’re running out the dog for some quick errands grab the dog with you. Why not, you’re going out for a bit anyways. Take the dog with you while you check your mail, pick up your toddler at daycare or even drop something off at a neighbor’s house. It can all be done with your pup by your side.
Don’t tarnish the great dog walk with unnecessary excuses because you’re preventing your dog from truly enjoying his life. Please take him out. He needs it, he deserves it, he’s essentially a dog!
Try out some of my tips and let me know how things went on your new dog walk. I want to hear some of your tricks on how you manage your dog walks. What are some of your greatest and not so greatest dog walking experiences?
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{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
Amen to that: “Dogs must get walked”. To our dogs their walks are more important than food. Jasmine says “I can always find something to eat when we are out there in the woods”. I’m sure she probably could, too :-)
One thing she taught me, walk is of the utmost importance to her. We walk our dogs religiously, no matter what happens, unless the Earth exploded.
YES absolutely Jana.
Great job, keep it up girls :)
I’m so happy for the both of you.
4 Paws way up for being an aware loving dog owner!!!!
The same rules apply with our daily dog walks.
Nothing can come between Halle’s supa important walks!!!
Even if we sleep in late, Halle will wake us up and off we go. Put something on and explore the world.
Even it it means wearing sunglasses and a cap, we are out the door :)
The walks are of utmost importance in our house, no matter what!
Plus we love it too :)
We have a beautiful balanced beast of a Weimaraner – can you imagine what our days would be like if we skipped the walks???
I don’t even want to think about it LOL.
From Halle to Jasmine “we would have a blast us two girls hangin’ around in the forest – sticks are the ‘bestest’ to destroy!!! What do you generally find?
I wish more people understood the importance of how walking is a MUST! There would be no homeless dogs if this were the case. It’s part of the commitment. A tired dog is a good dog, and walks are fulfilling, bonding times for both of you. I feel completely out-of-sorts if we miss our walk due to extreme rain or travel. In the event of such a rain, we’re out the door as soon as it stops. Leo doesn’t mind missing walks (except that he, the couch potato, becomes a force to be reckoned with at about 3pm if he hasn’t been walked) but Kansas is absolutely adamant about her walks. As soon as I’m up, she’s up. If we have to put off the first-thing-in-the-morning rounds, she reminds me all day that we’re off our schedule, that I “forgot” something, until I remedy this. It was so sad and frightening, the weekend that she injured herself and was in so much pain that she DIDN’T even question as to why she wasn’t being walked. I’ve never seen her so uninterested in keeping up with the daily routine. She was so content to be kept at home at rest all weekend. It was very disconcerting. Routine, consistency and walks are key to keeping your dog sane and well-behaved.
Too bad those of us reading this already do walk our dogs! I wish everyone would walk their dog for even 10 minutes a day. The benefits are incredible. Not only is the dog getting exercise, but she is getting out and experiencing new things so that seeing another dog isn’t such a big “event”! I feel bad for the dogs that absolutely freak out with excitement just because Ace and I walk by.
I think one of the reasons people don’t walk their dogs is because their dogs aren’t trained properly, and therefore the walk is not a pleasant experience. If people are too lazy to train the dog, then they could at least buy a Gentle Leader, but it seems like most dog owners don’t even know about those.
I soooo agree =)
Tons of people I know consider letting their Dog hit a couple of laps in the backyard. Generally it’s the same peeps that don’t get along at all with their furry companions and choose to let them run in the backyard instead of taking them for a nice walk.
Back in the day, what my parents called “fun time outside” for our German Shepherd waz usually sprints around the pool or getting the kids to do it too (thus 2 birds with one stone ) heeh……
Very much enjoy da post!!!
Dogs rule!!
This article is hitting a nerve and I’m not surprised, peeps need to get walking and stop avoiding it.
Completely agree with you Lindsay. People DO avoid walking because of their dogs supposed unacceptable behaviors.
If only they can trust in the power of the walk and understand that regular walks are the single first starting point to diffuse many behavior problems.
Whenever people don’t want to walk or avoid it for whatever reason the goal is to just get out for any minimal amount of time. 15 minutes if not an hour, whatever it takes to get the ball rolling is a hundred times better than refusing to get out the door with dog on leash!
This is a great post and so funny! I especially enjoyed the list of excuses because I am familiar with a lot of them! I do walk my dogs, but not daily. This post inspires me to try to do that.
Hello Vish, Asia and Halle!
thanks for your post about dog walking. I take out Poppon, my dog for walking since 2 weeks already, although my family has a large garden. And it seems, he is happier and nicer. He becomes friendly also to other dogs or people he met on the street. The first two or three days were horrible, but that was my fault for not knowing that he would fear to go on busy Indonesia street (at 5:30 am already). but i changed the route to a quieter side walks along paddyfields and he walks with me.
Morning dogwalking has also brighten up my days, because Poppon kept on waking me up since two days ago! I’m sure asking for a dog walk…That way he wake me up early (we walk usually at 5-6am) so that I won’t late for the day also! My mom joined me since 3 days for jogging too, and she hasn’t done that in years since she was become sick! and she is happy.
today i tried to run him on a field without a leash and he was so happy to be able to chase butterflies and frogs. I worried that he would not come back to me, but I really need to trust my dog. He come back on the first call of his name!
thanks for your advice!