Categorized | Canine behavior

How to Walk a Dog

Posted on 05 July 2009 by petmyforum

Picture is Ricky on leash.

How to Walk a Dog

from wikiHow – The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Walking your dog is a fun activity for you and your pup to do together. Not only will you both be getting exercise, but most dogs enjoy it too!

Steps

Pick up your lead/leash. This signals to the dog that it is about to go for a walk. Make a dog sit patiently as you clip on the lead. Use a treat to lure the dog to sit if you have to. Make sure you only clip on the lead when the dog is sitting still, going for a walk is on your terms, not theirs.

If you do not have a collar and/or leash, take a trip to the pet store, or even a department store like Walmart, and buy one for your dog. Make sure it is the correct size for your dog; they usually have the weight or size requirements on the package.

Walk him over to the door, ready for the walk.

Make the dog sit. Tell them “wait”. Make sure the dog waits inside as you step outside, and then say, “Ok come on!” and allow the dog to walk outside. Never just let the dog burst outside. Wait is basically stay, except the dog is expecting you to release it from the wait soon. Wait can be very useful when you answer the door and your dog obediently stands inside without you having to hold their collar.

Open the door. Take the dog outside. Be careful, because the dog may pull on the leash when it sees that you are going outside. You have to stay in control! The dog might run out because he is frightened.

Always make sure the dog is behind you, or at your side. Do not let him/her lead you. Your dog will walk at its own pace, which may be faster than you. In that case, don’t let the dog pull you. If the dog is pulling on the leash, tug back on the leash ever so slightly, and not to keep a constant strain on the dog’s neck. If he persists, stop moving. A dog that does not pull is rewarded by going forward.

Do not let your dog off the lead. Only do this in parks (dog parks), and/or on the beach (if allowed). There should be a sign saying whether or not your dog is allowed off the lead in that particular area.

Continue the exercise when you get back home. Take the lead off your dog (making sure it sits still) and fill a dog bowl up with water so that your dog can have a drink.

Video

Tips

Follow this wiki and your pooch will love you!

If you’re going for a long walk, stop a couple of times so that you don’t tire out your dog if it isn’t in decent shape.

Consider carrying around a few low-fat and low-calorie quick eat treats. Charlie Bears work great!

If your dog constantly pulls on the lead, you might try one of the gentle lead products (like the Halti, for example) available. Or, even better, train your dog not to pull (which isn’t that difficult).

Don’t forget to bring a plastic bag to clean up the poop. Though it’s recommended you have the dog go before you take it out for a walk.

If you can teach your dog to get used to verbal cues like “cross”, “this way” and “stop” you will be less dependent on the lead and the walk will be more enjoyable for you and your dog.

If your dog does decide to pull, there are a few ways to help cure the problem. Don’t pull your dog back to you. Pulling the dog backwards will jade your dog to the pressure of the leash and teach him that if you want him back, he can just wait for you to pull. Instead decide on a distance you’d like your dog to pace you at, such as with his forelegs next to yours, or with his neck next to your legs. Start by walking with a loose lead, and if the dog creeps out in front, turn immediately around and start walking in the opposite direction. A quick little tug might help get his attention. Soon your dog will learn to pay attention to you and walk close enough that he can see you change directions, otherwise risk walking the wrong way and getting a smart little tug on the leash.
Make sure to check weather conditions as well as your walking route. Remember that unlike us, your dog has fur, which can make it extremely uncomfortable when walking distances in the blistering heat.
If you can, ensure you walk a little ahead of the dog in order to communicate that YOU are the leader of the pack, not him/her.
Find a good stable leash(lead) for your pet.
If you own a short-haired dog, such as the Pug or Chihuahua, it may be a good idea to put a sweater on him/her in cold temperatures.

Warnings

Be careful of other dogs; try not to get too close.
Only let the dog off-leash if it has a reliable re-call, but not with many vehicles around.
If the dog is unfamiliar with the leash, collar, harness, etc, let him smell it and ponder over it before you take him out on a walk.
Don’t tug on the leash. Before you start taking your dog on walks, make sure it has good leash manners.
Don’t use choke-chains when going on walks. A lot of the time, the dog tries to go fast, or let his head hang low, and the choke collar chokes him. These are for training only. Use a comfy nylon or flat leather collar instead.
If you have a puppy less than one year old, use a harness to avoid putting stress on the neck. If your puppy pulls on the harness, do more leash-manners training.
When going out in public with your dog, make sure he doesn’t bite; if he is aggressive, you may have to teach him some manners.
Always make sure your dog’s collar or harness has an identification tag saying at least the dog’s name and your phone number. Also, just in case your dog slips out of his collar, make sure that your dog is micro-chipped. You can have him micro-chipped at the vet’s office.
If the ground is icy or the pavement is hot and sharp, you may consider having your dog wear dog protection pads, or dog booties (not the cute fancy ones, the ones that are for safety).
Try bringing at least one bottle of water for your dog! They get thirsty too, you know! You could get one of those bowl ‘n water bottles for your dog. It is easier for them to drink out of. Or, buy a Pet Top Portable Drinking Device (most recommended, www.pettop.com).
You might think that right away puppies will stay close without a leash, and usually they will, but they will run away and especially if they think they are under attack or they see another dog.
Watch your dog to make sure that they don’t eat anything they shouldn’t.
When your dog poops, pick it up! No one likes to step in it, or have it left on their front lawn.
In hot weather, you have to consider that the ground or pavement will get very hot in clear weather, causing much discomfort for the dog. Schedule walks for cloudy weather, or evenings or early in the morning, during the summer, if you live in a hot climate.

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Walk a Dog. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

Picture By Me