A stress-free walk.
As responsible dog owners, it is our duty to make sure that our dogs have at least a daily walk. A dog walk should be stress free and enjoyed by all members of the family and more importantly the dog.
Here are some owner and dog tips for that stress-free walk:
- Plan your work – remember to take treats, poo bags, phone, ball/Frisbee and water.
- Where to walk – dog parks, river walks, beach walks, country field walks – all can offer a stress-free walk for you and your dog.
- Timing your walk – avoid busy times in dog parks (yes there are times when you can walk around the park with little or a few dogs around).
- If you are an owner who is uncomfortable near other dogs (or your dog is anxious around other dogs) – then avoid the situation by giving yourself and your dog enough space to pass the other dog/owner. Being proactive and walk away.
- If your dog is friendly and you see another owner put their dog on lead, do not assume it is ok for the “friendly” dog to approach – call the dog back and put it on lead, pass the owner/dog and then at a safe distance the “friendly” dog can be let off lead.
There are many more tips and advice for a stress-free walk, but remember do not set your dog up for a potentially bad situation on a walk. Think of the three “A’s”:
- Assess – assess the situation – is it safe for your dog to approach another dog or person?
- Adopt – look at your options – think about the course of action you will take (should you put your dog on the lead, should you think about walking in a different direction, etc).
- Act – take action on the situation.