Tips For Offering Your Dog The Best Walk
It may be easy to forget how important your walk is to your dog(s). But have you ever really thought about what actually makes a successful dog walk? That means providing for all of a dog’s mental and behavioral needs. With a little extra effort, you can delight your dog(s) and instill great walking behavior at the same time. Denver Pro Pet Sitting has come up with a few tips to help with this!
1) Make Sure you have a fitted leash / Harness.
The importance of having the correct size leash / harness can’t be understated. The last thing you want is your dog off-leash by accident in a dangerous situation. Make sure the walking equipment you use is in good order and connected fully - it’s easy to go through the motions and miss a step. Getting quality leashes and harnesses that won’t break easily is also something to consider - don’t go cheap because you get what you pay for! Also, they come as unique as your dog is - so get one that fits your dog’s behavior and personality. You can check out some quality dog leashes and harnesses here.
2) Don’t rush it and let them explore - it’s important!
Dogs experience the world through their noses. Here’s a fun fact - their noses are at least 10,000 times more powerful than a human’s nose. This is due to them having millions more scent receptors. Additionally, a much larger part of their brain is dedicated to analyzing smells. Their noses also have a special organ that allows them to perceive chemical signals that would otherwise be undetectable. It’s almost impossible to imagine the amount of information dogs can discover with one sniff. Allowing a dog time to sniff and explore prevents frustration and boredom, makes the walk an enriching experience, and provides important mental exercise otherwise not available - which can be just as exhausting as the physical kind. Learn more awesome facts about dog noses here!
3) Be aware of your surroundings.
Safety is a huge component to a successful dog walk. Making sure your surroundings are in check is crucial. This means being keenly aware of how close you are to other dogs/humans, your proximity to the street/cars and also staying in control of the leash / dog(s) at all times. Don’t underestimate something surprising happening like your dog chasing after a squirrel on the whim - things happen and be prepared for them!
Hiring a professional dog walker can ensure that your dog gets the attention, time, and exercise they deserve - with safety at the forefront! Denver Pro Pet Sitting is happy to offer this and more! Contact us today for your free Meet & Greet!
If you’re in need for more in-depth training for your dog, please check out our local partner K9 Ancillary. They offer an array of training services including dog obedience, puppy and aggressive training.
