How to Be a Good Dog Walker
- By Ann Collin
- Published 12/25/2011
- Pets
- Unrated
Ann Collin
Ann Collin is the author of this article on Dog Walking. Find more information on Dog Walker here
View all articles by Ann CollinTaking regular dog walks has become a daily routine for most dog owners around the world. If you have a problem with the mess your dog makes around the home or how it fails to follow your orders then walking the dog might just do the trick. The act of dog walking has been seen to bring about many changes in the dogs behavior today. A good dog walker will know how to walk the dog properly and the kind of training the dog needs so that it can walk nicely beside you without having to drag you along as it pulls forward and goes ahead of you.
Poor dog walking is an indication that the dog walker is not walking the dog but the dog is indeed walking them. Walking the dog the proper way is done by keeping it on the side while walking at the right pace. Getting a dog to walk on a slack leash is no easy task but the benefits are tremendous. Good dog walking requires consistency and practice.
One of the benefits of dog walking is that it fulfills a certain instinct within the dog that satisfies it. Having dog walks reinforces the owner of the dog as the leader of the pack. The pack leader does not necessarily dominate the dog but rather ensures the dog always knows who to listen to and how to behave appropriately in all situations. The period of time taken to walk the dog should depend on the type of dog. A good dog walker will take a high energy dog such as a Border collie for longer dog walks than other toy breed dogs.
Dog walking helps in burning excess energy for the dog. When this energy builds up it manifests in bad behavior. Dog walking also helps to boost the relationship between the dog walker and the dog. You can train your dog on how to walk properly beside you by using special leashes and choke chains. You should consider reading books on walking the dog and improve your dog walking skills.
The other benefit of dog walking is for mental stimulation. During the walk, the dog gets to see, smell and experience new things. This will prevent it from getting bored and becoming anxious or having obsessive-compulsive behavior and hyperactivity. Walking the dog also gives it an opportunity to socialize with other dogs and people.
With dog walking training tools available everywhere training a dog on how to walk properly has become very easy. The training tools have the main purpose of making your dog walk properly but they use quite different methods to doing so. Cheaper training tools like the simple leash which you just tie around the neck and pull as you walk with your dog are available. Other training tools are like the check chains and training collars. Never use the training tools to punish the dog, instead use them to correct it. A good dog walker will know which training tool to use on which dog.
Ann Collin is the author of this article on Dog Walking.
Find more information on Dog Walker here
