Why Your Dog Loves to Walk With You

Dogs love your companionship so it is a great way to strengthen your dog-human relationship.  It’s an easy thing that you can do together. Do you notice how many times your dog looks pleadingly at its leash and back at you?  It’s waiting for you to attach his leash and spend some quality time with each other.  Most of the time, all you have to do is step out the front door. 

Sometimes a vigorous walk is great for exercise but not always what your dog wants.  A slow and steady walk gives your dog a great chance to read the environment.  Their sense of smell is so powerful that they know who was here, which way they came from, where they went, and how long ago they passed through.  Let them read the stories that the environment offers them.

Dogs would love to have more control over where they go.  After all, we control every aspect of their life so why not let them pick and chose the direction they want to go?  We just need to make sure the direction they are selecting is safe and allow them to lead the way. 

 Slow down and listen to what your dog is saying to you.  Sometimes you can just stop and observe what they are doing.  Give them a moment to do what they are interested in.  We don’t need to pull them away from something they are attracted to every time.  How would you feel if you were reading the newspaper and were constantly interrupted before you finished the article?

They want to explore different surfaces so vary your location.  When it’s convenient, walk them on a sidewalk, at the park, on a hiking trail in the woods, down a path by the river, or on a sandy beach.  Many dogs love to take in new experiences.

Dogs love a routine.  Walking them at the same time every day calms them.  Just like our morning routine gets us off to a good start – the same is true for your dog.  Consistency is calming. 

My Davy cues me when he wants to walk.  He looks at his leash and back at me until I oblige.  He loves tracking and looking for squirrels, bunnies, deer, and reading who else was visiting his world.  He knows where the neighborhood cats are hiding and which trees the birds are perched in.  He stops to look down along the common grounds to see if any other critters are in sight.  He is alert and interested in everything.  He reminds me to live in the moment.

Ginger, on the other hand, is content to meander on the front yard and across the street and back.  She can sniff the same spot for five minutes and then walk a few feet away and then back where she was.  She is excited to meet up with her friend, Max, but ignores the other critters that are around.

I walk Davy and Ginger separately.  They have different styles of walking and I want to spoil them both on their walk.  They trust me and enjoy our relationship.  Each one is special and different.  Both are allowed to be dogs and are happy pets.

I would be happy to walk your dog too. Contact me to get started.