Walking with a dog should be peaceful and one of the most enjoyable experiences for dogs and people, and yet for many dogs and people this isn’t the case. Many people think a dog is finding their walk to be peaceful when maybe they’re not. Many people know they are not going on peaceful walks, and don’t know how for them to be. The following are some ideas.
How to Do Calming Signals
Going Slow is Calming. Slow movements are Calming. The slower one goes, the more calm one is. Sleeping is about as calm as we can be. Standing or sitting still is about as slow as one can go. Being quiet, with a head turned away, not to ignore a dog. Instead, turning your head is to be in communication. These are things we can do to calm ourselves and dogs. It has a reassuring effect, letting the dog know there’s nothing to worry about, everything’s ok, there’s nothing dangerous.
Why Dogs Pull
Dogs pull on us because we pull on them. Look to see what others do. When a dog stops, for whatever reason, what happens. Oftentimes, the person pulls. I’ve had countless people tell me to give their dog a “little tug” to get them going. When people hurry their dog along is when we get things like pulling, people pulling dogs and dogs pulling people. People pulling dogs is part of the reason why dogs lunge at things.
Dogs pull because we go too fast. The faster we go the faster dogs go. The faster dogs go, the more they pull. People go faster to prevent the pulling. The dog trots or canters to keep up. Slow movements are calming, for the dog and others. They go how we go. When we go fast, they go fast. When we go slow, they go slow. We have a direct impact on them, one way or another.
The faster we go, the faster they go. The faster they go, the more reactive they become to things, especially things that move or make a sound.
People going fast is a habit that can be challenging for people to turn around. The first step is understanding that slow movements are calming. Then the next step is paying attention to your steps.
The Calming Effect of Slow Walks
Many people want their dogs to be calm, on walks and in general. Going for a walk should be calming in itself, not because it drains a dog’s energy. Slow is calming. It allows your dog to experience and learn about their environment.
When you slow down and stop, you give your dog the opportunity to: look, listen, and learn. Let them sniff the ground and roll around, if they want to. Their heart rate goes down when they do. Going slow, if at all, isn’t just enjoyable for your dog, it’s mentally engaging, helps them learn and be comfortable with the world. Let them watch the world wag.
Your Dog’s Gait
To understand if you’re walking at the right pace, observe your dog’s gait. Ask yourself: is my dog walking, trotting, cantering, or galloping?
If the dog’s gait is anything other than walking, it’s not a walk. A peaceful walk is a dog moving at a natural, comfortable walking pace. The operative word is: walking. Not trotting, cantering, or
galloping.
If your dog happens to do a little trotting, fine. It’s just to keep from doing anything to get your dog to trot. The majority of a peaceful walk is just that: a walk.
The Unintentional Race
Many dogs end up trotting or running on walks because their person causes a race. Just like a horse speeds up when another comes alongside, or how people unconsciously accelerate when another car pulls up alongside, dogs speed up to match their people’s pace.
It can also happen from the rear. Tailgating. The dog goes ahead to keep ahead. These things lead to dogs exhausting themselves, trying to keep up or stay ahead. They might start out by pulling ahead, then eventually run out of energy and lag behind, still trotting to keep pace. It’s physically draining, not in a good way, and has a negative effect on their mental well-being.
Observing Other Dogs
Next time you’re out, observe other dogs. Ask yourself: Are they walking, trotting, cantering, or galloping? If they’re doing anything other than walking, that dog isn’t experiencing a peaceful walk. They’re not learning about their environment; they’re just getting exhausted.
The Myth of the “Free Trot”
It’s important to understand when a dog isn’t freely choosing to trot along on a walk, which is most of the time. Trotting is typically a habit created by a person’s tendency to walk too quickly. While it might not seem problematic, continuous trotting can have significant health and behavioral consequences over time, and in the moment. Dogs are more likely to be reactive when things are going fast, including them. When things come along, many people speed up, to get away, and pull on the leash. Often the better thing to do is: be with your dog, stand still and wait for the other things to pass. If the other thing is a dog, turn your body so you’re not facing the other dog.
Mindful Walking
How can you improve your walking? Start by being more mindful during your walks. Look at your dog and ask yourself: is your dog walking, jogging, cantering, or galloping? Do you walk continuously, or do you stop each time your dog stops to sniff the roses?
Keep your phone in your pocket and leave your earbuds at home. Look and listen to what’s going on with your dog. If you’re walking with someone else, keep from having much of a conversation, instead keep in conversation with your dog. It’s mostly if not entirely a silent conversation. Be with your dog. Keep an ear out for what’s going on. Your eyes should be on your dog. Focus on whether or not your dog is walking, trotting, cantering, or galloping.
Going straight at something isn’t calming, something coming straight at isn’t calming. Their heart rate goes up. Go slow, and curve around. The heart rate goes down when there’s curving around.
benefits of a peaceful walk
The benefits of walking are numerous, but only when the walking is done right. It should be easy. It’s not as easy as you might think. It requires mindfulness on your part so dogs can be at ease. Otherwise, it becomes a mindless activity for both human and canine, and leads to unwanted consequences.
Walking with a dog takes practice and patience. By going slow, you provide your dog a mental exercise, you avoid leash pulling, and experience a more fulfilling life for you and your dog. A calm walk leads to a calmer dog, both during the walk and everyday life.
The next time you go for a walk with a dog, consider your pace. Are you rushing through the walk, or are you allowing your dog to explore and learn. The choice you make significantly impacts your dog’s behavior and overall well being.
Next steps
If you’d like to learn more about peaceful walks, contact Canine Care for guidance and personalized walking services. Let us help you transform your daily dog walks into an enriching experience for both you and your dog.