How to Exercise Your Dog

Step 4: Dog walks

Taking your dog on walks is a great way for him/her to enjoy different smells and discover new places. Especially in urban settings the necessary items include:

leash
collar/harness
plastic bag/device for poop
water bowl and water
some treats

Teaching your dog to walk on a leash is almost always necessary. Many dogs will just pull on the leash, making the activity difficult for both parties involved. It will be a slow process at first, and some harnesses have been designed with the idea to help solve this issue by putting pressure on the forward leg joints. Though, truthfully, it failed miserably with our dog and she would protest its use. Choke collars work, especially the ones with points that collapse on the neck, but don't use it if you can't stand hurting your dog even just temporarily.

Otherwise, the use of the leash in the city limits is generally recommended if not required. Encountering other dogs, or automobiles make the leash pretty useful. An extendable leash is a good buy, but it will require smarter use by the dog owner. Water is good to bring along, especially on longer walks and on hotter days. Treats come in handy for just the regular positive encouragement of your dog.

Comments

[brainlock]

I've trained my 65lb german shephard to stop pulling by walking in the opposite direction when she pulls... we are up to 2 city blocks of no pulling after her 3rd walk.

Doing this makes it a little hard to schedule when the walk should end though.  There have been a couple of times where we are almost home only to have her pull and I end up walking her half a block extra.

[ffgrif]

I have used the same technique with my German Shepherd. He would pull constantly, but when I suddenly just turned around he realized real quick he was going the "wrong way"! I got a puzzled look of, "Whaddya doin?!" When he started pulling again, we immediately reversed again. It didn't take him long to realize he was not in charge of our walk and if he didn't want to be going the wrong direction, he better walk beside me! Our walks are much nicer now... Keep up the routine, it will pay off! Especially since GSD's are the smartest dogs! :)

[dfahmy]

this works with most dogs but border collies are the smartest dogs

[whitelion331]

It worked well on my golden lab too. He hated the leash and it took me several weeks but it worked! Thanx!

[jessimata]

my boxer/pit bull mix is a strong lady! she weighs 1/2 of me at 47 lbs and when she pulled she pulled! it finally stopped when we stopped...literally. as soon as the leash got taught i would stop...then wait for her to ease up and proceed. it took ALOTof patience but she finally learned once the leash was pulled the slightest we went no where.

[fjordtjie]

for the dogs that pull, i highly recommend a "gentle leader" harness that goes on their head (not in an uncomfortable way), because the leash attaches at the side of the head instead of the center, so if they pull on the leash, they end up having to turn their head that direction. for my dog, it has been AMAZING because he can't drag me down the sidewalk anymore when he sees a car/squirrel/new person. we're working on heel, but in the meantime, the "gentle leader" is a great substitute for that training.