19/08/2025
A walk is much more than a walk...
It's a time for your best friend to process the worke around them, think of it like their dog daily newspaper.
When we think of us on a walk we don't simply walk, we take in the beautiful landscape, we stop to have breaks, sometimes we'll even take a picnic.
And even before the walk so much good stuff that can happen.
But there if often the temptation to get Fido straight out of the door.
To walk, walk, walk.
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Even on the walk (see photo) I look to keep slowing down, using the environment to engage the brain.
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❤️ It's a set of experiences, stages
But seeing the walk as stages, in which we can focus on slowly taking everything in. That means even before the walk, our dog is using it's brain inside, a bit like mindfulness or meditation.
❤️ Channeling the energy
This channels this huge build up of energy into slower activities, thus helping slow the dog down and not having your arm yanked off! In the case of anxious dogs, these techniques are also really useful.
❤️ Flood gates
Each door, or change in environment can be like a flood gate. Incredibly overwhelming. These need to be introduced gradually.
We do this by using cones. The cones help give the dog a job to do but also create a positive association when paired with food. The cones get placed slightly away from the flood gate. I place a treat under or on top.
We thank the work of Suzanne Clothier who's taught us so much about the above.
So don't think of the walk just as a walk think of it as a sequence of events, to set your dog up for success!
And an experience, one we can enjoy together.
Thanks for reading,
Helen & Tristan
