Leading the way for safe walks.
Progress is possible. Taking time to appreciate our dogs for who they are.
Recharging, resetting and recalibrating.
Safe not Sad. Connected not Cruel. Dogs on lead don't have to be deprived.
Help me, support me, don't harm me. I am struggling.
Discovering safe walks
We love discovering new spaces to add to our safe walks menu.
Finding a space that is shared by others that we can use safely to reduce the risk of inappropriate approaches from unskilled dogs feels really great.
The walk may look and feel different from a ânormalâ walk but it can be really fulfilling and we donât have to feel deprived or feel that we are depriving our dogs.
This video is nice example of how we can enhance and optimise our walks in a public space by finding a spot that suits us and our dogs.
Choosing an off peak time makes this walk even better so we may choose a week day or a rainy day to explore it.
Plenty of mental and physical stimulation for both ends of the lead.
Peace of mind for a WISE (Walks In Safe Environments) walk.
On lead walks don't have to deprive our dogs.
Dogs are on lead for many reasons but people can be quick to judge.
A dog on lead is not a bad dog or an untrained or unsociable dog.
A person walking their dog on lead is being responsible and supporting their dog.
A dog on lead is not being deprived of freedom or having a walk that lacks fulfillment.
It is so easy for people to make assumptions about a dog being walked on lead.
We often don't know anything about the dog on lead.
Being compassionate around on lead dogs can be such a relief for that dog and their human.
Sharing public spaces can be tricky for both on and off lead dogs because there are sometimes off lead, unkskilled dogs with no recall that lack social skills.
Choosing the best matched walks for on lead dogs can reduce risk significantly.
It is a delight to see well skilled dogs off lead, these dogs can read other dogs and peoples body language and will generally not approach if the signals are saying stay away.
It can be a horrible experience when a dog is off lead and gets too close to another dog and doesn't read that body language when the dog is saying no.
It can also be prevented and managed by giving each other plenty of space.
Understanding that an on lead dog often needs plenty of space can help prevent a negative experience, even with another dog on lead.
Walking up behind a dog on lead, passing closely enough for the dogs to have physical contact or approaching head on can all feel challenging both ends of the lead.
This post is not about why the dog is on a lead or rehabilitating a dog or training, it is about those guardians that have dogs that for whatever reason, choose or need to walk their dogs on lead.
There are situations and circumstances that require a dog to be on lead.
It may be the choice of the guardian, it may be that the dog is newly adopted, has health issues, is blind, deaf or fragile.
The dog may have had a bad experience and may be in recovery after an il
Walk free days for FAR Dogs (Dogs with Fearful Anxious and Reactive Behaviour)
We are conditioned to believe that our dogs must be walked every day.
Many dogs benefit from having a day off. A walk free day and to just hang out, sleep, snooze and relax.
We benefit from a day off. Harder to do these days as life can feel so demanding but it is important to have some time when we are doing nothing in particular.
It can feel really uncomfortable to miss a walk or two when we are not used to it.
Changing habits and adjusting routines can feel icky and unpredictable.
We donât know until we try and our dogs are all individual so we can try a day off and see how it goes.
We may replace the walk with an activity like some enrichment activity but could it be possible to try to give our dogs a true day off?
To add some context.
If our dog is fearful, reactive and or anxious while out on their walks and are practising and rehearsing these behaviours and emotions it can be exhausting and overwhelming for our dogs and for us.
We have the choice of whether or not to walk but our dogs donât.
We can provide our dogs with the best matched walks so that they feel safe from their perspective.
We can plan our times and timings for our walks to optimise a positive experience for our dogs.
When our dog has had a negative experience on a walk, or a really challenging walk they will need time to process and decompress.
This processing time might be helped by reducing the number of walks the next day, the duration of the walk, the location or a full day off.
We have a few days off each week and the dogs enjoy time in and out of the garden, they sunbathe, snooze on the warm grass, Ruby loves the raised platform to nap on and watch the birds.
This down time enables the dogs to relax, have deep, quality sleep, naps, mixed with a little play with a favourite toy for a few minutes and then back to the relaxation.
This down time provides quality time without any pressure, dem
With The Dog Welfare Alliance â I just got recognised as one of their top fans! đ
Certified Canine Behaviourist specialising in Fearful, Anxious and Reactive Dog Behaviour.
