11/12/2025
🐾 5 Ways to Help Your Dog on the Walk
Walking your dog isn’t just about exercise, it’s one of the most important ways to lead, connect, and communicate. The walk sets the tone for your relationship, and small changes in how you approach it can completely shift your dog’s behavior. Here’s how to make every walk a more productive, balanced experience for you both.
1️⃣ Walk in Front of Your Dog
When you lead the walk, you set the pace, direction, and tone. This communicates to your dog that you’re the one making the decisions, which creates a sense of security for them. If your dog is constantly pulling ahead, they’re taking control, which can lead to more excitement, reactivity, or stress. Keep your dog just behind your hip or at your side, so they’re following your lead, not the other way around.
2️⃣ Use a Shorter Leash
A shorter leash gives you better communication and control. It prevents your dog from wandering too far ahead, crossing behind you, or darting toward distractions. When your leash is too long, your timing for corrections or guidance is delayed, and that can confuse your dog. Keep just enough slack for comfort but short enough to guide and direct smoothly.
3️⃣ Allow Potty Breaks at Designated Spots
Giving your dog permission to stop at certain spots teaches them to follow your cues rather than making the decision themselves. This keeps the walk purposeful instead of a constant stop-and-go sniff fest. Choose a couple of designated potty areas on your route, give the release command, and then continue leading the walk afterward. This creates balance between structure and meeting their needs.
4️⃣ Allow More Time for the Walk
Rushed walks create tension for both you and your dog. If you’re short on time, your energy will reflect in your pace, your leash handling, and your patience, which your dog will pick up on. Give yourself enough time so you can walk with calm, consistent energy, correcting and guiding when needed without feeling pressured. The more relaxed you are, the more your dog can settle into following your lead.
5️⃣ Be Consistent With What You Ask
Dogs thrive on clarity and repetition. If you allow pulling sometimes but correct it other times, your dog will never truly understand what you expect. Be consistent with your rules, whether it’s walking position, leash manners, or how they stop at curbs, and follow through every single time. This consistency builds trust and reinforces your role as their leader.
Bottom Line:
The walk is so much more than movement, it’s a leadership exercise that can strengthen your relationship every single day. By taking control, creating structure, and being consistent, you give your dog exactly what they need: guidance, security, and a leader worth following. 🐶💪