Taking your furry best friend for a stroll is more than just a daily task—it’s an opportunity for fun, bonding, and adventure. It also benefits your own mental and physical health.
However, falling into the same routine can make walks less stimulating for your dog. To make your walks more exciting and enriching for both of you, grab the leash, put on your sneakers, and get ready to discover how to make your walks the highlight of your days!
Go for a Slow Sniffari
When dogs stop to sniff during a walk, they’re gathering important information about the other dogs in the area. From a single scent, they can determine if a dog is male or female, if they’ve met before, and if the dog is nearby—think of it as an adorable form of social media for dogs!
A short, slow walk, or “sniffari,” with plenty of opportunities for your dog to explore scents, is far more mentally enriching (and tiring!) than a fast-paced walk without time to sniff.\
Make It a Training Session
If your dog—or you—are getting bored with the same old routine, spice things up by packing some treats and turning your walk into a training session!
Walking is a fantastic opportunity to practice skills with plenty of positive reinforcement through treats, pets, and verbal praise. Whether it’s learning to stop pulling on the leash, walking in a straight line, not reacting to people, other dogs, or cars, or walking off-leash in a designated area, these training sessions can become special bonding moments.
Bring a Long Lead
Exploring an on-lead area but want your dog to have more freedom? Try a long lead!
A long lead allows your dog to experience the world in their own way while still under your control. Just be mindful of private property, keep everyone safe by avoiding areas with wildlife, and be aware of other people and dogs—a long lead around the ankles isn’t fun for anyone!
Additionally, a long lead can be a great tool for practicing skills like responding to their name, check-ins, walking on a loose leash, and recall.
Let Them Navigate
Allowing your furry pal to use their instincts to investigate their surroundings and choose the direction of the walk provides a more enriching experience. For more anxious dogs, having the freedom to choose which way to go can help build confidence in the big world. Plus, it makes the walk more exciting for you—you might even discover a new favorite route!
Go to a New Location
Exploring a new location offers your dog new smells, sights, and sounds! Consider visiting the beach, a park, a forest, or a dog-friendly café for a puppuccino. Just make sure to check that the location is dog-friendly and follow the on and off-leash rules.
Go with a New Furry Pal
Taking a walk with a friend, family member, or neighbor’s dog can be a wonderful way for your best furry friend (and you) to socialize. Walking together provides a low-pressure environment for dogs to meet and bond. You can read tips on the best way to introduce dogs on a walk here.
Remember, just like humans, not all dogs will get along with every dog they meet. Pay attention to your dog’s body language to ensure they are comfortable and enjoying the experience.
Whether it’s because of their age, physical ability, the weather, or just their special unique personality types, some doggos (like cheeky Obi below) just don’t want to go for a walk sometimes!