Mistakes We Make When Walking the Dog

Written and verified by the lawyer Francisco María García

Last update: 22 December, 2022

Even though it seems like it, walking the dog is not that simple. There are certain factors, such as the method and duration of the walk, that you need to take into account.

Always walking the same route

Just like people, our pets enjoy getting to know new parks and places where they have never been before. Also, you should take into account that the length and intensity of the walk will depend on the breed and size of the animal.

Leash-pulling

Sometimes, we tend to pull on the leash if the dog is standing still for a long time, or if he wants to check out something. This can cause the dog, or us, to hurt ourselves. In addition, it can have psychological consequences on our pet. It has been shown that pulling on the leash can cause stress and anxiety, making him become scared or get aggressive.

To prevent this type of situation, we can use an anti-pull harness and a short leash to be able to have better control of the situation and change the dynamic. Dog training is also useful so that he learns to walk next to us. This way, it won’t be necessary to use the leash a lot.

Smelling everything

When walking the dog, some people believe that they must stop him from coming into contact with external agents. They believe that these substances could give him a disease. However, you must remember that dogs don’t act the same way as humans do. For them, smelling something means recognizing it.

When we don’t allow our pet to smell things, he is missing out on recognizing his surroundings and marking the places where other dogs have passed by.

Getting agitated

When the dog doesn’t pay attention to us or behaves badly, many people tend to yell. If we get upset and yell at the dog, he will be stressed and anxious. What’s more, the shouts are a type of abuse and the dog will feel attacked and will not understand what we want to express.

We need to remember that good results cannot be obtained with aggression. It’s important to keep calm and call our pet’s attention with a calm voice.

Not letting him socialize

Sometimes to avoid tense situations, we don’t let our dogs socialize when on a walk. It’s right to wonder, what is the point of walking the dog then? In short, it’s about socializing with the dog community to change up the routine, to release energy, and to make new friends.

For that reason, preventing him from socializing with other dogs doesn’t help our initial goal. On the contrary, we must encourage and support our pets in these situations.

Losing patience

One of the most important issues when walking the dog is having a lot of patience. The animal will want to stop on every corner, every post, or every object that has a peculiar smell. Furthermore, he will probably meet other dogs on the walk. For a good plan, it’s important to have enough time available and a desire to go out on a walk.

Using the wrong equipment

Another frequent mistake is using the wrong leash for our dog. For that reason, we must make sure that the leash has the correct resistance, size, and thickness for the size of our pet. It is also recommended to use a harness instead of a simple collar when walking. The harness gives us more control over the animal.

Tips for walking the dog

• You need to vary the places where you go. That way, the dog nor the owner will get tired of the routine.

• Consult with a specialist about the conditions of the walk so that it’s adequate for the animal.
• The dog should go with his identification tag, and if it’s possible, with a chip, in case he gets lost.
• Carry doggy bags to pick up his excretion. You should remember that everyone has a duty to keep the streets clean, and the coexistence with other people and dogs.
• Distract the dog. Barks can often be annoying. The best thing to do is to divert the dog’s attention with something else.
• Avoid taking him out during the afternoon, especially in the summer. During these hours, it is very hot and could have serious consequences for his skin.