Being behind your dog is necessary for some dog sports — it’s NOT necessary for daily walks with your pet dog (Photo: large, on-leash dog pulling human toward another human)
Your new best friend barks at EVERYTHING when you’re out for a walk. Not only THAT, but he LUNGES toward people and other dogs. You’ve become “THAT DOG OWNER” — the one people cross the street to get away from.
You feel TERRIBLE because your dog is scaring people (and children.) You’ve watched a lot of YOUTUBE VIDEOS, but nothing is working. If anything, your dog has gotten WORSE…and FAT!
Not only are you embarrassed by his behaviour, your entire body hurts. You DREAD WALKING HIM.
Do you feel like you have to hold on for dear life? That’s no fun! (Photo: dog on a halti with too much leash tension)
Imagine a peaceful walk with your dog. Where would you most like to take him? The beach? A trail? Picture yourself strolling along passing people, other dogs, skateboards, and bikes. He’s not pulling or barking.
Now, let’s make this a REALITY.
Answer these questions:
Does my dog always walk in front of me?
Am I stressed out during the walk?
Did you answer YES to both of those questions?
Did you know that changing these two things can help you?
It’s not as simple as flipping a light switch. It’s a challenge to teach a dog to walk beside you and it’s an even BIGGER challenge to be CALM and CONFIDENT during your walks, but it’s worth it.
Not only will you FEEL BETTER, so will your dog.
This dog is showing whale eye. Look that up, you will thank me later. (Photo: a chihuahua mix giving whale eye while on leash in FRONT of his owner)
This week, I want you to work on YOU so you can FEEL LESS STRESSED during your walks.
Before you leave for your walk, I want you to empty your mind of all the bad things that happened on your walks before. Those things are now in your rearview. In the past. Leave them there.
Before you even pick up the leash, I want you to remind yourself of one thing in your life that you are VERY good at. Is it singing? Is it being a mom? Is it being a doctor? Whatever it is, I want you to be THAT version of you right now. The calm one. The confident one. The one that knows “I’ve got this.”
The CALM and CONFIDENT you, is the one YOUR DOG WILL HAPPILY FOLLOW (Photo: person walking with their dog heeling)
WHY does this matter?
Dogs are pack animals. They follow a leader who PROTECTS them and gives them DIRECTION. They don’t follow HYPER dogs. They don’t follow FEARFUL dogs. They don’t follow TENSE dogs. This is the SAME when they join a human family. They will only follow CALM and CONFIDENT humans.
If they view you as a source of sweet, passive, fearful, nervous, tense, or frustrated energy, they will HAVE NO CHOICE but to LEAD.
Very few dogs are actually HAPPY with the leadership role. Most dogs, especially your fearful new rescue dog, are MORE STRESSED OUT walking in front of you and being your leader.
I KNOW that you didn’t adopt your rescue dog with the intention of causing them MORE STRESS, so let’s take the necessary steps and change the roles the two of you are playing. Right now, HE is the LEADER and YOU are the FOLLOWER. You walk BEHIND him, so you are the follower.
Did you know that lip-licking is a sign of STRESS in dogs? (Photo: dog walking in front of his person, licking his lips)
You can learn how to LEAD him on the walk here: https://beyonddogtraining.ca/news/what-you-allow-you-agree-with
Remember to focus on finding what makes YOU feel calm and confident before and during your walks. The most beautiful thing about this process is reminding yourself how truly strong you are. A lot of the time we let our inner-meanie say nasty things to us. Silencing that voice will lead you to a more balanced way of being. You can thank your dog for helping heal you. Who really rescued who?
Have a fun weekend teaching your dog (and yourself) new things.
Alyssa
Photos by: Anna Dudkova (large, on-leash dog pulling human toward another human,) David Schultz (dog on a halti with too much leash tension,) Richard Burlton (a chihuahua mix giving whale eye while on leash in FRONT of his owner,) Jenn Simpson (person walking with their dog heeling,) Dominik Kempf (dog walking in front of his person, licking his lips.)