Table of Contents
- A quick run in the garden is enough exercise.
- Dogs should always walk to heel.
- A dog that pulls on the lead is being naughty.
- Big dogs need long walks, and small dogs don’t.
- They go out at 10 and are walked at the same time every day.
- Dogs don’t need walks in bad weather.
- Older dogs don’t need as much walking.
- The Truth About Dog Walking
As a dog walker, many of my clients ask me questions, and many are, well, just not true.
Below are the most common questions I get asked
A quick run in the garden is enough exercise.
One of the most significant misunderstood statements I hear is that letting your dog into the garden is the same as taking them for a walk. While having a garden is great for an older dog, it may well be enough; it simply doesn’t provide the same level of physical exercise, mental stimulation, or new smells.
Dogs need more than just a space to stretch their legs – they must explore, sniff, and experience new environments. Sniffing, in particular, is essential for a dog’s well-being, as it allows them to process information and feel mentally fulfilled. Even a short lead walk outside the house offers far more enrichment than running around the same familiar garden.
If your dog only gets garden time and rarely goes out for walks, they may develop boredom-related behaviours such as excessive barking, digging, or destructive chewing. Getting out and about is vital for their physical and mental health!
Dogs should always walk to heel.
While loose-lead walk-ins are impossible, expecting a dog to always stay in a perfect heel position is unrealistic and unnecessary. Walks should be enjoyable, not a constant exercise in obedience.
Dogs experience the world through their noses; part of what makes walking fulfilling is the ability to sniff and explore their surroundings. Imagine being taken on a beautiful walk and not being allowed to look around—it would be frustrating! While it’s beneficial for a dog to know how to walk nicely when needed, allowing them some freedom on the lead to sniff and move naturally makes their walk far more enjoyable.
Training structured walking when necessary is excellent, but walks should also allow dogs to be dogs.
A dog that pulls on the lead is being naughty.
Most of my clients’ concerns revolve around pulling on the lead. In most cases, dogs pull because they’re excited or nervous about traffic on a busy road and want to escape it. They haven’t been taught how to walk nicely or are simply moving at their natural pace, which is much faster than ours!
Rather than punishing a dog for pulling, teaching them how to walk calmly through reward-based training is more productive. It is important to ensure their walking gear is a good fit, as if the harness is too tight, it can cause a dog to stop walking or pull faster to get out of it. Dog walks should also allow time for sniffing breaks and can also reduce pulling, as a constantly frustrated dog will pull even more.
Dogs don’t pull because they’re trying to ‘dominate’ their owner – they pull because they want to get somewhere or away from something, such as busy roads! Teaching them that walking nicely leads to more freedom and enjoyable walks is the best way to create a well-mannered walker.
Big dogs need long walks, and small dogs don’t.
People always think that large dogs need lots of exercise while small dogs don’t need much at all. In reality, a dog’s exercise depends more on its breed, age, and individual energy levels than its size.
Some large breeds, such as Greyhounds, are relatively low-energy and prefer shorter walks. In contrast,e small breeds, like Jack Russells and Border Terriers, have endless energy and need plenty of activity. Over-exercising a young or senior dog can be just as problematic as not exercising an active breed enough.
It’s important to tailor walks to suit your dog’s needs rather than making assumptions based on size, which is essential alone.
They go out at 10 and are walked at the same time every day.
Routes are essential for dogs, but being too strict with walk times can sometimes create problems. If a dog is conditioned to expect simultaneous time every day, it may become anxious or restless if that schedule is ever disrupted.
Life isn’t always predictable – sometimes the weather is terrible, schedules change, or something unexpected happens. Teaching dogs to be flexible by varying walk times slightly can help prevent them from becoming stressed if their routine is altered.
Dogs don’t need walks in bad weather.
I know some dogs like my Roxy, and some dogs dislike the rain, but skipping walks because the weather isn’t perfect can lead to boredom and frustration. There are plenty of ways to make wet-weather walks more enjoyable, such as using a dog coat or simply embracing the mud and drying off afterwards.
Of course, extreme weather conditions like heatwaves or storms are exceptions, but a little rain or wind shouldn’t stop you from getting out. Providing indoor enrichment such as scent games, puzzle feeders, or training exercises can help keep your dog mentally stimulated if the weather is awful.
Older dogs don’t need as much walking.
While senior dogs may slow down, they still benefit from regular walks. Keeping older dogs active helps maintain mobility, prevent weight gain, and keep their minds engaged.
Their walks may need to be shorter or gentler, or maybe they should stop occasionally on Spark Bench and watch the world go by. However, stopping them altogether can lead to muscle loss, stiffness, and boredom. If your older dog struggles with longer walks, try shorter, more frequent strolls to keep them comfortable and happy.
The Truth About Dog Walking
Dog walking isn’t just about exercise – it’s about enrichment, socialisation, and allowing dogs to experience the world around them. Unfortunately, outdated myths still cause many owners to misunderstand what their dogs genuinely need.