Dog Walking: Walk your dog!

Dogs, just like anyone else, need exercise. If you have trouble finding time to take your dog walking, or if your dog is difficult to take on dog walking adventures, you need to read this article.

In the wild, you will find dogs walking quite often. They walk to hunt and to prowl their territory. If you do not have enough time for dog walking, you need to seriously consider the possibility of hiring a professional dog walker.

Dog walking should be seen as an essential part of taking care of your animal. If you are not actively walking your dog, he will suffer. It is vital to the health of your animal that he gets exercise. Many health problems are a direct result of the sedentary lifestyle many dogs are forced into by neglectful owners.

Remember, dog walking gives you a unique opportunity to assert your dominance, and assure your position as a competent pack leader. In the wild, dogs often physically jostle each other and make sounds to communicate where they think the dog pack should go. The one with the strongest opinion wins!

So remember, when you go dog walking, you are in charge—not your pet. He is not walking you. So, just because he wants to smell every mailbox and light post along the way does not mean he has to. Your dog is trying to take control of the dog walking experience. Do not allow this.

Dogs think differently than humans. They will follow whoever has the strongest opinion, so if you want your dog to respect you when dog walking, make sure you are telling him where to go. Trust me, you will not hurt Fido's feelings if he does not get to pee on every tree. He will respect you as the pack leader, and overall, this will give him a greater sense of security, which means he will feel safe and well cared for.

If your dog stops when you do not want to, use light tugs with the leash as physical indicators, and verbal sounds such as a whistle, finger snap, or verbal commands such as: here boy, come on, and heel. Or get inventive and make up your own.

Don't forget to carry a sandwich bag with some doggie treats so you can reward your pet for listening to you. Dogs think with their stomachs, and will gladly follow a leader who brings tasty treats. The more you reward him, the more your dog will associate following your lead during dog walking with a delicious experience. Especially when the dog treats you are using are WildSide Salmon Treats for dogs, available at The Dog Bowl—dogs love this stuff! They will gladly follow your lead for some of these tasty doggie delicacies.

Helpful Hint: the real difference between a wonderful dog walking experience and a frustrating dog walking experience is choosing the proper dog collar. Read the article entitled "Dog Collars: Choosing the right one for your dog," to find out how to choose the proper dog collar.