Adopting a dog is an enriching and exciting experience that will change your life for the better. You must start educating him from the first day and of course, teach him to walk correctly on his leash.
On average, we take our dogs for walks three to four times a day. Can you imagine that your puppy would spend all walks pulling on a leash? It would be somewhat frustrating … So, we leave you some practical tips so that you can teach him how to walk properly.
Index of contents
- 1 What do you need to walk your dog?
- 2 When to take a dog for a walk?
- 3 How to walk a dog for the first time?
- 4 Recommendations during walks
What do you need to walk your dog?
Whether it is a large or small dog, you will need some accessories before taking your dog for a walk:
- Belt. You will find them in different models, materials and colors. The important thing is that it is resistant and the extension is enough to give you freedom during walks, but without straying too far from you.
- Collar or harness. Under no circumstances should you take your dog out without a collar. In it you must include his name, your name and a contact number, only that way you can find your dog in case it gets lost. The collar should also be comfortable; Thus, avoid those with spikes or those that are designed to hang the dog.
- Water. On all outings, it is recommended that you bring a bottle of water and a container to hydrate your dog (especially in hot months).
- Disposable bags. Many people take advantage of walks for dogs to relieve themselves. If this is your case, take bags to collect the feces.
When to take a dog for a walk?
Dogs need to have a walking routine to adapt to it and know when they can relieve themselves (urinate and defecate). It is important that you always respect these schedules, this way your puppy will get used to it quickly.
The ideal is to have at least three or four walks a day. The first walk should be when you wake up in the morning, after sleeping through the night at home, you will need to go out for some fresh air and relieve yourself.
At noon we must take the second walk, also to relieve ourselves. And in the afternoon we must take a walk of at least an hour, so that in addition to meeting his needs, he exercises, plays and interacts with other dogs.
Many people take their puppies for a walk just before they go to sleep to make them pee, a great idea.
How to walk a dog for the first time?
During the first leg of the ride, wrap the leash in your hand so that the dog walks alongside you. In this way, you avoid trying to get ahead, since the pressure exerted by the strap will dissuade you from doing so. Maintain the necessary length to walk normally, but with you.
Talk to him gently when he obeys and walks beside you. If you try to get ahead, use a forceful “No!” and stop. You can also spray it with a little water so that you understand that what it does is wrong. Wait a couple of minutes and restart the march.
When your dog wants to urinate or defecate, stop to do so calmly. Never keep pulling the strap when you want to meet your physiological needs, this only creates anxiety.
As your dog learns to walk alongside you, release the strap and call him when he walks away, to return to your side.
At the end of a successful walk, have a treat ready for your dog. It can be a canine treat, a little cheese or york ham, and even some of the recommended fruits for dogs.
With the passage of time, your dog will learn to walk with you and you will no longer have to start the walks on a leash. In addition, you can vary the routes so that you know new places.
Recommendations during walks
Now you know how to walk your dog correctly. In addition, we offer you these recommendations:
- Don’t push your dog too hard during walks. Learn about the type and level of exercise you need based on your race.
- Wait 3 months before starting the rides.
- Adapt to the weather. If it is very cold, it reduces the time of the walks and shelter your dog. If it is very hot, take more water, do not go out in the hottest hours and put on little shoes to avoid hurting his legs.
- Allow it to sniff out the places that are curious to you, this enrichment is good for the life of the dog and helps it develop its intelligence.
- Walks are a great time to socialize with other pets and people. If your dog is curious, allow him to come up and sniff, but stay tuned. Especially at first, he could be nervous or aggressive when other dogs approach him.
- Removing the leash is recommended only after the dog has learned to answer your calls. Also, it is better if you wait to get to a safe place, like a park.
- If the dog becomes aggressive towards others, walk away and stop the walk until it calms down.
- As you learn to wander, substitute grocery prizes for petting and congratulations.
- Enjoy the ride! It is a great time to share and explore new places.