As a conscientious dog owner, you work hard to fit their daily walks into your schedule. It doesn’t matter if you have to get up early or do it after the sun has gone down because it’s about what’s best for your dogs. This attitude is to be applauded, but don’t forget about safety!

A Reliable Leash and Dog Collar

You want to ensure the leash and collar are appropriate for the size and strength of your dog. The last thing you want is for him to break free and try to run across a busy street or go after another dog or a person because the leash snapped or the collar slid off. Check the state of your dog’s collar and leash regularly, inspecting them for any damage or rust on the hardware (D-ring and leash clasp) or rips in the fabric. Replace them at the first hint of possible failure. Also, avoid using variable length leads, and check your local laws. In some jurisdictions, there is a maximum allowed length of the leash. For example, city law in Los Angeles limits leash length to six feet.

Reflective Clothing

If you walk your dog in darkness or inclement weather, you owe it to yourself and your pup to stand out to drivers. One of the best ways to do this is by wearing a reflective running vest, and you may also want to invest in reflective dog clothing.

LED Lights

Not into dressing your dog in reflective clothing? Try something with an LED light. For humans, there are wearable bike and running safety lights. For dogs, Cesar recommends the Bright Light Leash & Collar because it provides an LED light to make your dog visible and position it where it can be seen. Even better for you, the light is solar powered and USB chargeable!

Comfortable Walking Shoes

When our feet hurt, so do the rest of our bodies. So take care of yourself by ensuring the shoes you wear on your dog walks are the correct size and fit — and that they are proper walking shoes, not sandals or heels. Also, ensure they have no-skid soles or a decent tread to reduce the chance of slipping and falling or off your dog suddenly pulling you off your feet. Of course, dog-walking safety isn’t just about gadgets. Changing your route will confuse anyone trying to keep tabs on you; telling someone where you’re going will alert them to help if you don’t come back, and walking with others can help deter predators. Plan and your dog walks are much more likely to be peaceful and relaxing, helping you maintain a Pack Leader’s calm, assertive energy!

Dog Walking Bag

Are you looking for a way to make dog walking more manageable and efficient? Then you need a dog walking bag! This essential piece of gear can help you carry all the supplies you need while out on a walk, and it’ll make walks much more organized and stress-free. Once you find a bag that works for you, here are some suggested items to include in your walking bag.

Emergency Card

You must always be prepared for an emergency if you’re a dog walker. That means having an emergency card with all your contact information. Suppose something happens to you while walking dogs. Someone will be able to get in touch with your clients quickly. An emergency card can also help if you get lost or stranded somewhere. Information to include on the card is your name, contact information for two people, the number of dogs you are walking, and the dogs’ names. So make sure to carry one with you whenever you’re walking dogs!

Phone

Most people don’t go anywhere without their phones these days. However, you might consider leaving the device home if you take your pup on a quick walk around the block. Having your cellular phone is essential if you need to reach emergency services or get lost. Update your contacts to include ICE (in case of emergency) contact information that EMS personnel can retrieve should anything happen to you.

Spare Leash & Collar

There might be a time when your leash or collar breaks while you’re on a walk. An extra pair in your walking bag will solve your problem quickly. Having a spare leash and collar can also be helpful if you come in contact with a stray dog.

Waste Bag

Carrying a waste bag for your dog should be a no-brainer. Again, even if you’re only going for a quick walk. Respect your community and neighbors and clean up after your furry friend.

Spare Leash & Collar

There might be a time when your leash or collar breaks while you’re on a walk. An extra pair in your walking bag will solve your problem quickly. Having a spare leash and collar can also be helpful if you come in contact with a stray dog.

Waste Bag

Carrying a waste bag for your dog should be a no-brainer. Again, even if you’re only going for a quick walk. Respect your community and neighbors and clean up after your furry friend.

Wet Wipes

There might be a time when your leash or collar breaks while you’re on a walk. An extra pair in your walking bag will solve your problem quickly. Having a spare leash and collar can also be helpful if you come in contact with a stray dog.

Dog Treats

Keep a small bag of your pup’s favorite treats broken into smaller pieces for training and rewards. If you walk several different dogs daily, consider carrying a few kinds of goodies.

Photo Of Dog

There might be a time when your leash or collar breaks while you’re on a walk. An extra pair in your walking bag will solve your problem quickly. Having a spare leash and collar can also be helpful if you come in contact with a stray dog.

Flashlight

A flashlight in your walking bag is helpful for a few reasons. If you start your walk at dusk and are still walking when the sun goes down, a flashlight will help you to see where you’re walking and for others to see you. If there’s an emergency and you’re lost without a cellular signal, you can use the flashlight to alert emergency responders to your location.

Clicker

If you have trained your dog to respond to a clicker device, it would be great to include one in your bag for when you are out and about for a few hours or a few days.

Immunization Records

In the case of an unfortunate incident, it would be helpful to include all updated immunization records, including rabies certification, either on your phone or printed out and kept in a plastic bag. Also, remember that some events and hotels require this information upon check-in.

Water

Some products on the market allow you to carry a water bowl for your pup. Keeping your dog properly hydrated, particularly on hot days, is essential for safety. A collapsible bowl and water bottle are two critical items to keep in your walking bag.

What safety essentials do you always take on the walk?

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Mastering the walk will not only make this part of your daily routine enjoyable, but also go a long way towards addressing other problem behaviors as well, because it can help your dog to see you as the Pack Leader.

Here are some solutions for dealing with dog walking problems.

1. Pulling on the walk
   This is one of the most common problems faced by Pack Leaders. Some dogs don’t want to walk; they want to run! So let them. Go for a jog, use rollerblades, or go biking with your dog to drain that excess energy before trying to address the behavior.Another powerful solution is the Pack Leader Collar. It’s likely your current collar is actually working against you. By being placed around the strongest part of your dog’s neck — the lower part — it’s actually helping your dog to pull you! Think about sled-pulling dogs; they use this part of their body to pull heavy loads behind them. Instead, the Pack Leader Collar keeps the collar at the top of the neck, giving you more control.
2. Distracted on the walk
   Some dogs like to stop and smell the roses. And then stop to smell them again and again… You can prevent this behavior by keeping the leash short (but not tight) and your dog’s head up. Maintain your calm-assertive energy and stay focused on your destination. Then allow your dog brief breaks to stop, explore, and relieve himself. These breaks are your dog’s reward for following you on the walk instead of their nose.
3. Lunging on the walk
   Are you constantly walking to the other side of the street to avoid passing other dogs or people so your dog won’t lunge at them? Corrections are key. You want to address the problem behavior quickly and immediately. The Pack Leader Collar can also help with this by keeping the collar at the most sensitive part of the neck, where he is more likely to notice the corrections.Still having trouble getting the message across to your dog? Have a friend or family member film you giving corrections. Watch your body language. First, are you reacting before your dog does? Your anticipation of the behavior may actually be causing it. Second, are you maintaining calm-assertive control (head up, shoulders back!) when giving corrections, or simply yanking your dog around?
4. Stopping in the middle of the walk
   It’s possible that your dog is overheated or overtired, so this should always be the first thing you consider: Are you asking her to go too long or in temperatures that are uncomfortable for her? Sometimes we forget that a dog’s exercise needs change as they age. It’s also possible your dog is suffering from a health issue. Consult your vet.Once you’ve ruled those causes out, one strategy for dealing with this is to give a slight sideways tug on the leash to jolt the dog back into walking. You may have to repeat it if she stops again until she gets the message to keep moving.
5. Not interested in going for a walk
   This is a common puppy problem. The little guy just decides he’d rather sit down or otherwise do his own thing. You can help encourage your dog to get up and get going by picking him up and taking him away from your home. Why? Because he is more likely to be motivated to walk back home than he is to walk away from it!

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Here are 6 Tips for Mastering the Dog Walk

Walk in Front of Your Dog

Walking in front of your dog allows you to be seen as the pack leader. Conversely, if your dog controls you on the walk, he’s the pack leader. You should be the first one out the door and the first one in. Your dog should be beside or behind you during the walk.

Use a Short Dog Leash

This allows you to have more control. Attaching the leash to the very top of the neck can help you more easily communicate, guide, and correct your dog. If you need additional help, consider a great dog collar. Always keep your dog’s safety in mind when giving corrections.

Give Yourself Enough Time for the Dog Walk

Dogs, like humans, are diurnal, so taking walks in the morning is ideal. I recommend setting aside thirty minutes to a full hour. The specific needs of each dog differ. Consult your vet and keep an eye on your dog’s behavior to see if his needs are being met.

How to Reward Your Dog During the Walk

After your dog has maintained the proper state of mind, reward him by allowing him to relieve himself and sniff around. Then you need to decide when reward time is over. It should always be less than the time spent focused on the walk.

Keep Leading, Even After the Walk

When you get home, don’t stop leading. Have your dog wait patiently while you put away his leash or take off your shoes.

Reward Your Dog After the Walk

By providing a meal after the walk, you have allowed your dog to “work” for food and water.

And don’t forget to set a good example by always picking up after your dog!

How about you? Are you having trouble mastering the walk? Share your experience with us in the comments!

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Dogs need walks. Walks provide them with exercise, help you assert your position as Pack Leader, and bring some fun to the day for both of you. But what do you do when that fun fades and you and your dog seem to just be going through the motions, bored and waiting for the walk to be over so you can go back home? It doesn’t have to be this way, and we’ve come up with five dog-walk tips designed to alleviate boredom for both you and your pup.

1. Take the road less traveled Lots of dog lovers come up with a route that works for them and stick with it forever because that’s the easiest thing to do, but over time this can bore both you and your dog. If you want to liven things up, you can make a small change, such as walking the opposite direction on your next walk, or try something completely different and head to a park or dog-friendly beach to hike.
2. Break it up Even if you’re taking different routes, the simple routine of going out, walking for a while, and then returning home can get old pretty quickly. Bring back some fun by planning the walk around some other activity, such as going to a dog-friendly restaurant for dinner or shopping in a dog-friendly store. When you’re done, you can continue the walk and be happy that you accomplished another task as well.
3. Add in an obedience training session Another way to break up your walk is to make it part of obedience training. When your dog acts up, stop them, so you can correct their behavior and don’t continue on the walk until they are calm. Bring treats with you to reward good behavior, and use the Pack Leader Collar to keep yourself from getting frustrated if your dog doesn’t immediately behave.
4. Walk with other dog owners No one is saying that your dog isn’t good company, but sometimes it’s nice to have other human beings to talk to when you’re out on the walk. So call some friends or introduce yourself to other dog owners in the neighborhood and see if you can meet up a few times a week for a dog walk. If you’re really feeling ambitious, you can even start your own dog walk club.
5. Complement the walk with playtime A walk doesn’t just have to be a walk. Yet another way that you can break it up is by bringing some toys with you and engaging in some play time. One of the best ways to do this is to walk to a park and bring a flying disc, ball, or tug-of-war toy with you to have some fun with your dog while you’re out. Just remember to have your dog earn the playtime first by walking calmly by your side or right behind you for twenty or thirty minutes first.

What are some ideas that you’ve come up with to make your dog walks more interesting? Let us know in the comments.

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You Are the Leader

To make the walk productive and bonding, you have to be the leader. This means that you’re in front, not your dog. It helps to use a short leash with the collar up at the top of the dog’s neck, where you have the most control. Keep your leash arm down and relaxed, with the leash loose. Don’t grip tightly because that sends tense energy down the leash to your dog.

Don’t Use a Harness

Avoid harnesses for the walk, because they tend to encourage dogs to pull. And take a pass on any kind of variable-length lead, as these put your dog, not you, in control.

The most important tool for the walk, though, is your calm, assertive energy. It’s a transformative attitude that actually encourages your dog to follow you. This means being fully present for your dog. The walk isn’t a time for texting or chatting on your phone.

Your dog must also be present for you. Sniffing and peeing are rewards your dog needs to earn ‘ so during first part of the walk, keep in constant motion, mimicking the forward movement of the pack in search of food. After establishing a good balance of leadership (you) and calm, submissive walking (your dog), you can relax a bit and let your dog sniff or mark the landscape.

Be Aware of Other Dogs and Walkers

Another skill for mastering the walk is reading other dog walkers from a distance. If their dog is out in front and pulling, and the person’s energy seems anxious with weak and uncertain body language, it’s possible their dog could exhibit some undesired behavior should you meet. It’s better for you and your dog to avoid such encounters.

The walk is the perfect way to give your dog exercise, discipline, and some affection, as well as to establish rules. When you master it, you will have discovered the most rewarding and productive way to improve your relationship with your dog.

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When children grow up, they become independent from their parents — although it frequently takes longer to give up that support from their parents’ wallets! And that growing-up process involves lots of little independences: learning to ride a bicycle without training wheels or assistance, going to school alone, deciding on your own outfits, people to date, college to go to, etc….

Growing up is all about achieving that independence. But, surprisingly, I see far too many adults who have given up their independence willingly without realizing it, and they give it up to their dogs.

It’s a story I’ve heard more often than you’d think:

“I haven’t been on a date in years because my dog won’t let me bring anyone over.”

“I never go on vacation because my dog doesn’t do well staying with strangers.”

“My partner and I can never cuddle anymore because the dog gets in between us.”

Who’s the boss in each of these situations? It’s not the human. It doesn’t have to happen but it does, and far too frequently, because we allow it by refusing to claim our independence and failing to take back control.

And why do people do that? For the most part, it’s because they’re afraid of making their dogs mad at them, or of hurting the dog’s feelings. Well, if America’s Founders had felt that way, we’d still be singing “God Save the Queen” and having tea at four p.m. every day.

Not that you need to start an armed revolution or throw your dog’s food into the harbor or anything drastic like that. You just have to declare your independence, and then take it — and the taking it begins with establishing those rules, boundaries, and limitations that you should have had in place from the beginning.

Of course, before you can get those in place you have to be the one in charge to begin with, and to do that you have to use your single best tool to your advantage: The Walk.

I talk all the time about how important the Walk is to your relationship with your dog, but it’s worth explaining exactly why that is. Simply put, it is the closest you can get with your dog to what the natural experience of hunting in the pack is like. It’s the two of you, exploring your territory and moving forward together. But, while you’re moving together, one of you is always in the lead, and the one in the lead needs to be you, the human.

If the dog is in the lead, then you’re not in charge. And if you’re leading but your dog isn’t following you — pulling you back, or refusing to go forward — then you’re not in charge either.

Fortunately, Mastering the Walk can be done, and it will also help you develop the calm, assertive energy that you’ll need in order for your dog to follow you in all things. The first step to taking control on the Walk is the first step to gaining your independence from your dog — which is also the route to balance and happiness in your relationship.

So if your dog is currently in charge, don’t despair. You can win your independence and take back control, and your dog will love you for it — and it won’t take a revolution to do it, just a conscious decision to be in charge.

Stay calm, and be the boss!

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If your dog doesn’t trust you, she’ll never respect you. Without those, she won’t follow you because you aren’t leading. People who try to use fear and domination on their dogs may think they have loyal, obedient animals, but they don’t. At the very least, this kind of style will create a fearful, anxious dog. At the worst, it’s laying the groundwork for the dog to one day attack the human.

So how do we earn our dogs’ trust and respect?

Keep calm and lead on

The first and most important thing we can do, of course, is to stay calm. Dogs are very tuned-in to our energy. To them, our “names” are the combination of our energy and scent. And, like all animals, they will do what they can to avoid unbalanced or chaotic energy.

Why is this? Probably because this kind of energy is very unpredictable, and animals like to feel secure or in control in a situation. While they may follow you if your energy is excited, they will also mirror this state — and an excited dog will not be entirely focused on you.

Another thing that an excited dog may do is jump on you in greeting, which is showing that the dog has no respect for you because they’re invading your space. It can only take a few excited greetings like this to teach the dog to behave like that all the time with everyone.

Speaking of space…

Just as a dog jumping on a human shows them no respect, it works the other way around, too, which is why you should never invade a dog’s space when meeting them. This is what my “no touch, no talk, no eye contact” rule is all about.

If you’ve ever watched two strange dogs meet, you’ve seen that they don’t immediately go face-to-face. They start to take in each other’s scents while they are still a public distance apart, and then tend to approach each other side to side. And, of course, they’ll probably sniff each other’s butts.

To a dog’s nose, this action comes with a wealth of information: “Have we met before? How’s your diet? Are you a boy or a girl?” They do the same thing to us as well, whether or not they actually stick their noses in our business. And once the dog has checked you out, he’ll decide whether to engage or ignore you. Don’t take it personally if he does the latter. It just means he feels comfortable around you.

Take a walk

The walk is the single best bonding experience you can have with your dog, since it mimics the movement of a pack in the wild. The leash is also a constant means of communication between you both. If you conduct the walk while you are feeling calm and confident, your dog will understand that you are providing protection and direction.

By teaching your dog to always stay to your side and slightly behind you, you help emphasize who is following whom, and by remaining calm and not tensing up on the leash, you teach your dog how to relax and just be a dog instead of worrying about protecting you.

Be consistent

Remember I mentioned that dogs don’t like things that are unpredictable? This is why it’s so important to establish a routine with your dog and to keep it. If walks, meals, and bedtimes are not generally regular, it can make your dog anxious or frustrated.

Repetition is how dogs make associations until they have connected certain actions. When these are things you want your dog to do, like sit on command, it’s great. But we also have to be careful to not accidentally teach our dogs to do the wrong things, like freaking out on sight of the vacuum cleaner.

Being consistent with those things you do want will help reinforce the behavior in your dog — a particular word from you always means they perform a particular action.

When you provide all of these things for your dog, she will learn to trust you and from that trust come respect and love. Your dog will follow you because she wants to, not because you’ve forced her to, making for the perfect relationship.

Stay calm and build that leadership!

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Check it out in the video below.

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It isn’t such a difficult problem to solve, though. In the second installment of “Chance Encounters with Cesar Millan,” an excitable dog named Penny and her human get a lesson in calming a dog down as Cesar drops in on them in Long Beach, California. We also learn how to choose the training tool that’s right for you.

Check out the video:

Have you tried Cesar’s technique? How did it go?

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If doesn’t have to happen like this, though, and only takes a few simple steps to avoid. In the first of our “Chance Encounters with Cesar Millan” video series, below, Cesar visits an Orange County park and teaches some unsuspecting humans how to get their dogs to pass each other calmly.

Does your dog pull you on the walk? The Pack Leader Collar is designed to stop the pulling. Get yours today!

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