WALKING YOUR DOG
By Karen Gray-Kilfoil (Cape)
Karen has a B.A. degree in Social Sciences and Humanities, with special emphasis on social, developmental and educational psychology, including one year of biology. She has an Advanced Certificate in Companion Animal Behaviour and a Certificate in Animal Assisted Activities from the Ethology Academy, Pretoria
Walking your dog can be fun, relaxing and beneficial for both of you. Or it could be a chore because your dog takes you for a drag, won’t come when he’s called or attacks (in an aggressive or friendly way) other dogs or people on the way.
Dogs need to go for walks, not so much for the exercise, but for the mental stimulation. They like to sniff under bushes and at lampposts, meet other dogs or people and leave their mark on the community (e.g. by urinating and scratching the ground). This way dogs are able to keep up with local "news", which helps to keep them calm, contented and well-behaved.
Some tips for easy walking:
Go for five minute daily walks in your neighbourhood, rather than long free runs at the beach or in the park or mountain. Dogs prefer "local" to "overseas" news.
Keep your dog on a long loose lead with a collar, harness or head halter.
Each day go in a different direction, not always the same route around the block. This helps as your dog cannot anticipate where you are going and will be less likely to pull.
Look where you’re going, not at your dog. You are the pack leader and should make decisions about where you want to go.
With a relaxed arm, let him follow the direction your feet are going. There is no need to shout, yank on the lead or even speak to your dog.
To give your dog calming signals walk in large circles or zigzags and stop to "smell the roses", allowing your dog to do the same.
Allow your dog to go up to other people and dogs with a slack lead. Stand side-on to them and your dog without staring. These are non-threatening signals, so your dog doesn’t think you are afraid of the other person or dog. This helps to prevent fear or over-protectiveness.
If your dog pulls on the lead, try changing direction when you feel the tension on the lead. Or you could try standing still (or even sitting down) until the lead is slack, and then continuing. Your dog will soon learn that you are in charge and start to be more respectful of you.
If you are a long distance walker or runner and you want to take your dog with you, make sure your dog is a suitable breed, age and fitness. Some breeds are excellent sporting breeds (e.g. Border Collies, Dalmatians and Greyhounds), while others are just not built for athletics (e.g. Bulldogs). Just like people, dogs need to build up their fitness gradually and will be very frustrated if they cannot exercise regularly when they are fit. Like humans and sledge dogs, dogs that run regularly should be fitted with footwear.
As many dog owners are aware there are people out there who don’t like dogs and would prefer never to come into contact with them. These people are also entitled to use our mountains, parks, beaches and streets and their wishes should be respected. The Code of Conduct below should apply whenever you walk your dog. To make things pleasant for both dog-lovers and others, here are a few tips:
If you have more than two dogs, walk them separately, as dogs can behave very differently as a pack than they do individually. It is always easier to manage one dog at a time.
Socialise your dog with people (including different race groups and children) and other dogs (including strange dogs and puppies) at an early age. This is essential if you want to walk your dog in public areas and should start when your pup is nine weeks old and continue for the rest of his life.
A well-trained and obedient dog is much more pleasurable and safe to be around. This means you have to take the responsibility of taking your dog to training, getting someone in to help you or doing it yourself with the help of previous experience or a good training book or information on the internet. Dogs can be controlled by voice, clicker, hand signals or whistles.
The most important command to teach a dog is "Come!" and many unfortunate incidents can be avoided if dogs respond to this instantly. Always use positive reinforcement (praise, physical contact, a toy or food) to reward your dog for coming, even if he comes 10 minutes later!
Carry a leash so that you can restrain your dog if necessary. You never know when you may need it. People who are obviously afraid of dogs should be respected and your dog kept away from them.
It is always good to start and end a walk with the leash on. These are times when your dog may be excitable or disobedient and the leash will help to demarcate the beginning and end of a walk. It also helps if you have a dog that escapes and takes himself for a walk – the leash is his ticket out.
Wild animals such as baboons can be extremely dangerous to dogs. Chasing birds, squirrels and other small prey may seem natural to a dog, but excessive hunting can result in a very unmanageable "hunting" dog. Besides, if you are an animal lover, you do not want to disturb wild animals in their natural habitat. Discourage your dog from chasing animals.
If a loose dog runs up to yours while he is on the leash there is a good chance that he is friendly, so don’t panic, shout or stare at the dogs. If you are unsure of the other dog’s intentions change direction slightly away from the other dog, doing a circle or zigzag. Simply keep walking, relax and allow your dog to follow you, using a friendly tone of voice to call your dog.
Always take a poop scoop or a couple of plastic bags to pick up after your dog. This is common decency and also helps to prevent the spread of disease. Irate home-owners have been known to shoot dogs for defaecating on their verges. Leaving your dog’s faeces in public areas only gives ammunition to the anti-dog people who would like to see dogs banned from all public areas.
Dogs that enjoy swimming or are advised to swim for medical reasons can be allowed to do so in specific places. (Swimming can be good for building strong muscles without putting strain on the joints or for some skin problems.) Find out where you can take your dog for a swim. A swimming pool may even be the answer.
Enjoy walking sensibly and considerately!
Karen Gray-Kilfoil - ANIMAL BEHAVIOURIST
Dogs need to go for walks, not so much for the exercise, but for the mental stimulation. They like to sniff under bushes and at lampposts, meet other dogs or people and leave their mark on the community (e.g. by urinating and scratching the ground). This way dogs are able to keep up with local "news", which helps to keep them calm, contented and well-behaved.
Some tips for easy walking:
Go for five minute daily walks in your neighbourhood, rather than long free runs at the beach or in the park or mountain. Dogs prefer "local" to "overseas" news.
Keep your dog on a long loose lead with a collar, harness or head halter.
Each day go in a different direction, not always the same route around the block. This helps as your dog cannot anticipate where you are going and will be less likely to pull.
Look where you’re going, not at your dog. You are the pack leader and should make decisions about where you want to go.
With a relaxed arm, let him follow the direction your feet are going. There is no need to shout, yank on the lead or even speak to your dog.
To give your dog calming signals walk in large circles or zigzags and stop to "smell the roses", allowing your dog to do the same.
Allow your dog to go up to other people and dogs with a slack lead. Stand side-on to them and your dog without staring. These are non-threatening signals, so your dog doesn’t think you are afraid of the other person or dog. This helps to prevent fear or over-protectiveness.
If your dog pulls on the lead, try changing direction when you feel the tension on the lead. Or you could try standing still (or even sitting down) until the lead is slack, and then continuing. Your dog will soon learn that you are in charge and start to be more respectful of you.
If you are a long distance walker or runner and you want to take your dog with you, make sure your dog is a suitable breed, age and fitness. Some breeds are excellent sporting breeds (e.g. Border Collies, Dalmatians and Greyhounds), while others are just not built for athletics (e.g. Bulldogs). Just like people, dogs need to build up their fitness gradually and will be very frustrated if they cannot exercise regularly when they are fit. Like humans and sledge dogs, dogs that run regularly should be fitted with footwear.
As many dog owners are aware there are people out there who don’t like dogs and would prefer never to come into contact with them. These people are also entitled to use our mountains, parks, beaches and streets and their wishes should be respected. The Code of Conduct below should apply whenever you walk your dog. To make things pleasant for both dog-lovers and others, here are a few tips:
If you have more than two dogs, walk them separately, as dogs can behave very differently as a pack than they do individually. It is always easier to manage one dog at a time.
Socialise your dog with people (including different race groups and children) and other dogs (including strange dogs and puppies) at an early age. This is essential if you want to walk your dog in public areas and should start when your pup is nine weeks old and continue for the rest of his life.
A well-trained and obedient dog is much more pleasurable and safe to be around. This means you have to take the responsibility of taking your dog to training, getting someone in to help you or doing it yourself with the help of previous experience or a good training book or information on the internet. Dogs can be controlled by voice, clicker, hand signals or whistles.
The most important command to teach a dog is "Come!" and many unfortunate incidents can be avoided if dogs respond to this instantly. Always use positive reinforcement (praise, physical contact, a toy or food) to reward your dog for coming, even if he comes 10 minutes later!
Carry a leash so that you can restrain your dog if necessary. You never know when you may need it. People who are obviously afraid of dogs should be respected and your dog kept away from them.
It is always good to start and end a walk with the leash on. These are times when your dog may be excitable or disobedient and the leash will help to demarcate the beginning and end of a walk. It also helps if you have a dog that escapes and takes himself for a walk – the leash is his ticket out.
Wild animals such as baboons can be extremely dangerous to dogs. Chasing birds, squirrels and other small prey may seem natural to a dog, but excessive hunting can result in a very unmanageable "hunting" dog. Besides, if you are an animal lover, you do not want to disturb wild animals in their natural habitat. Discourage your dog from chasing animals.
If a loose dog runs up to yours while he is on the leash there is a good chance that he is friendly, so don’t panic, shout or stare at the dogs. If you are unsure of the other dog’s intentions change direction slightly away from the other dog, doing a circle or zigzag. Simply keep walking, relax and allow your dog to follow you, using a friendly tone of voice to call your dog.
Always take a poop scoop or a couple of plastic bags to pick up after your dog. This is common decency and also helps to prevent the spread of disease. Irate home-owners have been known to shoot dogs for defaecating on their verges. Leaving your dog’s faeces in public areas only gives ammunition to the anti-dog people who would like to see dogs banned from all public areas.
Dogs that enjoy swimming or are advised to swim for medical reasons can be allowed to do so in specific places. (Swimming can be good for building strong muscles without putting strain on the joints or for some skin problems.) Find out where you can take your dog for a swim. A swimming pool may even be the answer.
Enjoy walking sensibly and considerately!
Karen Gray-Kilfoil - ANIMAL BEHAVIOURIST
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