Feel the (Brain) Burn

For most dogs, just taking a walk isn't enough

Walking is a time honored tradition for most dog owners.   At the beginning and at the end of the day, we pop the leash onto our furry friend and take our morning/evening constitutional.  Hopefully, it’s some enjoyable time to spend with our dogs, but there is usually a secondary purpose for the walk.  Often times, this journey is a potty break. Sometimes, it’s exploration and investigation time.  Most of the time, we consider a walk our pets’ main exercise.  However, vets and animal behaviorists believe that medium to large dogs should ideally have 2 ½ hours of high energy exercise to maintain optimal health.

Unfortunately,  most of us don’t have the time or space to exercise our dogs at that level, so we need to think of other ways to burn off our dogs’ energy.  One way is to combine brain energy with muscle energy.  Sniffing, practicing obedience, and playing are all ways to help dogs work harder while on their everyday walk.

While it might seem like letting your dog sniff is a time killer, think of it as your dog catching up on the latest news.  Dogs gain most of their information about the world through their olfactory system.  When they sniff an item, they’re learning all about the neighborhood and its passer-bys.  They need to use their brain power to sort this information and make sense of it.  We can learn a little about what dogs discover through scent by watching what our dogs do after sniffing:  Look around?  Look up?  Urinate over the scent?  Kick?  Get excited?  Once you let your dog sniff, you’ll find that certain areas are more interesting than other areas, kind of like following a certain story or news item.  For dogs that love sniffing, the freedom to “go sniff” can even be used as a reward during training.

Practicing cues while on a walk increases your dog's attention
to you and can help your dog become more responsive.

Practicing obedience cues can also make walks more interesting.   Even better, the walk can become a  working breakfast by using kibbles with a little fish oil or powdered parmesan cheese (or both) for treats!  The stop and go, mixing up of commands, and different locations can make the walk more challenging.  Don’t be surprised if your dog doesn’t respond at first to your cues.  Just like students don’t expect to do math in history class, your dog won’t expect obedience cues during the daily walk.  Be patient and start from scratch, using lures like you did when you first taught your dog “sit” and “down.”  Once your dog learns that these words mean the same thing during a walk as they do at home and in class, the responses will come much faster.  With a hungry dog eager for treats, your dog should start responding quickly and enthusiastically.  You’ll find that your dog will become not only excited about walks, but excited about obedience, and will become a much better listener!

Playing while walking can also make the walk more interesting.  Change up the pace by running and walking and slowing down for a house or two at a time.  Walk backwards with your dog walking towards you (be sure there aren’t any on-coming dogs or potentially startling barkers behind fences).  Teach your dog to walk on your right AND left and switch sides.  Skip, hop, or walk in a zig-zag pattern.  Attach the leash to a harness instead of a collar so the speed changes won’t injure your dog and give your dog cues so that your dog will know things are changing.  Once your dog catches on, he or she will learn to watch you closely to know when a change is coming.

Stick to obedience or speed changes for several weeks until your dog learns to watch you for the next cue.  Once you have your dog’s full attention, and he or she starts to anticipate a cue, you can introduce either speed or obedience and keep to the new routine for a few days, then return to the previous routine.  Once your dog becomes “fluent” in obedience and speed cues, you can mix and match.  This will not only make walks more brain energy intense, it will make it more fun and interesting for both of you.  Even better, you’ll find that your dog will pay more attention to you, less attention to other dogs and people, and become more responsive to cues.

Best of all, you and your super attentive and responsive buddy will become the envy of the neighborhood, inspiring other dog owners to make an ordinary promenade into an outdoor adventure.