Enriched Walks
Enjoy the journey as well as the destination
.jpeg)
Teaching the dogs to relax on walks helps them process better, reduces their stress, and means they are less worked up when they reach the destination.
Just like us, dogs can benefit from a moment to stop, look around and breathe, which helps calm the mind and teaches them to be more present in the environment, whether on a quiet street or a forest path.
Trying to cram a whole day's energy into a 30- or 60-minute walk can often leave you feeling worse afterwards. Maddie’s Dog Academy has some great tips for enriching your walks. You can also try a backpack walk.
Every dog and their human is different. I encourage you to find your own style. Understand your dog's body language and take a moment to stop and observe what your dog loves to do when you both are alone on a walk, be it sniffing, foraging, playing in a puddle or sitting in a nice comfy spot.
Your walks are the best time to connect not only physically through the leash but also emotionally.
This will help you both decompress after a hard day.