[Day 13] Going for a walk - creating serenity when setting out for a walk
Basic obedience: Day 13 of 56
This video and training is part of the Grunge Obedience Concept, a structured programme to promote obedience and the bond between humans and dogs. The concept is carefully didactic and methodical to ensure that each exercise builds on the previous one for maximum effectiveness. It is crucial that you carry out the training in the intended order to achieve the best possible results for your dog.
A walk is an exciting time for your dog, but sometimes the anticipation of going for a walk gets too much. Maybe you've experienced this too: your dog jumps up, spins in circles or barks excitedly as soon as you grab the Leash. This nervousness is not only stressful for you, but also for your dog. But don't worry - you can help him to calm down.
In this blog, we explain how you can turn the start of a walk into a clear and calm ritual that will make your dog more relaxed. By making simple but effective changes to your behaviour, you can teach your dog to start the walk in a more relaxed way and thus also create the basis for calmer leash walking. Are you ready? Then let's get started!
In this blog, we will show you how to establish eye contact with your dog and why it is so important for your relationship. You will also find out how this simple act releases the hormone oxytocin and not only relaxes your dog, but also you. Sounds exciting? Then let's get started!
Aim: To teach the dog to be calm and relaxed when setting off on a walk in order to avoid nervousness and excessive excitement. The dog learns that going for a walk is a relaxed ritual, which also improves its ability to walk on a lead in the long term.
Equipment: Leash, Dog Harness or Collar, rewards/treats, clicker or marker signal, Dog Bed or dog blanket
Location: At home, later outside
Duration: daily before each walk
Ritual - setting off on a walk
The walk is the highlight of the day for many dogs. There is so much to see, smell and discover. However, this change from everyday life within your own four walls can also lead to excessive excitement, which manifests itself in stress and nervous behaviour. You may have noticed this in your dog: as soon as you reach for the Leash, he starts to get restless, bark or spin around in circles. What looks like anticipation at first glance is often actually a sign of stress and a lack of self-control.
In puppyhood, however, the stimulus to go out is still quite unattractive. Many dog owners use the idea of motivating their puppy to go outside to create an excessive form of pleasure. They motivate their dog by telling them how great it is to be able to go out. This exuberance manifests itself in incoherent exaggeration on the part of the dog. The dog gets nervous, barks, turns round - just because the human has been pushing him for weeks or months about how cool it is to go out. Some dog people find the excited fidgeting before the walk very amusing, but in reality it is unfortunately morbidly stressful for the dog. The well-intentioned motivation has inadvertently taught problem behaviour. The good news is that you can solve this problem!
On the one hand, the dog is expected to be overly happy when it goes for a "walk", but on the other hand, this joy is to be immediately transformed into strict obedience as soon as you step outside the front door. It should be perfectly clear that this idea is really absurd and completely incomprehensible to the dog. It is almost impossible to stifle this emotional excitement from one moment to the next and so the dog often remains tied up in this state of excitement. This makes it all the more important to provide the dog with clear structures and a sense of calmness as soon as it goes outside, so that this can be continued during the walk. Leash control will be worked on more intensively in week 05 and the "setting off for a walk" training over the next two weeks is an important preparation for the training units that follow later and primarily serves to help the dog gain self-control.
ℹ Info
Only reward a balanced mood during this ritual. If your dog is nervous, it's better to wait for the next step. This can take a lot of time and effort at the beginning, but it will pay off after just a few days! The moment you set off on your walk will determine how well your dog will perform on the lead, so keep at it.
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Summary
The walk should be a relaxed and enjoyable time for you and your dog - without unnecessary stress. By establishing clear rituals and structures when you set off on your walk, you will give your dog the calm he needs to stay focussed and relaxed. The hectic start and nervous behaviour before the walk can be effectively remedied by simple measures such as patient waiting, targeted relaxation exercises and clear signals.
This calm start is not only the key to a more relaxed walk, but also lays the foundation for successful training such as lead walking. Give your dog the chance to understand that walks do not start with excitement, but with calmness and self-control - for a stress-free and harmonious everyday life.
This video and training is part of the Grunge Obedience Concept, a structured programme to promote obedience and the bond between humans and dogs. The concept is carefully didactic and methodical to ensure that each exercise builds on the previous one for maximum effectiveness. It is crucial that you carry out the training in the intended order to achieve the best possible results for your dog.
The authors: Paulina & Lui
Paulina and Lui are the heart and soul behind Vitomalia [Dogstraining & Store]. Her journey in dog training began with the adoption of her first list dog, Vito. This experience sparked her deep interest in teaching other dog owners about dog behaviour and training. Initially this was just a hobby, but with the adoption of the American Pitbull Amalia, who had been relinquished several times due to severe behavioural problems, her passion developed into a true vocation. Amalia's particular behavioural challenges intensified her interest in dog training and behavioural therapy. This turning point led Paulina and Lui to leave their original career paths, undergo intensive further training and dedicate themselves fully to the subject of dog training. Their work with human-dog teams also revealed a gap in the dog market: there was a lack of safe, high-quality dog accessories specifically for medium-sized and large breeds.
From this realisation, Vitomalia [Dogstraining & Store] was born, a combination of their commitment to professional dog training and the need for quality dog accessories. Paulina and Lui bring their personal experience, extensive knowledge and passion for dogs to every product to help human-dog teams live together.