TIPS FOR ENJOYING YOUR DAILY DOG WALK

Equipment

Leather cotton rope or cotton web leashes cause less damage than retractable leash cords should one of you accidentally get entangled. Keep a carabiner clip on the handle of your leash so that you can tether your dog if necessary (see Loose Leash Walking below).

For dogs who pull, a harnesses with a leash connection on the front is safer on the dog’s neck and trachea than a regular collar. If there is a risk that your dog will back out of his collar, use a limited slip, martingale-style collar.

Loose Leash Walking

To keep your dog from pulling or lunging on the leash, remember these two easy steps:

• When your dog pulls, stop

• When there is no tension on the leash, go

Every single time he pulls you must come to a complete stop and say nothing to him. His reward for being calm for a few moments will be that you continue on his fun walk, again say nothing. Prevent damage to your shoulders by clipping his leash around a stationary object when encountering a large distraction like another dog.

Meeting other dogs on leash

When two owners are in agreement that their dogs should meet, avoid directly approaching each other in a straight line. Instead, approach in a wide arc – the natural, non-threatening canine friendly greeting.

Keep leash as loose as possible, tight leashes cause tension.

Neither dog should be allowed into the leash space of the other dog if it stiffens, cowers, or shows any other sign of distress. Instead, cheerfully call your dog away from the other one, trying to avoid pulling on the leash and creating an aggravated situation.

Encountering off-leash dogs and coyotes

If an unsupervised dog comes bounding up to you it is best to remain calm and not say anything. Do not pull on your dog’s leash to get him away. This will cause him to become defensive and possibly be aggressive. Dogs quickly become bored when there is no interaction so keep the scene boring. Use your voice and flailing arms only as a last resort if you must.

Coyotes can be frightened off by raising your arms above your head and yelling at them. Do this as soon as you see the coyote, rather than waiting for it to come in closer to you.

It’s always a good idea to carry animal deterrent spray or pepper spray on your daily walk.

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