Do you hate walks with your dog?
It’s common for guardians of dogs with challenging behaviors to hate walks with their dog. You're not alone in feeling dread getting ready for a walk, stressed just thinking about running into your dogs triggers.
You shouldn't feel exhausted after even the shortest outing with the need to constantly scan for your dog's stressors.
And to top it off, who wants to start a walk feeling afraid of something going wrong? Who wants to worry about running into 'that neighbor' and have what should be a fun walk ruin your entire day.
I'll admit that I look at my neighborhood app every morning to see if there are any loose dogs reported recently...
If you find your shoulders are tensing up and giving you a stress headache even before you clip on the leash - we’re here for you!
Let me know and let’s strategize on ways that we can help?
Does your dog hate walks too?
Here’s an article that might explain more about how frustration builds in your dog, and how that can lead to more challenging behavior over time.
Understanding your dogs Cycle of Frustration
Think about how you want your walks to go instead…
What would feel different in your body? Less tension, no headache?
How long would you walk if you didn’t have to cut it short?
Would you have time to notice more of the world around you if you weren’t always on guard for your dogs triggers?
- Flowers, birds, kids laughing… and more...
And how about all that mental noise in your head, could you enjoy a walk more with your own thoughts in a quieter space? Would reducing that mental static make room for a kinder interaction with your dog?
Imagine what your walks could feel like!
Zoe, one of my dream walker girls.
Equipment designed to reduce frustration
Afraid of dropping the leash or having it pulled out of your hands?
A double-ended leash connected to a waist belt is ideal for both situations, and has the bonus of holding your treat pouch and waste bag dispenser.
Tired of your body hurting after your walk?
A leash belt provides the “anchor” that allows you to more easily manage the leash length and amount of tension with your hands.
Worn more on the hips than at the waist, the belt transfers the "pull" to below your center of gravity. This reduces the physical strain on your shoulders and frees up your hands for treats.
Not to mention, also allows for two-handed control of the leash when needed, without risk of dropping the leash.
Afraid that your dog might break the leash or slip out of their harness?
We’ve got you covered with multiple options, and sizes for all dogs:
Heavy duty leash materials, dog weight recommendations on all gear, and hardware styles that can’t accidentally come unclipped.
We also offer leash backup straps in multiple sizes, from dogs under 10lbs to those over 100lbs.
Would your dog would benefit from more room to sniff and explore?
We’ve got options for that too.
Both handheld and hands-free options in 10 feet can give shy dogs more privacy to pee or reduce the leash tension that builds frustration in both you and your dog.
Check out the Small Dog or Medium-Large Dog options for longer leashes.
Regain your love for dog walks
Even if your dog is still challenging you on walks, removing some of the pain and frustration lets you reclaim your outings as training opportunities, not wrestling matches.
You can be ready to redirect or to deliver treats when your dog sees a trigger. Having a handful of high value treats within easy reach to scatter or jackpot means you’re loaded for anything unexpected.
Being able to physically manage your dog’s lunging or pulling allows you to more calmly address their behavior without resorting to yelling or jerking the leash in a panic response.
Having confidence in your walks can change your entire outlook on spending time with your dog. Even when things don’t go perfect - and we all know that they rarely do - you can still have a wonderful opportunity to connect with your dog and build that trust.
Better Walks Begin Here
No physical tool can fix everything, but the best tool in your toolbox is your patience, and love for your dog.
I would love to help you find the right equipment that can address your specific challenges, and help you get the breathing room that you need to work on your relationship with your dog. Contact me and let’s chat!
