Take a hike, or just a walk, with your dog

How often do you walk your dog? I don't mean take him out on a leash to do his business, I mean really walk. Take a stroll down the street or hit the greenway or a park trail? If you're not walking your dog on a regular basis, you're missing a wonderful opportunity to spend what your dog considers quality time together, along with a chance to improve your bond and, if you walk your dog properly, encourage him to mind better all the time. Look at dogs left to their own devices, free roaming dogs in the country, for example. What do they do? They walk. Sometimes they round up a buddy or two and sometimes they go alone, but they will wander around checking out the territory, sniffing grass and generally quite happy with themselves.

How do you think they feel if you share that experience with them? They're delighted. If you make walking a regular activity, it will soon become the high point of their day and something they anxiously anticipate. They'll be happy and excited at the appearance of the leash or the mention of the word "walk." They may even encourage you to adopt a healthy habit by nagging you in canine ways. (Mine do.) Walking with a dog comes to me naturally. When I was small my mother used to take my brother and I and our chihuahua, Hobo, for hikes in the woods. Once I had a dog of my own, a terrier mix named Hershey, we spent much of our free time out roaming the woods and fields around the house. Even now, a pretty spring day calls me to the woods with whatever dogs I can trust to hang around (and sometimes a few Jack Russells I don't quite trust but take anyway). We drag in tired and dirty, house dogs needing baths and me ready for a shower and cool drink. But we don't restrict our walks to those woodland hikes we all love. Years ago I started walking my dogs every day and when I started Beagle's Bed & Breakfast, it was with the determination that dogs who were physically able would get to enjoy a walk while they stayed with me, weather permitting. Since dogs like to travel in packs, we have very few adjustments to make to take them in groups -- small dogs in one, big dogs in one; or fast and slow, however the group divides. If I have one who isn't good on a leash, she gets paired with the best behaved or smallest group and it all works out. Just like my own dogs, who are included in the pack walks, my guests look forward to the walks. They bark and whine with excitement before we start, bury their noses in tufts of grass, mark and do their business, perk their ears at the wanderings of my off-leash yard dogs who accompany us, and occasionally bark at a cat or passing vehicle. Then they go back to the kennel and sleep with a lot of energy expended. They also listen to me because they've had to on the walk. I'm the one holding the leash. Walking helps cement my place as pack leader in the kennel. I always wonder how many of those dogs who so enjoy their ramble down my dead end road and back don't get to experience that with their owners and feel bad for how much their owners may be missing. Starting my day with dog walks (before sunrise in the summer and mid morning in the winter) sets me up for a good day and I hate days when the wind is too bitter (single digit wind chill) or the rain too drenching for us, probably as badly as the dogs do. So, like Cesar, I encourage you to walk your dog. Not just a "business" outing, but a stroll at a pace you let your dog set -- a slow stroll or a fast workout, or a pace you set yourself to help an overweight dog shed some pounds or just insure that your dog gets the exercise he so desperately needs and wants. Key ingredients to walking are a good collar -- don't be afraid of a chain collar or even a prong collar if you have a dog who is difficult to control or whose collar easily slips over his head. Get a good nylon or leather leash in the 4-6 foot range. Retractable leashes are dangerous for you and your dog and I personally think they should be banned unless one of you has trouble maintaining a healthy pace. If your dog doesn't know how to walk on a leash, then like Cesar recommends, keep the leash short and teach them to walk behind you. Prong and chain collars are excellent for that. A quick pop of the leash reminds them to walk at your side. Do not allow your dog to choke himself with a collar of any kind. Use quick jerks to correct them. Don't attempt to engage in a tug of war. Keeping them at your side helps them learn to listen to you and makes it easier for you to correct them. Once they learn to walk, however, I let my dogs walk behind or in front, as long as they don't tug. Then just walk. If you cannot do it every day, then do it whenever you can, but the more often the better. I know everyone has a lot of demands on their time, but really, 20-30 minutes? If you can squeeze that in for your companion, you'll both benefit. Not only will you have a happier, healthier dog, you may also find yourself needing smaller clothes as the exercise isn't just good for your dog.