5 Ways to make the walk more interesting

By Juliana Weiss-Roessler

Dogs need walks. Walks provide them with exercise, help you assert your position as Pack Leader, and bring some fun to the day for both of you.

But what do you do when that fun fades and you and your dog seem to just be going through the motions, bored and waiting for the walk to be over so you can go back home? It doesn’t have to be this way, and we’ve come up with five dog-walk tips designed to alleviate boredom for both you and your pup.

1. Take the road less traveled
   Lots of dog lovers come up with a route that works for them and stick with it forever because that’s the easiest thing to do, but over time this can bore both you and your dog. If you want to liven things up, you can make a small change, such as walking the opposite direction on your next walk, or try something completely different and head to a park or dog-friendly beach to hike.
   
2. Break it up
   Even if you’re taking different routes, the simple routine of going out, walking for a while, and then returning home can get old pretty quickly. Bring back some fun by planning the walk around some other activity, such as going to a dog-friendly restaurant for dinner or shopping in a dog-friendly store. When you’re done, you can continue the walk and be happy that you accomplished another task as well.
   
3. Add in an obedience training session
   Another way to break up your walk is to make it part of obedience training. When your dog acts up, stop them, so you can correct their behavior and don’t continue on the walk until they are calm. Bring treats with you to reward good behavior, and use the Pack Leader Collar to keep yourself from getting frustrated if your dog doesn’t immediately behave.
   
4. Walk with other dog owners
   No one is saying that your dog isn’t good company, but sometimes it’s nice to have other human beings to talk to when you’re out on the walk. So call some friends or introduce yourself to other dog owners in the neighborhood and see if you can meet up a few times a week for a dog walk. If you’re really feeling ambitious, you can even start your own dog walk club.
   
5. Complement the walk with playtime
   A walk doesn’t just have to be a walk. Yet another way that you can break it up is by bringing some toys with you and engaging in some play time. One of the best ways to do this is to walk to a park and bring a flying disc, ball, or tug-of-war toy with you to have some fun with your dog while you’re out. Just remember to have your dog earn the playtime first by walking calmly by your side or right behind you for twenty or thirty minutes first.

What are some ideas that you’ve come up with to make your dog walks more interesting? Let us know in the comments.