Tailored Walks

Do you have a dog with mobility issues?

Do you have a dog that is frail or elderly or sick?

Do you have a dog that is anxious or fearful?

Do you have a reactive dog?

Do you have many dogs?

The list of questions to ask about our dogs is long when we are concerned about what type of walk we should provide them with. We should think carefully and tailor our walks according to the needs of each individual dog.

For example, if you have a multi dog household , it is important to consider if it is appropriate to take all the dogs out at once or if one or more of your dogs has special needs. These can be physical or behavioral. Dogs that live together may benefit from occasional separate walks in a number of ways.

If you have an elderly dog , walks are an important part of the day, since they keep your dog mentally and physically active. That being said, you need to be sure about the safety of the walk and how it is affecting your dog's wellbeing. Be sure to adjust the type of terrain, the duration of the walk, consider things like the temperature even more carefully etc.

If you have a fearful dog , think about what triggers these feelings and provide the dog with a walking experience that is as free from fear as possible.

If you have a reactive dog , perhaps barking and lunging at other dogs or people, plan to walk at times or in places with no (or fewer) triggers (dogs, strangers, bikes ...). That way a walk can be a good experience for both you and your dog.

In these photos we see Danko and Rous. They are both under the care of a wonderful shelter in the North of Spain, Proyecto "Acariciar con el alma"

Danko has mobility issues and problems with his carpus. His walks definitely need to be planned so they are short but packed with mental stimulation if the form of sniffing in a calm environment. Rous on the other hand is an extremely fearful dog with a very traumatic past. It is not possible to put walking equipment on her yet and she feels safe next to Danko. In these photos we see the moment she goes for a walk after months of not wanting to go for walks at all. She is not going to venture very far so these two are perfectly matched to walk together providing the social contact all dogs need.