How to Walk a Dog

How to Walk a Dog

from WikiHow

Our dog , a 2 and a half year-old mini pin , has been with us since he was about two months old. While he's been trained to sleep inside our bedroom on his own bed at night ,we have never really taught him how to "walk" or more appropriately, perhaps , we have not been effective at teaching him how to "walk" with a leash with us. Every time we walk our mini pin, he often wants to  get ahead  or pull us instead.  Thus, we often end up engaging in an exercise of tug-of-war rather than a productive walking exercise; and, we both  get tired  or stressed  out .

Just last Wednesday , we saw the premier episode of Nat Geo's Dog Whisperer and that gave me some ideas on effective dog training and even rehab...in fact , I got the impression that it's the owners themselves who must be "trained" to handle dogs properly and not the other way around!

So in search of  more dog ideas, I tried surfing for some sites which can share with us vital  pointers in dog handling , generally ;and ,more particularly, dog walking effectively and properly. This to be some sort of being the pack leader, according to Cesar Millan , the Dog Whisperer himself.

Fortunately , I came across this article from WikiHow on How to Walk a Dog though not exactly on mini pins.

Here are some advice from WikiHow on dog "walking":

Steps

1. Begin! Attach the collar to your dog, then put the leash on the collar's D-ring. If you have a standard leash, make sure you hold it correctly. Place your hand through the hole as if it is a bracelet, and then grip the leash. Also, if your dog has a tendency to pull, you may want a harness, which can be purchased at pet shops or online. A harness is beneficial because it does not choke your dog, and allows the pulling weight to be distributed across his chest and shoulders.
2. Show compassion! At first when your dog/puppy is first learning how to be on a leash, be very kind and supportive. If the dog doesn't know what to do, show it. To do that, show the dog that you're going to take it slow at first; Let the dog lead you first. After a while, you can lead the dog instead.
3. "Talk" to your dog. Always praise your dog for just walking with you and doing their business.
4. Take your dog out to a fun place! A park, a lake, a pet store etc. Don't walk your dog to the vets or on the next walk, it might be scared or upset.
5. Walk with an even pace. Not too slow or too fast.
6. Keep the dog's attention If the dog gets distracted, make a noise that will bring the dog back to you.
7. Don't let the dog leave your side If the dog gets in front of you, stop moving completely and wait for the dog to stop too.
8. Walk to the dog's side while it's still not moving and start walking together beside each other.
9. Be the master - Clearly say "To Heel" and pull your dog to your feet, so he is bumping into them.
10. Have fun! Walking is one of the joys of having a dog; you have some relaxation time, your dog can socialize, and if you see your friends; have a little chat.
11. Make sure that if your dog decides to do its business (pee and poo)on the walk, that you pick it up! It is an offense not to pick up your dogs mess. You can buy handy little bags from a pet store especially for picking up dog poop, or recycle your plastic grocery bags and use them as doggy-doo bags. Always remember to place your hand inside the bag so your hand never makes contact with the doggy-doo.
12. At the end of the walk, praise your dog and give him a treat once you arrive back home. It is easy to carry a small, light over-the-shoulder purse with many bags for your dog-doo cleanup, small treats, and water bottles (one for you, and one for your dog). They make special water bottles for dogs that you can purchase at a pet store, or online. 
    

    Tips

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      Sad Dog
       
    • On cold days, you can still walk your dog, just put a snuggie or dog sweater on them.
    • Don't walk your dog too much. If the dog gets too tired, take a break or go back home.
      • This applies to all dogs. Your dog will show you when he/she is tired. The main trait is that they will walk slower and have their tongue out.
    • If your dog pulls a lot, train it not to pull like this:
    • When your dog pulls, walk in the opposite direction, showing that the dog is not getting a good thing if she messes up.
    • When he/she obeys, give lots of praise and then turn around and walk.
    • Another, more obvious option is to perform the "heel" command. This is also similar to a "follow' command.
    • When crossing the road, make sure there are no cars coming or other unfamiliar animals around.

    
    

    
    

    
    

    Of course , what's included here may not be enough information to help us nor you to effectively walk our mini pin .f you want to know more on mini pin training and care, you may visit the website on mini pins @ http://minpincentral.com