Today’s walking tip: teach your dog that keeping an eye on you pays off.
Sniffing is important and completely natural, so we do not need to rush every sniff. But we do want our dogs to check in with us regularly.
Start simple. During a walk, the moment your dog looks back at you by choice, calmly praise them and reward them with a small treat. Do this often, especially before they become fully absorbed in a smell.
Over time, your dog learns: “When I pay attention to my person, good things happen.”
The goal is not to control every step. It is to become your dog’s safe, interesting and trusted point of reference, wherever you are walking together.
What is the one thing your dog gets most distracted by on walks?
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