PETA founder and president Ingrid Newkirk recently said that pet owners are most likely not walking their dogs properly. Her main concern - rushing your dog through its walk.
“It’s their walk, you know?” she said in an interview on Seattle’s Morning News with Dave Ross. “That’s a very special occasion for a dog, to be outside and to smell and to look. They don’t want to be stuck in a room all day with their legs crossed, hoping to go outside. It’s more than a bathroom break, it’s an excursion.”
If your dog goes to the bathroom in under five minutes, you might consider it a successful walk but your dog doesn't.
Here are some tips to make your walk better for both you and your pooch
1. Going for a walk is a major event for a dog, especially if you don't have a yard. Don't see it as a chore for you, think of it as something they look forward t
2. Give them more time to sniff stuff - it's your dog's way of connecting with the world.
3. Pay more attention to your dog. Dogs can sense when you're not truly present with them. Put your phone away and enjoy the walk! It will be good for you too.
4. Switch to a harness - it's better and won't hurt their neck as much.