I’m giving you permission to consider doing things differently…
There are many dogs who have a meltdown at the sight of another dog (or person), get WAY over the top excited when they see you pick up their lead, or get nervous and shut down around things in the big wide world.
For these dogs, walks are an experience they just don’t need in their day.
Walks that leave you feeling frustrated and exhausted are really not worth it. They destroy your relationship with your dog and neither your dog or you can enjoy it any more.
So I give you permission to ditch the walks!
Until you are able to build your dog’s skills so that they are ready for the challenges of a walk, think about what other activities you can do with your dog at home…
Set up an obstacle course in the back garden and lure them over and through it with some of their daily food.
Train a new trick.
Puzzle games with food are a classic.
Do training to prep them for getting back on that walk (if you are training with Follow My Lead, you will already know exactly what to do!)
Remember, changing things around keeps your dog’s brain engaged, prevents boredom, and keeps your relationship strong and healthy.