The power-structured dog walks

In this article, we discuss the importance of taking dogs on proper walks outside the house, rather than just letting them roam around inside the home.

We explain that walks are essential for dogs as pack animals and that a structured walk with three modes (explore, agility, and follow) is crucial for establishing leadership, hierarchy, and impulse control with the dog.

We keep dogs in our big houses, and when there is a behavioral issue with the dog, you contact me and ask, “What are we not doing that is causing our dog to have a behavioral issue?” The first thing I ask is, “How many walks does the dog get? How often does the dog go for a walk?”

Often, the answer I get is, “Our house is very big, and our dog keeps walking all day long inside the house.”

Actually, walking doesn’t mean the dog just walks inside the house. Dogs need to go for walks outside the house, where you can establish a hierarchy with them, teach them impulse control, and communicate effectively.

So, a “walk” means taking the dog outside the house into a different environment. The dog’s brain perceives this as a migration, moving together as a pack. Dogs are pack animals, and migrating from one place to another is instinctual for them.

When we put a leash on the dog and go for a walk outside the house, we engage in what is called a structured walk. This involves different modes: explore mode, agility mode, and follow mode.

Walking the dog in these three modes fulfills the dog’s need for a proper walk. From the dog’s perspective, walking is one of its most essential needs, and it is very important to fulfill this requirement.