Walking is the best way to begin a "get healthy" program, and while traveling, it should be part of each day's routine. However, walking with our dog is not always a relaxing, pleasurable experience. Dogs pull, get wrapped around trees, chase squirrels, sniff non-stop and any number of annoying deeds. Many decide it is not worth the effort and either don't walk or leave the dog behind.

Walking with the dog should be, and can be, an enjoyable experience. But some training might be in order. Be sure to bring along some tasty treats.

Walking with multiple dogs is easier if they are little and also if they have some training. Steve and Piper McMurry enjoy walking with Erich, Guinness and Tinkerbelle until the leashes become entangled.

The first step is to take a close look at your expectations for walking with your dog. Do you walk in a neighborhood or RV park where there are people and cars and other dogs all around and quite a bit of control is required? Do you walk in the country where the dog can run from side to side enjoying all the smells? Do you regularly stop at roadside rest areas? Most likely, your walking experiences are a combination of all of these and you want your dog to be paying attention and respond to you. You want him to have some freedom to check things out but also, you want him to quickly come under your control when needed.

Work a little training into various stages of the walk. At the beginning, have the dog sit while you attach the leash. Then have him be orderly while you get out the door and to the area where he can move out a little bit. Walk a ways at a brisk pace. Then, if space allows, let him stretch his legs a little. After a while, bring him in for some obedience work. Have him sit, down and stay. Another important command is the "come." Move away from him and say "come;" pull him to you with the leash and have him sit. Praise and treat. You will be surprised how quickly he responds when the praise is flowing and the treats are terrific.

ANOTHER GREAT COMMAND is "stop." It is easy to teach and comes in unbelievably handy. As you walk along with the dog close to you, say "stop." You stop and hold firm on the leash. He will have to stop. Praise him and give him a little treat – while saying "good stop." As he understands the stop, use it from greater distances. When well trained, he should stop immediately upon hearing the word, even when off leash. This command could save his life. Do these behaviors at first in a quiet area but later on, proof them by adding distractions.

Come up with commands to fit the various stages of the walk and be consistent. Most use the heel command incorrectly and it might be better to use another word such as "close" or "side" to indicate that he is to stay close to your side. When he is allowed more freedom to move a distance away, flexi leashes are great for this, have another word. "At ease" or "check it out" might work. Most importantly, always use the same word for a set activity or it can become very confusing for the dog.

The difference between an orderly pleasant walk and a disaster is discipline and training. A dog pays more attention to us than we think. If we allow lousy behavior most of the time, he is going to constantly be testing us to see how much he cab get away with. If we allow him to have some freedom and still expect him to come when we call him and not pull our arms off, and we are firm in enforcing our rules, he will obey quite well. Walking is enjoyable when the dog knows the rules and knows they are to be obeyed.

With questions or comments, contact Christy Powers at cpwrather@earthlink.net.

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