Yes. Going for a walk universally brings happiness. I have seen it. Thousand of dogs I have worked with, whether in the shelters, at home with private clients or even my dogs, all display joy with walking. How do I know? For the shelter dogs, the glimpse of the leash and harness brought unbridled excitement that was so infectious that I, too, was equally eager to take them away from their kennels for that short but highly anticipated walk. Their joy was overwhelming. I always felt sad and guilty having to end our excursion so other dogs would have their turn. I saw the same anticipation with my dogs every morning. They stalked my every movement and stayed close to me as if to ensure that I would not leave the house without them. And as the bewitching walking time got closer, they became slightly more "demanding" - they would position themselves right in front of me, making themselves very visible, or politely nudge me with their paws, reminding me to hurry up and finish my coffee already. Their body language expressed through their wiggly tails, loose body, and staccato little hops indicate "happiness." They are undeniably happy.

I love walking dogs. It is always my pleasure to watch them experience new things and engage all their senses keeping their minds active and healthy. I can feel the joy in their body language. Outside is meditation time for me and sniffari and stimulation time for them. Letting them use their nose is the greatest gift I can offer them. (read my blog "The Nose Knows.") Walking is physical exercise and bonding time for both of us. Physical activity allows them to burn off excess energy and for me to burn off extra calories. Walking can improve our health and prevent problems such as obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. Did you know dog guardians stay fit more than non-guardians? Spending time with each other strengthens our human-animal bond and builds stronger connections. I am just excited about walks as they are. It is a win-win.

How often should we walk dogs? That depends on many factors, such as age, size, health, and activity level.

I follow these general guidelines for dog walking frequency:

1. Puppies: Puppies require more frequent walks than adult dogs, as they have smaller bladders and need more opportunities to go outside. A general rule of thumb is to take a puppy for a walk every 2-3 hours during the day. Walks are great for puppies. They help puppies develop stronger muscles, and better coordination, improve cardiovascular health and promote healthy bone development. However, there is a balance. Over-exercising a young puppy or giving them too much high-intensity exercise can be harmful and lead to injury or damage to their developing musculature.

Refrain from high intensity exercise, puppies have sensitive developing musculature.

2. Adult dogs: Most adult dogs need at least one or two walks per day, with each walk lasting around 30 minutes to an hour. However, some dogs, such as high-energy breeds, may need more exercise to stay healthy and happy.

3. Senior dogs may require shorter and more frequent walks to accommodate their age

How often to walk a dog should depend on their individual needs. Be observant of their body language on walks; slowing down is one way they let us know they are done. My sniffers often stop sniffing, and my runners stop running. Remember, walks make your dog happy, so their need is important.

Shorter and more frequent walks for these grey muzzles.

How about our special needs dogs, those sensitive to stimuli in the environment that makes walks challenging? These dogs often don't get enough walks, as many guardians find it difficult to enjoy walking them, and I sympathize.

Believe it or not, these challenging pups enjoy walking, except for the fearful ones that are too terrified to go outside. For them, walks would be the goal I want to work on, and for now, indoor sniffing games and simple agility are on the table. For the rest, I put on my McGuiver hat and designed a management plan with walking strategies and techniques. We are no longer going on walks; we are going on a Mission (possible), and would you go on a "Mission" without preparations? Of course, not!

In a McGuiverish fashion, I need "intel" on the location and time. I want to know if the dogs are likely to encounter stimuli that make them uncomfortable, so crowds, busy streets, or other dogs should be non-existent or minimally present until I give them more skills to survive these potential hazards. Skills I would teach them inside until they are somewhat fluent before we venture outside. They learn to "Watch Me," "Find it," "Touch," and "Let's go." I learned to "Rapid Fire" treat, hide like a criminal behind stationary objects like cars, duck behind bushes, casually walk up a stranger's driveway to vacate the sidewalk, and last but not least, run like the wind in the opposite direction of the perceived threatening stimuli. Did I mention walking dogs keeps me fit? The escaping maneuver looks highly suspicious, but I would do anything to keep the dog's threshold low. I am not Usain Bolt, but keeping the dog feeling safe is highly motivating.

Furthermore, I would scout the locations for a time when these stimuli are unlikely to be present. Past experiences point to breakfast and dinner time as the best - people eating time. Another trick of mine is short and frequent walks. Short walks prevent trigger stacking, and frequent walks provide opportunities to practice.

For more about this tactical walking practice, I recommend reading Annie Phenix's "The Midnight Dog Walkers."

Despite my recognizance of the walking location and time, I rely exclusively on positive reinforcement and the treats I carry. I always have low-valued and high-valued treats. As a human, my ability to detect "aversive" stimuli is limited to sight. I couldn't smell or hear the perceived threats, so I counter-conditioned the entire walk with kibbles. The dog feels good, and often the focus is on me. When their body language switches to alert mode, I pull out the arsenal - roasted chicken. Counter-conditioning is a slow process, but it works. Changing their emotion with food is highly effective, but it takes time. As a primary reinforcer, food is naturally rewarding and does not need to be learned. Food consumption releases dopamine, which activates the brain's reward center and creates a pleasurable sensation. Food reinforces positive experiences. This makes it a powerful motivator for animals and humans alike. Once the dog shows a positive association with the stimuli by displaying less stressed body language, I slowly ask for a simple behavior before reinforcing it with treats. Initially, I help by labeling all the perceived aversives, allowing the dog to acquire a new list of walk-related cues. For example, my dog was terrified of bikes, but now when I see a bike, I would say, "bike." When he hears the word "bike," he looks for it and then turns back to me for treats. Sometimes, he spots it before I do, and our walk is much more pleasurable because bikes are ok now. After all, bike predicts roasted chicken.

Do Walks Make Dogs Happier

Notes from Kai: Blame it on my amygdala!

The Magic of Management