Daily walks should be one of the highlights of your dog's day - and yours. Yet many dog owners unknowingly make mistakes that reduce the quality of walks, create bad habits, or even put their dogs at risk. Understanding these common errors can help transform your walks from stressful obligations into enjoyable bonding experiences for both you and your canine companion.
Equipment Mistakes
Using the Wrong Collar or Harness
One of the most fundamental mistakes is using equipment that doesn't suit your dog's needs. Many owners default to a standard collar without considering alternatives, even when their dog pulls constantly or has neck sensitivity.
Common errors include:
- Using collars on dogs with respiratory issues or delicate tracheas
- Choosing a harness based on looks rather than function
- Using the wrong harness type for your dog's behaviour (e.g., back-clip for a strong puller)
- Sticking with equipment that clearly isn't working
The Fix
Match your equipment to your dog's body type, behaviour, and needs. A front-clip harness helps with pulling, while a back-clip works well for calm walkers. Small breeds and brachycephalic dogs should always use harnesses rather than collars.
Poor Fitting Equipment
Even the right equipment becomes problematic when fitted incorrectly. Loose harnesses allow escape attempts and create chafing, while overly tight ones restrict movement and breathing.
Signs of poor fit:
- Red marks or hair loss at contact points
- Your dog constantly trying to shake off or scratch at their harness
- The harness rotating or shifting during walks
- Straps digging in or leaving impressions
Retractable Lead Misuse
Retractable leads have their place, but misusing them creates problems. Many owners let dogs roam to full extension on busy streets or fail to lock the lead when control is needed.
Issues include:
- Dogs darting into traffic before the lead can be locked
- Thin cord causing rope burns to humans and dogs
- Mechanism failure at critical moments
- Teaching dogs that pulling extends their range
Retractable Lead Safety
Reserve retractable leads for open areas with good visibility. Use a standard lead of 1.5-1.8 metres for street walking, where you need reliable control over your dog's position.
Timing and Duration Mistakes
Walking at the Wrong Time
In Australia, timing is crucial. Walking during the heat of the day in summer puts your dog at serious risk of heatstroke and paw pad burns.
Timing errors:
- Midday walks in summer when pavement is dangerously hot
- Not adjusting walk times seasonally
- Ignoring weather warnings and extreme temperature days
Better approach: Walk before 8am or after sunset in summer. Test pavement temperature with the back of your hand before heading out.
Inconsistent Walk Schedules
Dogs thrive on routine. Erratic walk schedules can lead to anxiety, behavioural problems, and house training issues.
While life doesn't always allow perfect consistency, try to maintain roughly similar walk times each day. Your dog's internal clock will thank you, and their behaviour often improves with predictable routines.
Too Short or Too Long
Both extremes cause problems. Rushed, inadequate walks leave dogs with pent-up energy that emerges as destructive behaviour. Overly long walks can exhaust puppies, senior dogs, or those with health conditions.
Guidelines by life stage:
- Puppies: 5 minutes per month of age, twice daily
- Adult dogs: 30-60 minutes daily, depending on breed and energy level
- Senior dogs: Shorter, more frequent walks as needed
Behavioural Mistakes
Allowing Pulling to Work
Every time your dog pulls and successfully moves toward what they want, they learn that pulling works. This is one of the most common mistakes, and it becomes harder to fix the longer it continues.
The problem cycle:
- Dog sees something interesting and pulls
- Owner gets pulled forward or follows
- Dog reaches the interesting thing
- Dog learns: pulling = getting what I want
Breaking the Cycle
Stop walking the instant the lead goes tight. Only proceed when there's slack in the lead. This takes patience and many stops initially, but consistency pays off. Consider using a front-clip harness to make training easier.
Not Allowing Sniff Time
Rushing through walks without letting your dog sniff is like taking someone to a library and not letting them look at the books. Sniffing is mentally stimulating and is how dogs experience and understand their world.
A walk with adequate sniff time is more tiring and satisfying for your dog than a longer, faster walk without it. Build in dedicated sniff breaks rather than constantly hurrying your dog along.
Inconsistent Rules
Allowing pulling sometimes but not others, or letting your dog greet some dogs but not others without clear signals, creates confusion. Dogs learn best with consistent expectations.
Examples of inconsistency:
- Letting pulling slide when you're tired
- Sometimes allowing on-lead greetings with strange dogs, sometimes not
- Varying which side of you the dog should walk on
Phone Distraction
Walk time should be engagement time. Constantly checking your phone means you miss your dog's signals, potential hazards, and the bonding opportunity the walk provides.
The 80/20 Rule
Aim to spend at least 80% of your walk with your attention on your dog and surroundings. Save phone time for when your dog is having a dedicated sniff break in a safe area.
Safety Mistakes
Ignoring Body Language
Missing signs of stress, fear, or overexertion can put your dog in difficult situations. Learn to read your dog's signals.
Signs to watch for:
- Excessive panting (beyond normal exertion)
- Tucked tail or lowered body posture
- Whale eye (showing whites of eyes)
- Lip licking or yawning when not tired
- Refusing to move forward
Approaching Unknown Dogs Without Permission
Assuming all dogs are friendly and allowing your dog to rush up to others is a recipe for conflict. Not all dogs enjoy meeting strangers, and on-lead greetings are particularly fraught.
Better practice:
- Always ask before allowing dogs to meet
- Respect when owners say no
- Keep initial greetings brief - three seconds maximum
- Watch both dogs' body language throughout
Not Carrying Essentials
Heading out without water on warm days, forgetting poo bags, or lacking identification on your dog are common oversights with potentially serious consequences.
Walk essentials:
- Fresh water and a collapsible bowl
- Poo bags (more than you think you need)
- Your phone for emergencies
- High-value treats for training moments
- Proper ID tags on your dog's harness or collar
Environmental Mistakes
Same Route Every Day
While routine is good, walking the exact same route daily reduces mental stimulation. Dogs benefit from new smells, sights, and experiences.
Try to vary your routes regularly. Even small changes - walking the usual route in reverse, taking a different turn - provide novel stimulation.
Ignoring Local Hazards
Australian environments present specific dangers that require awareness:
- Snakes in warmer months, especially near water and long grass
- Paralysis ticks along the east coast
- Cane toads in northern regions
- 1080 baiting in rural areas
- Blue-green algae in some waterways
Not Checking Surfaces
Besides hot pavement, other surface hazards include broken glass, bindis and burrs, spilled chemicals, and sharp objects. A quick visual scan of the path ahead protects your dog's paws.
Making Walks Better
Avoiding these mistakes transforms walks from a chore into a highlight of the day. The key principles are simple:
- Use appropriate equipment that fits well and suits your dog
- Be consistent with rules and expectations
- Stay present and engaged during walks
- Prioritise safety through awareness and preparation
- Make it enjoyable for both of you
Small improvements compound over time. Focus on fixing one or two mistakes at a time rather than overhauling everything at once. Your dog will appreciate the effort, and you'll both enjoy better walks as a result.