Eye-opening for owners of anxious dogs struggling with daily walks or overstimulation.

Does your anxious dog really need a walk? 🐾

In this episode of Positive Playtime, we sit down with bestselling author and award-winning dog trainer Niki French to explore a bold question: Are daily dog walks always the best thing for your dog?

Niki shares why skipping the daily walk might actually reduce anxiety and improve your dog’s well-being - and busts some of the most common myths about dog walking.

Whether your dog is anxious, excitable, or reactive, this episode is packed with practical advice to help you create a calmer, more connected daily routine.

In this episode, Niki reveals: 

✅ Why traditional walks might be stressing your dog out

✅ The truth behind dogs who return from walks more anxious

✅ Do you really need to walk your dog every day?

✅ How to swap stressful walks for enrichment & play

✅ What to do instead to keep your dog happy and fulfilled

✅ Why giving yourself permission to change the routine can be game-changing

“But you can’t just stop walking your dog… or can you?” Tune in to find out.

Helpful links:

🎮 Game ideas your dog will love: https://tinyurl.com/y4trt3ku

🐶 Niki’s favourite Tug-E-Nuff tuggy: https://www.tug-e-nuff.com/products/bright-fauxtastic

📖 Niki’s bestselling book Stop Walking Your Dog: https://go.puptalk.co.uk/stopwalkingyourdog/ 

🐾 What was your biggest takeaway from this episode? Let us know in the comments or leave us a review – we’d love to hear from you!