The best way to know how to walk a dog is to understand this crucial principle:

In every walk, there’s a follower, and a leader.

And most of the time, the leader is NOT you.

“What do you mean, Dan? Are you saying that even if I hold the leash, I’m still not in control?”

That’s right!

Which explains why dogs tend to pull ahead of you on the leash, or become so uncontrollable during the walk — stopping to sniff wherever they want, lunging at other dogs — they think they’re the CEO of the walk, and you have to follow them.

But here’s the thing: it’s SO HARD to know when you start to lose control and when your dog begins to take over.

This shift in leadership can be very subtle, but really impactful. And the problem is so common, I see thousands of dog owners struggling with it everyday.

For this reason, I created Doggy Dan Golden Rule #5 which aims to help dog owners tell their dogs “Hey, I know we’re not at home anymore but I’m still the leader here.” And when dog owners take charge of every walk, they enjoy a calmer, happier outing with their dogs.

Read on to learn more.

Key Takeaways:

• Walking your dog gives you an opportunity to show to your dog that you’re in charge… even outdoors!


• If you want a calmer, less aggressive dog the most important thing to do is to show your dog that you’re in charge of the walk.


• For Doggy Dan Rule #5 — How to walk your dog — to work, you need to put the first four rules in place.

LEARN HOW TO WALK YOUR DOG THE RIGHT WAY WITH DOGGY DAN GOLDEN RULE #5!
Table of Contents:

1. A Recap of The First Four Golden Rules


2. Rule #5: How to Walk Your Dog To Help Them See You’re In Charge


3. How to Walk Your Dog: What Goes Wrong Before A Walk


4. Dog Psychology: How to Walk Your Dog the Better Way with Doggy Dan Golden Rule #5


5. Structured Walk Vs. Social Walk


6. 4 Helpful Tips on How to Walk Your Dog From a Top Dog Trainer


7. Learn How to Walk Your Dog the Right Way with Doggy Dan Rule #5!

 










A Recap of The First Four Golden Rules

I always remind dog owners who want to know how to walk dogs better that Golden Rule #5 works so much more when the first four rules have been put in place.

If you haven’t checked them out yet, here’s a quick recap.

Rule #1: Controlling the Food

Your dog has to know that you have the ABSOLUTE control over food. You can find more about Rule #1 here.

Rule #2: Delaying Acknowledgement After Separation

If your dog jumps on you after separation, is that an expression of love or a challenge to your leadership? Rule #2 is about establishing your role as the pack leader through delaying acknowledgement after separation.

Learn about Rule #2 here.

Rule #3: Your Terms

To become the reliable, trustworthy pack leader in your dog’s eyes, you and your dog MUST DO EVERYTHING in your terms.

Check out Rule #3 here.

Rule #4: Dealing with Danger

Stop barking and aggression by showing your dog when it comes to danger, YOU’RE THE ONE IN CHARGE AND YOU’RE THE DECISION MAKER. Not them.

Learn about the power of Rule #4 here.

Rule #5: How to Walk Your Dog To Help Them See You’re In Charge

Just like with the first four rules, the fifth rule in the Doggy Dan Five Golden Rules zeroes in on making sure YOU establish yourself as the leader by taking control of the walk.

While the first four rules help you become the pack leader inside the house, the fifth rule communicates to dogs that you’re still the pack leader even if you are outside the property.

It’s you who is in charge, so it’s you they should listen to, depend on to, and obey.

Think about this: Ultimately, we want a calm dog who follows our directions, and does not come with a high-strung, protective energy during the entirety of our time outdoors.

And for that to happen, our dogs should know that they are not in charge. They also don’t call the shots before and during the walk.

 

The Doggy Dan Golden Rule #5 consists of three pillars that can help you take control of your walk..

Pillar #1: You Control the Walk, You Control the Energy

Your dog has different energy levels. The higher the energy level, the more your dog will exhibit behavior that includes high-strung energy, aggressive lunging and pulling, and ignoring commands.

Ideally, you would aim for an energy level of one or two (three max!) when going for a walk. And the way to retain this calm energy is to show that you’re in charge of when, where, and how you want your walk to happen.

A spike in your dog’s energy usually happens when dogs feel like you have given control away to them.

This includes submissively giving in to your dog's request to be walked and letting them decide when to go, rewarding your dog's hyperactive enery, and encouraging them to dictate where to go on the walk.

BUT When your dog sees that you are the ultimate decision maker, your dog will remain calm all throughout, and will be receptive to your instructions.

Pillar #2: You Set the Rules on What’s Acceptable or Not

You must understand that your dog has to see you’re firm in things that are acceptable or not.

This means clearly communicating IT’S YOUR WALK to your pet, through postponing the walk until they calm down, or stopping the walk mid-way if they start showing rowdy or uncontrollable behavior.

Your dog needs to know that if they want walkies, they have to follow the rules that you have set. Otherwise, the walk may not happen!

DOG CALMING CODE: THE PROGRAM THAT HELPS YOU LEARN MORE ABOUT THE DOGGY DAN FIVE GOLDEN RULES
Pillar #3: You Are the Decision Maker, Your Dog Has to Know That

When it comes to which route to take, your dog has to know it’s going to be your call.

When to walk? Absolutely on you.

The pace? The directions? The frequency? All of these are your call, and your dog should clearly know this.

And when your dog knows they have NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT on the walk — that you decide what’s dangerous, not them — they can chill out and follow you.

How to Walk Your Dog: What Goes Wrong Before A Walk

Even before you take the first step of a walk, the question of “Who leads?” has already been answered.

What you do BEFORE THE ACTUAL WALK is a great predictor of how your walks will go.

From experience, most dog owners get confused by this!

“I’m not the one with a leash on, my dog is. What do you mean I’m not in control?’

Let me answer that with three questions:

• Who dictates where to go?


• Who sets the energy?


• Who calls the shots on how the walk will happen?

BE THE LEADER IN YOUR DOG’S EYES WITH THE DOG CALMING CODE

If you answered “My dog” to one or all of these questions, you’re not the one in control of the walk.

Some people may say:

• My dog is just unsocialized!


• Our walks are full of distractions, my dog can’t stay calm.


• Morning walks make my dog more excited!

But here’s the bottomline: when your dog thinks they’re in charge, the walk comes with an overly high energy, an uncontrollable, leash pulling dog, and often, non-stop barking.

So what actually causes you to lose control of the walk BEFORE IT EVEN STARTS?

If You Do These Things Before You Walk Your Dog, You Have Already Lost Control
#1: Letting the Dog Dictate When You’re Going for a Walk

Barking, nudging, and even getting your attention by scratching the door are some of your dog’s ways of telling you “Hey, it’s time for my walk.”

It communicates “I want to go for a walk and I want it now. I am making the call here and if you say yes, I will be in control, not you.”

If you respond to their demands with “Sure, buddy” it’s telling your dog “Sure, it’s your call! You can do whatever you want with your walk.”

#2: Rewarding Hyperactive Behavior

Dogs get energy spikes when they feel like you are rewarding their frenzied behavior. Remember, rewards make dogs think they should carry on with what they are doing.

Here’s an example…

Let’s say your dog peeked through the window and saw their best buddy across the road…

They start running to you with a noticeable increase in energy.

You stand up to get the leash. Dog gets more energy spike because you rewarded their behavior.

It’s taking you a while to get the leash, and by