What is a Structured Walk?

By using calm, confident leash control while walking your dog at your side, you are practicing a Structured Walk. It’s an exercise in communicating better behavior expectations for your dog. The Structured Walk is a fundamental component of Dog Coach training and teaches you to become the leader your dog wants to have. 

The structure in Structured Walk also relates to the mental work you are asking of your dog. Your dog is getting a mental workout, versus extensive exercise, that lays the groundwork for better behavior. It can be surprising how tired your dog can be from a short mental workout!

Instead of allowing your dog to pull out in front and walk you, you’re now the leader. Every moment you handle the leash is an opportunity to keep your dog in a calm and attentive state of mind. That’s what the Structured Walk is.

Tools & Getting Started

A Structured Walk starts in the house before stepping outside. No baby-talk or hyping up walks because craziness never leads to a calm walk. For all Dog Coach training, proper prong collar fit and use is demonstrated as a totally safe and essential way to communicate with your dog. Put the leash and collars on in the house while your dog is calm.

Duration

Keep your walks short to start, think 5-15 minutes. Your backyard, driveway, or sidewalk in front of your house are ideal places. Pull back from any big neighborhood walks at first. It’s easier to implement higher expectations for a good walk on shorter walks. Increase your distance as you and your dog get more comfortable with how you are shifting your leadership energy. Short walks also help you to avoid large distractions. It may feel counterintuitive to avoid distractions, but the more consistent control you gain away from distractions, the faster your dog will learn to avoid getting worked up and react.

Frequency

Head out for a short Structured Walk 2-5 times a day. You’re using potty breaks and short exercise walks to practice Structured Walks. Getting your dog to stay focused on your leash control is a process of consistent training actions on your part. Eventually, your dog will fall right into your pace and know exactly what you expect for a calm relaxed walk.

Your success will be relative to the time you put into training better walk behavior. It’s hard work practicing effective techniques but you’ll gain skills to transform the relationship with your dog.