Unleash Your Dog's Walking Potential

5 Essential Exercises to Do with Your Dog Before Every Walk

What if there was a simple routine you could practice before every walk to set yourselves both up for success? In this post, we'll explore five key exercises that will help improve your dog's attention, engagement, and leash manners from the moment you step out the door. These tried-and-true steps come straight from professional dog trainer Tom with his dog Lakota, who’s been practicing these techniques for years.

1. Threshold: Set the Tone Before You Step Outside

The "threshold" exercise is all about starting your walk right—whether your dog is in a crate, behind a door, or just by the entryway. The goal here is to create engagement and focus before venturing out.

• - Ask your dog for a solid “stay” before you head outside.
• - If your dog struggles with staying put, this is the perfect time to teach or reinforce it.
• - Use leash corrections gently to prevent your dog from lunging forward and reward them as soon as they hold the position.

Think of threshold as your way to say, “We’re about to go on a walk, but first, I need your attention.” Starting here builds a foundation of control and connection.

 2. Tune-Up: Re-Calibrate Once Outside

Once you’re outside, your dog might be excited and distracted, but that’s the perfect moment for what Tom calls a “tune-up” or “calibration.”

• - Ask your dog to come to you and reward them generously each time.
• - Perform several short recalls and stops.
• - Change directions to keep your dog focused on you, not the environment.
• - This can take anywhere from 5 to 30 seconds but sets the tone for the entire walk.

This exercise reconnects your dog to you right after the excitement of exiting the house and prevents your walk from becoming chaotic.

3. Focus and Break: Teach Your Dog to Pay Attention Outdoors

Now that you’re out for a walk, continue building engagement with focused interactions.

• - Cue your dog to “look at me” or give you their attention.
• - Reward your dog for a few seconds of eye contact.
• - Then give release cues like “break” to let them relax before you ask for focus again.
• - Repeat this cycle 3 or 4 times as you start walking.

This helps your dog learn that you expect some attention even when there are distractions present, encouraging better behavior throughout the walk.

4. Dismantlement: Break the Cycle of Tunnel Vision

Dogs often get “tunnel vision” during walks, only paying attention to sights, smells, or sounds and ignoring their owner. Dismantlement involves deliberately disrupting this behavior.

There are three key movements:

• - Inside Turn: Turn sharply toward the dog’s side, signaling that the walk isn’t going as expected.
• - Outside Turn: Turn away from the dog’s side, again surprising them and refocusing their attention.
• - Drawback Recall: Recall your dog towards you during the walk to re-engage their focus.

Use gentle back pressure on the leash if needed during turns. Reward your dog verbally, with treats, or toys when they respond correctly. This not only breaks your dog’s fixations but also teaches them to look to you for guidance

5. Consistent Engagement Throughout the Walk

Remember, these exercises aren’t just for the start. You can and should use them anytime during your walk if your dog starts pulling, losing focus, or acting overly excited.

Regularly asking for engagement, focus, and recall will help sustain a positive relationship and control during your outings, making your walks more fun and less frustrating for both of you.

Key Takeaways

1. - Start with threshold exercises to create calm focus before stepping out.
2. - Do a tune-up immediately outside to recalibrate your dog’s attention.
3. - Use focus and break cues to maintain engagement amid distractions.
4. - Implement dismantlement moves (inside/outside turns and drawback recall) to disrupt tunnel vision and reinforce your leadership.
5. - Apply these methods anytime during the walk to keep control and improve your dog’s behavior.

Conclusion

A better walk is within your reach by simply incorporating these five foundational exercises into your daily routine. As dog trainer Tom demonstrates with his dog Lakota, these steps build engagement, improve leash manners, and foster a stronger bond between you and your canine companion. Whether you’re dealing with pulling, hyperactivity, or general distraction on walks, these tools will empower you to turn stressful walks into enjoyable experiences.

 

*This post was inspired by and summarizes the training techniques shared by @tomdavisofficial on YouTube.

Uncle Billy's Doggy Daycare is NOT affiliated with Tom Davis Dog Training.