Lori Joyce owns Muddy Paws Pet Care, which is based in Boynton Beach. Eight-year-old Teddy is one of her favorite dogs to walk. Photo provided
By Arden Moore
If you want to win popularity points from your dog, take a walk on the wag side. Truly. The gleeful sounds and wiggling rump from your canine pal clearly convey that walks are the doggy equivalent of your scratching a winning lottery ticket.
But there is so much more to a successful and enriching walk with your dog than simply grabbing a leash, saying, “Let’s go!” and heading out the door.
Whether the leashed walk is around your neighborhood, during a doggy vacay or at a dog-welcoming beach, safety needs to be a priority. Dog walks are no time to stare at our phones or drown out nature’s sounds with our favorite tunes blaring into our earbuds.
We need to activate all our senses, especially sight and hearing, to keep our dogs and us safe during the outing.
Dogs need and deserve daily walk outings, even if their owners have less time at home as the pandemic subsides. I reached out to a couple of professional dog walkers and pet sitters for advice.
Lori Joyce owns Muddy Paws Pet Care based in Boynton Beach, and Monika Stefaniak owns House and Hound Care based in West Palm Beach.
One of Joyce’s favorite dogs to walk is a lovable and goofy Labrador retriever named Teddy. He is a popular pooch on her Facebook page.
“Teddy is now 8 years old and I have been blessed with his love and care since he was a puppy,” says Joyce. “He innately brings a smile to everyone’s face who meets him. People love seeing photos of Teddy relaxing or walking on the beach.”
Joyce, a professional pet groomer, launched Muddy Paws in 2010 and offers a full slate of pet services to people from Gulf Stream to Jupiter. She unleashes these tips:
• Remember that dogs tune into our emotional states. “Pets read energies of the ones they love and know,” she says. “Therefore, if you stay calm and happy while walking your dog, then you both can have a joyful, fun, happy experience.”
• For your dog, the walk is a lot about the smells. “Let them sniff,” she says. “Be more like your dog and enjoy life’s smallest treasures, such as allowing your dog to drink from the sprinkler that randomly and unexpectedly goes off during your walk. Let your dog walk through puddles and give him time to sniff the flowers. Be like your dog and enjoy every moment!”
• Stay calm and focused when an unfamiliar dog with his owner approaches during a walk. “Do not pull your dog close to you and hold the leash tightly because you will send a signal to your dog that he needs to protect you and that can cause a negative reaction from him,” Joyce says.
“Remember to stay calm when unfamiliar dogs approach so you are not giving off stress signals to your dog.”
Stefaniak has been a professional pet sitter since 2004, but founded House and Hound Care in 2017. She oversees a team of 25 dog walkers and pet sitters who provide service throughout Palm Beach County. Stefaniak offers these tips:
• Remember the mission of the dog walk. You and your dog are getting not only healthy exercise, but mental and social benefits. “Walks can help reduce stress and anxiety in dogs by providing them an effective way to focus their mind and attention on the walk,” says Stefaniak. “Walks also strengthen the bond between dogs and their owners. Socialization can lead to positive behavior in dogs.”
• Choose the right dog-walking gear. She recommends attaching a 6-foot leash to a harness and not to the dog’s collar, to prevent neck injuries and to maintain better control of the dog. “I do not recommend retractable leashes because they are dangerous,” she says. “Some stretch out 20 feet and that distance makes it difficult for an owner to reel in their dog if there are any dangers around. Also, retractable leashes can harm dogs because of the constant and sudden tugs and pulls on their collar that can injure their necks, tracheas and spines.”
• Do your homework on selecting a dog walker. Make sure the company is licensed, insured and bonded. “Apps that let you randomly order a dog walker may seem convenient, but having a stranger walk into your house can be as stressful to some dogs as being left alone for the day. All our pet sitters are vetted and trained to ensure that your pets are properly treated and enjoy the adventures with us,” says Stefaniak.
During my walks with my dogs, Kona and Emma, we’ve encountered loose dogs heading our way as well as dogs darting out front doors to charge us on the sidewalk. I always bring a handful of easy-to-toss dog treats and purposely toss them away from us to divert these dogs. I’ve even channeled my inner “I-mean-business” voice and ordered the door-darting dog to stop and head home — now!
Most of the time, our walks are free of any issues. I remind myself that these walks are ideal times to be in the present moment and to sideline fretting about past or future issues.
Kona, Emma and I love investigating new beaches, parks and trails locally and during road trips. I use these walks to reinforce their doggy manners to sit, stay, lie down and walk nicely. Both are rewarded with treats and praise.
So, got leash? It’s a doggone great time for a walk.
You can reach Lori Joyce at Muddy Paws Pet Care on Facebook at www.facebook.com/muddypawspc or by calling 561-512-3355. Monika Stefaniak, of House and Hound Care, can be reached at www.houseandhoundcare.com or by calling 561-801-8559.
Arden Moore, founder of FourLeggedLife.com, is an animal behavior consultant, author, professional speaker and master certified pet first-aid instructor. She hosts Oh Behave! weekly on PetLifeRadio.com. Learn more by visiting www.ardenmoore.com.
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