The third and final stage of the dog walk revolves around ‘mental stimulation’ and ‘socialisation’. If you have followed stages one and two of my suggested walking structure, your dog should have been suitably warmed up and then expelled any excess energy they may have through a chase style play game. Next comes the cool down!
This is the part of the walk I like to take a little slower. It could simply be a slower stroll back home, however to provide further mental stimulation you may want to consider using this time to, if appropriate, allow your dog to socialise with other dogs and people. Alternatively, as you will see in this video, you can also use this time to play some mental stimulation games with your dog such as the ‘find it’ game.
Whichever activity you choose, keep it slow paced and enjoyable for your dog, picking an activity that suits your dog’s age, breed and temperament. You can complete this part of walk on a lead, long line or even off lead if you have a good recall.
Let me know if you give it a go.
Dog-ease Training & Behaviour
Disclaimer: All training is attempted at the owner’s risk and Adem Fehmi accepts no liability for any injuries to pets or owners sustained during training. If your dog is showing signs of a behavioural issue please seek professional advice.
