Should I Train My Dog Before or After Their Walk?
Many dog owners wonder whether training should happen before or after a walk. Training your dog before a walk encourages calm behaviour at a naturally exciting time. However, with young or highly excitable dogs, focusing before a walk can be challenging, and training after a walk risks your dog being too tired to concentrate. Finding the right timing needs balance, patience and understanding your dog's temperament and energy levels.
1. Why Training Before a Walk Matters
Walks are one of the most thrilling parts of a dog's day, often second only to mealtimes. This excitement can make dogs highly exuberant, making calm focus difficult. Training before a walk teaches your dog that by remaining calm, they earn the reward of going out. Using healthy treats or gentle praise to reinforce calmness when picking up leads helps your dog learn self-control. This positive association encourages them to wait quietly and behave well right from the start of the outing.
To help guide training, it’s important to remember that dogs often “train their owners” by repeating behaviours that earn rewards. If whining and jumping up on lead fetches a walk, your dog will keep doing it. Gentle, consistent reinforcement of calm behaviour before a walk helps break this pattern.
2. Managing Excitement with Positive Reinforcement
Positive reinforcement works wonders for teaching calmness. Reward calm postures and behaviours like sitting quietly before you clip on their collar. Ignoring attention-seeking antics reduces their occurrence over time. Teaching a "learn and then earn" routine where your dog knows calmness brings the prize of a walk is particularly effective for hyperactive or younger dogs eager to get outside.
3. Training Routines Start as Soon as You Wake
Training opportunities occur throughout the day, beginning with morning routines. For example, asking your dog to sit quietly before you open the back door to go outside reinforces patience and respect. Don’t let your dog rush out; instead, use commands and calm praise to guide behaviour. These consistent cues throughout the day help your dog understand expectations and remain calm for walks and other events.
4. Using Calmness to Gain Focus
One key to success is to stay calm yourself. Dogs quickly pick up on your mood, and an overly excited owner can feed a dog’s energy. Maintaining a low-key demeanour when preparing for a walk helps mellow your dog’s excitement. Your calm, firm energy sets the tone that walking out the door is a serious but rewarding event.
5. Benefits of Training During and After Walks
Walks themselves offer excellent training moments. Practicing commands in real-world environments with distractions helps your dog generalise good behaviour beyond home settings. Using treats or praise to reinforce good walking manners makes walks practical training sessions.
Training after a walk can also be productive, especially for new or advanced commands, as dogs are often more relaxed. However, avoid lengthy sessions when your dog is tired, as focus and enthusiasm drop.
6. Tips for Effective Training Sessions
- Keep sessions short and positive: Dogs, especially puppies, focus best in brief bursts of training.
- Use healthy treats and praise: Make rewards meaningful but avoid overfeeding.
- Be consistent: Regular training reinforces calmness and good manners throughout the day.
- Exercise patience: Some dogs take longer to understand calmness equals rewards, so be gentle and persistent.
- Incorporate light exercise before training: A short play or walk can help burn excess energy so your dog is more focused.
7. Where to Find Reputable Breeders and Puppies
If you’re looking to find a puppy to train, always choose reputable breeders who prioritise health and temperament. A well-bred puppy is easier to train and forms a strong bond with their owner. Responsible ownership includes early socialisation and consistent training routines to build a lifelong happy companion.
Conclusion
In summary, training your dog before a walk is crucial for teaching calm behaviour when they are most excited. Incorporating positive reinforcement, keeping your own behaviour calm, and using walks as training opportunities will help your dog learn to focus and behave well. Patience and consistency are key—over time, your dog will understand that calmness leads to wonderful rewards, making walks enjoyable for both of you.
