Since this week is National Walk Your Dog Week, I thought it was an time excellent to bring your attention to how you can turn a regular walk into a training session, especially if you have a reactive dog, for almost no money out of pocket. Sound too good to be true? All you need is a trainer and some willing participants.
Tasha Miner Salsido, CTDI, is a dog trainer in Southern California who needed an inexpensive way to socialize her reactive rescue dog, Dolce. So, she started Irvine Dog Owners’ Group for Socialization (IDOGS).
We asked Salsido to explain to us what makes her pack walks so special (and affective!) for under socialized dogs.
What made you decide to start the pack walk?
I needed to practice Behavior Adjustment Training (BAT) and Look At That (LAT) in as controlled a setting as possible without breaking the bank. It caught like wildfire, gaining over 100 members in 6 months, and now over 300 a few years later. So many people are looking for exactly the same thing. Those with social dogs can mingle, those without can’t. Those with social dogs can work on helping them stay that way around dogs who are noisy and rude. Something for everyone.
What are the training principles that are at work?
I don’t require specific training methods to participate, but everyone knows that face-to-face greetings are off-limits. All dogs need a space bubble, unless express owner permission is given. Things like flexi-leads, choke chains, prong collars, and e-collars are forbidden. You can use them if you do, but not on these walks. People are also welcome to see me privately for training advice. I get a few people here and there who admire what my dogs do, or admire what other dogs working on LAT and BAT are doing on the walks, so they want to learn how to do it, too.
What do you do during the pack walk?
We walk! Haha, but seriously, we start out pretty spread out. Dogs who do better not seeing other dogs lead, and dogs who need a lot of space trail behind. Generally, the dogs do settle into the groove, and everyone can walk together in a lump. At that point, it starts to get chatty, and we talk about our struggles, what works, what doesn’t, and how much we love our dogs that we’re all meeting for them.
Are there rules about dogs that can participate?
I like to meet all new dogs prior to attendance, if possible. Dogs who are extremely fearful and wouldn’t possibly enjoy being in a setting like this (public trail, other people and dogs abound) require training to up their confidence prior to attending. However, a couple pit mix sisters in foster care came, and they completely opened up on the walk like they were unable to do anywhere else. Fearfulness is not an immediate disqualifier. Similarly, with very aggressive dogs, suitable equipment must be used to keep the dog safe (muzzle) and under control (Gentle Leader) at all times. If they’re unable to settle at all within the first 15 minutes of the approximately one-hour walk, more training is needed prior to attendance. Dogs who are severely overweight or out of shape require close owner monitoring to duck out early, if need be.
What changes have you seen?
I have seen dogs who are severely reactive walk side-by-side with other reactive dogs within 20 minutes, offering each other calming signals and acting appropriately. Their owners aren’t necessarily training, either, it’s just giving each dog something to focus on, and the space at first that’s necessary to feel safe. I’ve seen extremely nervous dogs emerge from their shell, because no one is pressuring them to say hello. It’s made me cry on several occasions, and the owners hug me afterwards.
How would you recommend someone start their own pack walk?
Meetup has been a great resource, and well worth the monthly fee. I expected maybe 20 people to become members in total, and would have been delighted. I haven’t met all our members, but many of them have attended at least once. Several walk each week! I’m so pleased, everyone tells me what a great thing I’m doing… But it’s completely selfish! I needed people who wouldn’t mind being controlled for free. Haha.
A Few Tips
Although Salsido is too humble to admit it, one of the reasons her “pack” does so well, is the fact that she is a dog trainer and an expert at reading dogs. In order for something like this to not turn into a giant dog fight, you MUST have someone who knows how to read canine body language and is savvy at training. More than one person would be even better. But, it’s worth the trouble to find a willing expert, as these walks not only benefit your dog, but can give you a great resource for training troubleshooting, exercise, and some socialization of your own.
About the Author
Based in Wilsonville, Ore., animal lover Kristina N. Lotz is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer – Knowledge Assessed (CPDT-KA) and works as a full time trainer. She is the founder of, A Fairytail House, a unique all-positive all-sport dog training facility that helps rescue dogs in her area and provides free seminars and training classes for the community. In her spare time, she trains and competes in herding, agility, obedience, rally, and conformation with her Shetland Sheepdogs. She smartly married a Veterinary Technician, who helps keep the fur kids happy and healthy, and provides a quick resource for articles.
Toledo, United States.
