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Who's Leading the Dance

Walking your dog isn’t a power struggle—it’s a dance. From sniffathons to training games, walks are a shared experience built on trust and teamwork. Break your walk into purposeful sections, rethink expectations, and enjoy the rhythm of moving together. Because great walkies aren’t led—they’re co-created.

RETHINKING THE WALK: Teamwork, Sniffathons & Shared Steps

If you’re a Strictly Come Dancing fan, you might remember the same-sex pairings from a few seasons back. One of the real joys of those pairings? The way leading became a shared skill—not just the job of one dancer. That’s the best analogy we can think of when it comes to walking with your dog. It’s not just you leading. It’s not just your dog dragging you down the pavement. It’s a dance—and it works best when both partners tune into each other.

Sniffathons: Your Dog’s Daily Newspaper Let’s start with a dog’s most important job on a walk: sniffing! Every dog needs time to read the news—literally. Their nose picks up thousands of scents we don’t even know exist. If your dog is safe off-lead, they can enjoy their “sniffathon” while you stroll at your own pace. Everybody wins. But not every dog can go off-lead. Whether it’s because of training, location, or safety, that’s where creative thinking comes in.

A few great moments to train:

Practise sitting at kerbs before crossing.

Play recall games mid-sniffathon.

Reinforce loose-lead walking with treats or a happy “yes!” when they check in with you.

These tiny moments build into a strong relationship—one where you’re working with your dog, not just trying to control them.

Break Your Walk Into Purposeful Sections 

Think of your walk like a playlist—with different “tracks” for different moods:

Track 1: Loose-lead walking
Track 2: Focus games or recall
Track 3: Sniffathon time

Changing the lead length, clip position on the harness, or even your body language can help signal to your dog what mode you’re in.  It’s like switching from the tango to the chacha!

❌ Expectation No. 1:

“My dog should walk perfectly to heel at all times.” That’s a HUGE ask. Even the best-trained dogs don’t walk to heel 24/7—and their humans don’t expect them to. Instead, practise this at home or in the garden, rewarding every small success. Think: Right gear, right cues, right reward. Not punishment — partnership.

❌ Expectation No. 2:

“My dog will sniff what they need while I power-walk.” Not quite! Your pace might be great for your exercise, but your dog needs dedicated sniff time. Letting them explore a patch of grass, a lamp post, or a molehill is just as tiring and enriching as a long walk. Think of it as a mental workout—and a really important one!

❌ Expectation No. 3:

“Walks are for walking, not training.” Wrong again! If training is playful and positive, it absolutely belongs on a walk. 

The Takeaway: Lead-work isn’t about who’s in charge—it’s about when to lead, when to follow, and when to move together. You’re not a drill sergeant. You’re a dance partner.

✨ Keep walkies a partnership. Not a power struggle. ✨

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