We can all get stuck in a rut once in a while, which happens with dog walks. Walking the same route can be monotonous, to say the least. Mix it up now and then! Your dog will be happier, and you may enjoy the walks more. Here are some ideas:

Location – change your course! Head in a different direction or drive to a new spot for your daily walk. Rover will love the new sights and smells he finds along the way.

Change sides – teach your dog a new game while walking, but be sure you have treats. Say change and move your pup from your left side to your right side. Give him a treat when he gets there, even if you had to help him change sides. Soon he’ll switch sides without missing a beat! This game helps focus his attention on you, and it comes in handy at times if you need to put some distance between your dog and a distraction, such as another dog or a squirrel.

Find it – use a treat and make it easy at first; toss it right in front of him and say, “find it.” Once Rover gets the hang of it, make it harder by throwing treats farther or in the grass, so he has to use his nose to find them. If it gets too difficult to find, point out the treat, and he’ll soon enjoy this game. This game also puts the attention on the treat instead of potential distractions.

Fast, Slow, Sit – mix up the pace and reward your pooch for keeping up. Say “fast” and walk quickly, and reward him for matching your speed. Then say “slow” and reward him for slowing down. Say “sit” in random places and reward with treats. This is a fun way to teach your dog a new skill, reinforce basic commands he already knows, and keep the focus on you!

Buddy Walk – take your daily walk with a friend and their dog (as long as the two dogs get along). This will help them learn a new set of manners, like not crossing in front of you and the other dog. Both dogs will have another level of enjoyment – hanging out with a buddy.

Unleashed Walking – let your dog have some off-leash time if you can; try a fenced-in dog park or a Sniffspot (www.SniffSpot.com). Some dog parks have multiple fenced areas; we’ve seen a few that have a smaller fenced area for training or for dogs that don’t play well with others. Sniffspot is a website where people rent out their fenced-in yards for a small fee. Check each yard before you unleash your dog to ensure all gates are closed and solid. If you have a friend with a fenced yard, you may be able to use that occasionally.

Walks and training should be fun for both you and your dog. These ideas should help keep you and Rover interested.