Episode #3.25 - Are Walks Making Your Dog’s Behaviour Worse?: More Isn’t Always Better

Does your dog really need another walk, or do they actually need time to recover?In this episode of Paws and Pawsitivity, certified dog trainer Jamie Watkinson-Harvey challenges one of the most common assumptions in dog ownership: that more exercise automatically creates better behaviour.For reactive, fearful, anxious or easily overwhelmed dogs, walks can sometimes add more stress and arousal to an already filling emotional bucket.We explore trigger stacking, emotional regulation and why yesterday’s difficult experiences can influence how your dog copes today. We’ll also look at why exhausting a dog isn’t the same as helping them regulate, why repeated exposure doesn’t automatically help dogs “get used to” their triggers, and how shorter walks, quieter environments, enrichment and proper recovery can sometimes be the better choice.Most importantly, this episode will help you replace one question:“How much exercise has my dog had today?”with a much more useful one:“How has my dog coped with today?”🎧 New episodes land every Tuesday at 8am GMT.📍 Available on YouTube via @PTA_Dog.For personalised online separation anxiety support, consultations and training programmes, visit www.pta.dog.© Pawfect Training Academy. All rights reserved.Intro music owned and licensed exclusively by Jamie Watkinson-Harvey.#DogWalking #ReactiveDog #DogBehaviour #DogAnxiety #TriggerStacking #DogStress #SeparationAnxiety #PositiveReinforcement #ForceFreeTraining #DogTrainingTips #PawsAndPawsitivity #PTADog