PACK WALKS

Twice a month our Trainers take their training graduates on a Pack Walk! They visit parks, restaurants, malls, and sometimes take sight-seeing trips. It has been a fun experience for the humans, but the dogs are really loving it!

Walking is a very therapeutic thing for a dog, not to mention one of their most favorite things to do! Walking dogs on a leash in a group is a great way to help dogs achieve a calm state of mind, even in the midst of what normally would cause them to react. You can watch, one by one, as the reactive dogs start settling into the rhythm of the walk. That “calm energy” is contagious. By moving the dogs together as a group, they become one “unit” and they bond as pack mates. It gives them a positive, non-confrontational experience around dogs and people, which are two of the worst triggers of reactivity.

Dogs learn naturally in association with other dogs… it’s the pack mentality. They learn by example. A group of dogs allows for a rewarding learning experience as they learn from each other. They will all do what the majority is doing, with the direction of their pack leaders. If a new dog is introduced into the “pack”, he or she learns quickly and starts to model the rest of the pack which is more experienced, well-behaved, and socialized. People are often amazed when they witness the level of cooperation and cohesion that prevails among the dogs during a pack walk.

Pack walks will provide our dogs with fun, excitement, and a sense of well-being, which all leads to a more well-behaved dog in any situation. Pack walking will bring more enjoyment and fun into his relationship with you, his human, too. It’s a win-win.

If you would like more information on our Pack Walks, please contact Amanda Nepomuceno at anepomuceno@holidaybarn.com, or Melanie Benware at mbenware@holidaybarn.com..