Dogs Love Walks For Many Reasons · The Wildest

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The 3 Types of Dogs on Walks

Which one is yours?

by Karen B. London, PhD, CAAB, CPDT-KA
February 21, 2022
Pet parent walking Staffordshire terrier dog on a leash in urban park in the rain
Photoboyko / Adobe Stock
The letter "W" from the Wildest logo

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Being overjoyed about going for a walk is almost universal among dogs. If you reach for their leash, lace up your shoes or do anything that suggests even the remote possibility that you are going for a walk, your dog is probably thrilled. But did you know that dogs love walks for different reasons? Though many dogs like everything about a walk, there are at least three categories of dogs, based on what they most love about their outings.

The Runner

Some dogs are runners. What they want out of the walk is exercise, so they want to be moving, preferably as fast as possible. These are the dogs who need their daily (or twice daily or all day) activity. They often pull on the leash at first, but once they get into a rhythm, burn off some energy, and released some endorphins, they settle down a bit. They still want to run or trot, but they are more flexible about whatever pace you choose.

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The Sniffer

It’s rare to find a dog who has no interest in sniffing on their walks, but for many of them, it is their top priority from start to finish. They have their nose to the ground much of the walk, suddenly getting incredibly interested in stretches of grass that look to us, olfactory-challenged humans like every other stretch of grass. These dogs seek mental stimulation on walks, and their minds are stimulated by the smells that are here! And there! And everywhere!

The Greeter

There are some dogs whose main purpose on walks is to meet-and-greet. These are the social butterfly, table-hopper types who simply want to say hello to other dogs, to people, or even to the occasional cat. These greeters love to connect with others and may even be disappointed if there aren’t a ton of people or other animals around. Related to the social dogs are the dogs whose purpose is marking their territory and patrolling the area. These dogs, like other social dogs, are highly interested in who is (and has been)out and about.

Many dogs are a combination of these traits. They love to run, sniff, and say hello. But as a their parent, you probably know your dog well enough to understand which activity is most important to them.

Karen London holding up a small dog

Karen B. London, PhD, CAAB, CPDT-KA

Karen B. London, Ph.D., is a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist and Certified Professional Dog Trainer who specializes in working with dogs with serious behavioral issues, including aggression, and has also trained other animals including cats, birds, snakes, and insects. She writes the animal column for the Arizona Daily Sun and is an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Northern Arizona University. She is the author of six books about training and behavior, including her most recent, Treat Everyone Like a Dog: How a Dog Trainer’s World View Can Improve Your Life.

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