What Your Dog Is Really Telling You on Walks

For many dog owners, walks are where things start to feel difficult. Pulling on the lead, barking at other dogs, ignoring recall, becoming over-excited, or appearing to “switch off” completely. Owners are often told they need better control, more training, or stricter rules. But before we try to fix behaviour, it’s essential to understand something fundamental:

Your dog is constantly communicating with you on walks.

Once you learn how to read that communication, walks become clearer, calmer, and far more enjoyable.

Dogs Communicate Through Their Bodies

Dogs don’t use words — they use movement, posture, speed, direction, and behaviour to express how they’re feeling. On walks, these signals are often more obvious because the environment is stimulating, unpredictable, or overwhelming.

You might notice:

• Pulling hard ahead with their nose glued to the ground

• Freezing or slowing when approaching other dogs or people

• Barking or lunging on the lead

• Ignoring recall when off lead

• Sudden over-arousal or frantic behaviour

None of these behaviours happen “out of nowhere”.

They’re messages

Nose Down, World On: Why Excitement Takes Over

For many dogs — particularly scent-driven breeds — walks are a sensory explosion.

Sniffing isn’t just “having a good smell”. It’s how dogs:

• Gather information

• Regulate emotions

• Process their environment

A dog with their nose down and body moving quickly is often highly aroused, not disobedient. This can look like poor recall, pulling, or difficulty focusing, but it’s often a sign that the dog’s brain is fully engaged elsewhere.

Breed Matters More Than We Think

Not all dogs experience walks in the same way. Genetics play a huge role in how dogs move, explore, and interact with the world.

Different breeds were developed for different jobs:

• Spaniels and retrievers are designed to hunt, search, and move forward

• Herding breeds are highly sensitive to movement and control

• Terriers are intense, independent, and driven

• Sighthounds process the world visually and quickly

Expecting all dogs to walk, interact, or recall in the same way simply isn’t realistic. When we adapt walks and training to a dog’s breed needs, behaviour often improves without conflict.

On-Lead Interactions & Boundary Issues

Many dogs struggle most when meeting other dogs on the lead.

On lead, dogs:

• Can’t choose distance

• Can’t move naturally

• Can’t communicate freely

This can lead to tension, frustration, or defensive behaviour — even in dogs who are perfectly sociable off lead. A dog barking or lunging on the lead isn’t being dominant or naughty. They’re communicating discomfort, uncertainty, or a need for space.

Frustration vs Fear: When Dogs Just Want to Say Hello

It’s important to recognise that not all barking, pulling, or lunging is about fear or needing space. Some dogs react on the lead because they want to say hello and feel frustrated that they can’t.

These dogs are often:

• Very social

• Used to greeting other dogs off lead

• Easily excited

• Still learning impulse control

Their behaviour can look exactly the same as fear-based reactivity, but emotionally they’re saying: “I really want to get to you and I can’t.” Understanding the difference matters. For some dogs, increasing distance helps. For others, the focus needs to be on lowering arousal, building engagement, and changing expectations around greetings.

Off-Lead Walks & Recall: Why It Falls Apart Outdoors

Recall problems are one of the biggest frustrations for dog owners. A dog who recalls perfectly in the garden but ignores you outside isn’t being stubborn.

Outdoors, dogs are balancing:

• Smells

• Movement

• Other dogs

• Their own excitement levels

If the emotional load is too high, recall simply can’t compete. This is where understanding your dog’s stress bucket becomes vital.

Understanding the Stress Bucket

Imagine your dog carries a bucket.

Every challenge adds to it:

• Busy environments

• Other dogs

• Exciting smells

• Pressure to behave

• Lack of rest

When the bucket is fairly empty, dogs cope well. When it fills up, behaviour spills over.

That spill might look like:

• Pulling

• Barking or lunging

• Ignoring recall

• Over-excitement

• Freezing or shutting down

Once the bucket overflows, learning stops.

How to Help Empty the Stress Bucket

Helping your dog cope isn’t about removing all challenges — it’s about giving them ways to decompress and reset.

This might include:

• Allowing slow, sniffy walks

• Choosing quieter routes or times of day

• Avoiding forced dog greetings

• Building in rest days

• Keeping expectations realistic

• Supporting emotional regulation before training

Small changes can make a big difference. When a dog’s bucket stays lower, behaviour improves naturally and learning becomes easier.

Rethinking the “Perfect Walk”

A perfect walk isn’t:

• A tight heel

• Constant recall

• Zero sniffing

A successful walk is one where your dog:

• Feels safe

• Can process their environment

• Stays under threshold

• Can engage when needed

When we listen to what dogs are telling us, walks become calmer — and training becomes far more effective.

A Gentle Final Thought

If walks feel stressful or confusing, you’re not alone. Every dog experiences the world differently, and sometimes small changes in approach can make a big difference.

If you’d like support with walking, recall, or understanding your dog’s behaviour, you’re welcome to get in touch to chat things through.