- Not a substitute for professional veterinary help.
What sounds more fun and relaxing to you—a mad dash down a noisy city street full of people to get from point A to B, or a leisurely stroll in a meadow of flowers while taking a deep breath and taking it all in?
The latter? Your dog thinks so too.
It’s called a decompression walk.
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What Is a Decompression Walk?
Rather than a walk on a short leash on a busy sidewalk, a decompression walk is a dog-led walk on a long-line (something like this) in an enriched environment where your dog can sniff and engage with nature to their heart’s content. These are a dog’s natural behaviors, and being able to freely express them is innately nurturing and satisfying to a dog.
Allowing our dogs to sniff and explore on a long line at a nearby field for 20 minutes can be more powerful and satisfying to them than a 60-minute rigid heeled walk down a sidewalk, where surrounding sights, sounds, and smells may be overstimulating, a source of frustration, or even scary to a dog.
Why Are Decompression Walks Good for Dogs?
In her podcast, Cog-Dog Radio, Certified Dog Behavior Consultant Sarah Stremming defines decompression walks for dogs as “freedom of movement in nature” and says that they can be a powerful tool for positive behavior change in dogs with anxiety or who are stressed out from city life.
“I used to live in a more urban place, and [one of my dogs] had negative behavior changes if I took him on urban, short leash walks…and he’s a dog who benefits from a lot of exercise so I think that’s surprising to hear that those walks had a negative effect on his behavior, but they really did.
Now I get him out every day for an off leash walk…and when I skip the walk, all my dogs have increased anxiety behaviors, meaning destructiveness.”
Dogs Need to Dog
For many dogs, living in the human world can be difficult. Not being able to regularly engage in natural behaviors and innate needs like shredding, chewing, digging, playing, licking, foraging, or sniffing can result in destructive behaviors, such as chewing on table legs or slippers, or like one of Stremming’s dogs, who “breaks into the cabinet and eats things.”
Decompression walks are beneficial to dogs who are fearful, frustrated, or have emotional reactions (pulling, barking, lunging) to environmental stimuli (dogs, people, noises) and generally have a difficult time on “traditional” neighborhood walks.
Do you have an adolescent dog who’s overstimulated with their surroundings and still learning the basics? Decompression walks can help them learn to relax while getting their needs met—which teaches them skills without formal training.
How to Take a Decompression Walk
Instead of thinking about our dogs’ walks as a box to check off on the to-do list, what if we think about them as a way for both humans and dogs to decompress from the daily rush of life, together?
They’re a great opportunity to slow down, be present, and bond with your dog.
Following your dog’s lead, a decompression walk can look like:
- Sniffing and checking out the environment
- Playing
- Digging
- Chewing on sticks
- Rolling around in the grass and smelly things
- Hunting critters (if it meets a need and doesn’t cause them extra stress or hyper-vigilance)
- Being silly
- Running/chasing
Whatever fills your dog’s cup and whatever activity they find innately satisfying is the goal! Observe them. Encourage them. Have fun with them!
iStock/Chalabala
Where to Take a Decompression Walk
Where you take your decompression walk all depends on your dog’s unique needs and what’s accessible to you. Locations where both you and your dog can get some breathing room with good sniffs can be found in a multitude of places! Just make sure it’s low-traffic, quiet, and safe—away from distractions like other dogs, cars, joggers, strangers, cyclists, or anything your dog (or you) has big feelings about.
Here are a few ideas:
- A neighborhood “pocket park” (small) with a patch of grass and some plants
- An open baseball field
- An empty parking lot
- Public access roads
- Pipeline trails
- Beaches
- Cemeteries
- College campuses
- Sniffspots (these will change your life!)
How to Get Started
Grab a long line and clip it to the top of an H-shaped harness: Your dog should feel like they’re “off leash” so they can move freely and wander.
Using a long line is different than a regular six foot leash. To learn how to handle a long line, professional dog trainer Lindsey Fontana-Dreszer put together this helpful guide and the video below.
If your dog hasn’t been on a walk like this before, you can expect them to be very excited the first couple of times (or more). Getting access to their environment is super satisfying and they may not know where to start first! Don’t worry if they’re pulling—let them. They will eventually slow down when they realize they’ll get to sniff and adventure to their heart’s content.
Decompression Walks: Relaxing and Fun Bonding Time Together
Decompression walks are not about obedience or checking the “dog walk” box. Decompression walks are an opportunity for your dog to engage in the natural activities they love to do. The bonus is that they can be incredibly relaxing to humans, too!
On these walks, try not to ask your dogs for anything—let them “dog,” sniff, and explore what looks interesting to them.
Add these walks to your regular routine and you will see your dog’s behavioral health improve and your bond grow and flourish.
