I've been hanging out with dogs my entire life, and here's the biggest thing I've learned: They benefit from empathy as much as any human you've met. So what does that translate to? - Go their pace, whether fast or slow. Some dogs have a need for speed so they can chill out later. - Some dogs are plain ole lazy. Lean into it. We all get achey. - Incentive, incentive, incentive. Reinforce good behavior, reinforce good manners. - If you're listening, you can usually tell what a dog is asking for. And sometime you gotta say no. - Not every dog wants to be inundated with attention from strangers. I've spent years walking dogs, including my own. We've even driven across the country together a few times. Really, kindness is key. Listening is paramount. Being firm doesn't mean being a jerk.