You may be shocked to learn that dog-walking is an actual profession. I was. But when I saw a man walking in a nearby park with no less than ten dogs in tow, my curiosity was piqued. How exactly does he pull it off? Keeping all those hounds in control? I have a hard enough time with my dog, Noodles. And she's like 15 pounds. So I asked for some advice. Here's what I got:
1. Plan your route to avoid known trouble spots. If you're walking one dog, or several, just stay clear of places with lots of children, traffic, and food around. Those things are notorious for getting dogs going crazy. And if you have a fistfull of leashes in each hand, one dog going nuts will quickly lead to a wild tornado of pup. So avoid places that will instigate craziness.
2. Avoid walking early in the morning or around dusk. This is the time that many wild animals, including raccoons, skunks, possums, and more are out and about. These tend to make dogs bolt after them. You're more likely to encounter them at daybreak and dusk, so avoid those times of the day, if possible.
3. Always go prepared. Bring some dog treats and water for the pups. Use the treats as a way to praise the dogs if they are obedient, and always make sure they have some water around in case they get overheated and tired. So keep a pocketfull of Milk Bones and a jug of Evian.
