Let’s talk about something that might surprise a few people. Walking your dog every day isn’t always the best choice, especially if your dog is anxious or reactive.
That’s the whole message behind #DontWalkYourDogDay, founded by trainer and behaviour expert Niki French. This national awareness day, happening on 2nd April, is about encouraging dog owners to rethink the daily walk and ask—is this really what my dog needs today?
Niki’s journey started with her rescue dog, Bodie. She used to believe the more walks, the better. But Bodie would come home overstimulated, not settled. When she cut down to one walk a day—and eventually replaced it with enrichment at home—his behaviour and happiness improved dramatically.
“When I stopped the second walk, I saw such a positive difference. He was calmer, happier, and life just became easier for both of us.”
We know the pressure of the “twice-a-day walk” rule. But for many anxious or sensitive dogs, a walk can be more stressful than enjoyable. And let’s be honest—if you’ve got a reactive dog, you’re probably not loving it either.
That doesn’t make you lazy. It makes you incredibly tuned in to your dog’s needs.
So what’s #DontWalkYourDogDay really about?
💛 It’s about putting your dog’s emotional wellbeing first
💛 Exploring alternatives like sniffaris, puzzle games, enrichment or calm garden time
💛 Giving owners permission to choose what’s right, not just what’s expected.
Need some ideas for what to do instead of a walk? We’ve got you covered!
Looking for ways to help your nervous or anxious dog grow in confidence?
Whether your dog barks and lunges out of fear or hides and shakes, helping them bloom in confidence can make a huge difference.
We’ve teamed up with dog trainer Niki French to show you 4 super simple confidence-building exercises, perfect for even complete beginners.
Watch Bella and I giving them a go in this blog post click here.
These short, fun training games are a brilliant way to support fearful dogs and help them feel better about the world—without stepping foot outside your front door.
Want to get involved? Here's how:
✔️ Share why you’re skipping a walk today and what you’re doing instead
✔️ Use the hashtag #DontWalkYourDogDay to raise awareness
✔️ Repost this brilliant cartoon by Scotty’s Cartoons – it captures the spirit of the campaign perfectly
✔️ Tag @puptalk101 and let’s show the world there’s more than one way to grow a happy, healthy dog 💛
Let’s make this a day of compassionate choices, understanding, and pride in doing what’s best - not what’s expected.