Whilst the current restriction in Waverley is 6 dogs per walker, we choose to walk only 4 for the following reasons …
Large groups on leads can get tangled resulting in a dog getting so stressed it might slip its collar to get away. Four on leads are manageable.
Walking a big group can be overwhelming if your dog is anxious.
Keeping an eye on four dogs is safer and easier. Some dogs like to do a lot of sniffing or may rush ahead, with just four no one gets lost.
Clearing up after four is doable. So many dog walkers do not bother because they have too many to manage.
Horses, joggers, cyclists or children may suddenly appear around a corner. Getting four dogs back to you quickly is easier.
We do not want to upset the general public with a huge pack of dogs. Approaching four is not intimidating for anyone else out walking.
You never know when you might meet a reactive dog. They will feel very threatened if a lot of dogs rush up to them at once.
Walking in a big group can easily spike a dogs adrenaline causing them to become over aroused and potentially reactive. It can take up to 6 days for these levels of hormones to come back down to normal.
Big groups are harder to control and if the dogs get stressed they may revert to “pack” behaviour. Sadly this was a fatal mistake made by a professional dog walker when the large group she was walking turned on her earlier this year.
Lastly, walking only four means we can go to places that are not suitable for larger groups and that makes for happy pooches!
Comments