Walking dogs while multitasking is a problem, animal experts say

We’ve seen it all. Many of us have done it.

We treat dog walks as an opportunity to accomplish two (or three) things at once, by leading our doggies around the neighborhood as they stare at our phones, chat with a friend, listen to a podcast, or push a stroller.

The more ambitious among us even incorporate dogs into our exercise regimens, jogging or biking while our pets trot alongside us.

It is understandable. In today’s overplanned world, this kind of multitasking can feel extra productive. And walking a dog on the same streets twice a day can get boring.

But animal behaviorists say that dog walkers who aren’t paying close attention can, at best, confuse or frustrate dogs by giving them conflicting signals. And at worst, they can put the dog’s safety at risk – and their own too.

“It’s kind of like the dog-walking equivalent of distracted driving,” says Leslie Sinn, a board-certified veterinary behaviorist in Ashburn, Virginia. “You don’t pay attention to the signs that your dog is uncomfortable… and if you miss all those clues because your head is elsewhere, that’s a problem.”

DOGS CAN STORE SOMETHING HARMFUL WHEN YOU’RE NOT LOOKING

Matt Semrad is an avid reader and devours audiobooks from the library – about one a week. He also spends several hours each day walking his two black doodles, Sirius and Sonny.

So to maximize his reading time, the Atlanta resident listens to books on his dog walks.

“I’d get bored just walking the dogs,” he says.

Semrad says he isn’t too concerned about his dogs’ welfare on walks, as they are well behaved and he watches them closely when they pass other dogs on the street.

Other dog walkers may not be so vigilant. CNN spoke to a handful of animal behaviorists who say they routinely see people in their neighborhood walking dogs on the phone or pushing strollers and seem to largely ignore their pets.

This can pose a safety concern for several reasons, say dog ​​experts. Research has shown that only a small percentage of people can multitask effectively. Distracted dog walkers may not notice potential threats: bikers, joggers, cars or unleashed dogs, experts say. By the time someone looks up from their phone, their pet could be in a fight with another dog — or worse.

“You have to be alert at all times,” says Jacob Hollier, founder of Crate Escape, an Atlanta-based dog walking and pet sitting service. “If a car gets out of control or a scooter hits the sidewalk…that could be dangerous and potentially deadly at any time.”

Hollier says he requires his employees not to use their phones when walking dogs, except to take pictures of the dogs to send to their owners.

“I work with a 180-pound Great Dane and I always have to keep an eye on him,” he says. “He’s taller than me.”

It’s not just the dogs that are at risk. Experts say they’ve seen distracted dog walkers injured while tripping on sidewalks or even their own dogs. One study found that human injuries while walking dogs more than quadrupled between 2001 and 2020.

Also, dogs are notorious for eating things that are bad for them, experts say.

“If you’re not paying attention, dogs can pick up and eat things RAPIDLY — chicken bones, cigarette butts, dead/poisoned rats, etc.,” says Amy L. Pike, a board-certified veterinary behaviorist in Fairfax, Virginia.

“If you haven’t seen it, you don’t know how to take them to the vet. Or if you bring them in because they’re sick, you don’t know what they’ve ingested, which helps your vet treat them.”

DISTRACTIVE DOG LATERS CAN ALSO INFLUENCE PETS’ MENTAL HEALTH

Physical safety is the most pressing concern, but distracted dog walking can also be detrimental to a dog’s behavioral training and even mental health, experts say.

A multitasking dog owner may miss an opportunity to reinforce basic training — sit, come, stay and other commands — in a hands-on setting, says animal behaviorist Mary R. Burch, director of the American Kennel Club’s Family Dog Program.

Someone buried in their phone may also not notice when their dog becomes agitated or shows signs of fatigue or injury.

“Your dog ‘speaks’ primarily with their nonverbal body language,” says Pike. “If you don’t pay enough attention to what they ‘say,’ you don’t know how your dog is feeling.”

Walks are more than just exercise for dogs — they also provide mental benefits, says Valli Parthasarathy, a board-certified veterinary behaviorist with Synergy Veterinary Behavior in Portland, Oregon. Parthasarathy says dogs like structure and consistency on their walks.

If their owner just marches forward or isn’t fully paying attention, the dog can be confused by conflicting signals – for example, if he’s allowed to sniff one bush but pulls away from sniffing another.

Dogs experience much of the world through their noses and can become frustrated if they aren’t given room to explore, says Parthasarathy.

“My ideal walk for a dog is one where they have a lot of time to sniff and take in their surroundings,” she says. “They have their own dog priorities. Using the nose is their enrichment… it’s like reading the news.”

Parthasarathy says she’s even seen unaware dog owners pull on a leash while their dog was urinating.

A distracted walker may also miss an opportunity to bond with their dog, says Burch of the American Kennel Club. “Interacting and having fun together forms a bond that can last a lifetime,” she says.

Some dog owners try to multitask on walks without sacrificing their animal’s well-being. Teddy Thomas from an Atlanta suburb enjoys listening to music or audio books on his walks with Stella, a tan rescue mix.

“I don’t feel like I’m looking at my phone as much when I’m walking her,” he says. “I’d say she has most of my attention — maybe not 100%, but enough to keep us both safe.”

Parthasarathy says she understands why some people multitask while walking their dogs. Some overworked parents can’t leave their kids on dog walks, so they take the kids with them. Other parents don’t have time for separate outings every day.

“Everyone is doing their best,” she says. “But walking your dog should be about building that relationship and focusing on what your dog needs. That may be the only time he leaves the house that day.