Stress Free Dog Walks

Katie Guastapaglia

Join me, Katie G, for the Stress Free Dog Walks show every week on YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts from! You’ll get real-world practical advice that you can apply immediately to your own dog, out there on your very next walk, so they ignore distractions and listen to you, walk nicely, and come back when called - even when there’s something more exciting going on! Even more importantly, I’m showing you why dog training alone will NOT solve your problems. We’re diving deep into everything they DON’T tell you in face-to-face training: the psychology of turning your pulling, barking, lunging dog into a stress free walking companion! There are SO MANY training classes, 1-1 programmes, books, reels, blogs... but so few dog owners ACTUALLY enjoying relaxing walks. I untangle the common misconception that dog training is all it takes to fix the pulling, barking and lunging... and what you need instead! It’s free to listen and subscribe, and some episodes I’ll be joined by a stress free dog owner spilling their secrets to success - so you can steal their strategy for your own dog! Plus look out for longer behind-the-scenes juicy bonus episodes with my team of dog trainers and behaviourists! Find Stress Free Walks on all your major podcast players. Prefer to watch the show instead? YouTube. Or grab a cuppa and read the full written article. Did I mention? It’s free! Tune in while you’re commuting in the car, jogging at the gym, and of course, walking your dog! 🎙️ Connect with me and join the conversation: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@StressFreeDogWalks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dogwoodadventureplay Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DogwoodAdventurePlay Learning Centre: https://www.stressfreedogwalks.com

  1. 9 HR AGO

    What to Do When an Off-Lead Dog Comes Charging at You

    It’s every dog owner’s nightmare. You’re enjoying a peaceful walk when suddenly an off-lead dog comes sprinting right at you. No owner in sight. You’ve got SECONDS to react. In this episode, we unpack how to handle one of the scariest real-life situations for any dog guardian: ⭐Why your reaction in those few seconds matters SO much ⭐Six real-world options for stopping an approaching dog - and how to know which to use ⭐How to stay calm and protect your dog under pressure ⭐The crucial post-incident step most owners forget (and why it’s key to rebuilding confidence) ⭐What to do if the other owner eventually appears! Even if you never face this situation, knowing what to do will transform your confidence on walks - and your dog will feel that too. 📈Dog Walking Diagnostic - Discover Your Dog’s Walking Style!  Do you know the REAL reason your dog pulls, barks, lunges or ignores you? It’s often not what you think!  Discover why your dog struggles on walks - and more importantly, what you can do about it. The Dog Walking Diagnostic Quiz is completely free, takes just 5 mins, and could be your first step toward calmer, stress-free walks with a well-behaved dog you’re proud of. https://stressfreedogwalks.scoreapp.com/  🐕 Calm Canine Blueprint Leave a rating/review, and head over to https://stressfreedogwalks.com/review to upload your screenshot. Then I’ll send you my Calm Canine Blueprint completely free as a gift.  🍿 Watch the YouTube Show https://www.youtube.com/@StressFreeDogWalks  💬 Connect with me and join the conversation! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dogwoodadventureplay  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DogwoodAdventurePlay

    10 min
  2. 18 OCT

    Act FAST If Your Dog Gets Spooked (Split Second Recovery Plan)

    One roar. One bang. One crash. That’s all it takes for a dog to go from curious to cautious. What happens in that split second after a scare decides whether your dog bounces back or carries that fear forward. You’ll hear the story of Creedie, who froze in his tracks when a fighter jet roared overhead. Emily had seconds to act… and what she did next completely changed how he handled every jet that followed. Spoiler alert: he didn’t even bother looking up at the final one - he could not have cared less.  I’m sharing the same 5-step plan Emily used to help your dog recover when life throws something loud, sudden, or scary your way. You’ll know exactly how to handle unpredictable shocks like fireworks, motorbikes, thunder, or fighter jets in a way that protects your dog’s confidence and builds lasting trust between you. Fear learning can happen in a heartbeat, but so can recovery when you know what to do. 📈Dog Walking Diagnostic - Discover Your Dog’s Walking Style!  Do you know the REAL reason your dog pulls, barks, lunges or ignores you? It’s often not what you think!  Discover why your dog struggles on walks - and more importantly, what you can do about it. The Dog Walking Diagnostic Quiz is completely free, takes just 5 mins, and could be your first step toward calmer, stress-free walks with a well-behaved dog you’re proud of. https://stressfreedogwalks.scoreapp.com/  🐕 Calm Canine Blueprint Leave a rating/review, and head over to https://stressfreedogwalks.com/review to upload your screenshot. Then I’ll send you my Calm Canine Blueprint completely free as a gift.  🍿 Watch the YouTube Show https://www.youtube.com/@StressFreeDogWalks  💬 Connect with me and join the conversation! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dogwoodadventureplay  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DogwoodAdventurePlay

    11 min
  3. 11 OCT

    Prevent Dog Reactivity, Fear or Anxiety from a Bad First Experience

    Your dog only gets one first time. If that first time goes badly, the consequences can last a lifetime. A single experience, whether it’s meeting another dog, a ferry trip, a car ride, or a vet visit, can cause lasting fear. Car sickness, vet meltdowns, pulling, barking, or full-on reactivity that doesn’t just affect your dog - but makes everyday life stressful and unpredictable for you too. This episode is about stopping that from happening. You’ll learn how to set your dog up for calm, confident firsts that prevent fear before it starts, using real-life lessons from Creedie’s very first ferry trip. Hit play to discover: The hidden science behind fear learning and why one bad experience can stickWhy Calm Firsts matter for dogs of any age, not just puppiesHow to spot the small stressors that quietly build into panicSix practical ways to prevent fear-based behaviour problems before they ever begin Bad firsts don’t just create one bad day. They narrow your dog’s world - and yours! But it doesn’t have to be that way. Learn how you can give your dog calm, positive firsts that build a lifetime of trust, freedom and adventure together. 📈Dog Walking Diagnostic - Discover Your Dog’s Walking Style!  Do you know the REAL reason your dog pulls, barks, lunges or ignores you? It’s often not what you think!  Discover why your dog struggles on walks - and more importantly, what you can do about it. The Dog Walking Diagnostic Quiz is completely free, takes just 5 mins, and could be your first step toward calmer, stress-free walks with a well-behaved dog you’re proud of. https://stressfreedogwalks.scoreapp.com/  🐕 Calm Canine Blueprint Leave a rating/review, and head over to https://stressfreedogwalks.com/review to upload your screenshot. Then I’ll send you my Calm Canine Blueprint completely free as a gift.  🍿 Watch the YouTube Show https://www.youtube.com/@StressFreeDogWalks  💬 Connect with me and join the conversation! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dogwoodadventureplay  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DogwoodAdventurePlay

    16 min
  4. 4 OCT

    From 17 Triggers to Calm Walks: How They Stopped Charlie’s Pulling

    Imagine spending 4 years trying every trainer, trick, and piece of advice you can find - only to still be dragged across the road by your 27-kilo spaniel. That was Derek and Margaret’s reality with their dog Charlie. Charlie had 17 different triggers - pulling, lunging, frantic sniffing, barking at dogs, chasing cats, exploding at the doorbell, the list went on. Walks were stressful, overwhelming, and sometimes dangerous. Fast forward to today: Charlie walks calmly on a loose lead. In this episode I’m sharing how they did it: ✅ Why ‘control’ was actually making Charlie worse - and what worked instead ✅ How Calm First transformed Charlie’s behaviour (without tackling each trigger one by one) ✅The 5 steps that gave Derek and Margaret their dream walks… loose leash walking training was only step 3! ✅ The surprising side-effects of the Calm First approach - including a relaxed fireworks season! Hit play to hear how Derek and Margaret turned years of struggle into calm, loose leash walks - so you can apply it to your own dog! ⭐️And if you REALLY want to stop the pulling, zig-zagging and lunging FOR GOOD, we’re about to open the doors to our once-a-year Loose Lead Walking Recipe programme!  ‘The Recipe’ is the complete system that walks you step-by-step to loose lead, stress free walks… and that’s with all the 1-1s, live training, community, tools, systems and Behaviourist support to make sure you get this thing DONE - regardless of where you might be starting from today. Join the Priority List to be invited to join BEFORE everyone else - and secure an unmissable early access bonus!  https://stressfreewalks.dog/priority-list  ⭐️

    11 min
  5. 13 SEPT

    To Stop Your Dog Leash Pulling You Must Know These 7 Reasons First

    ⭐️ Register for the FREE Online Loose Lead Walking Dog Training Event! ⭐️ You’ll learn quick & simple anti-pulling, lunging and reactivity techniques to handle distractions (like dogs, people, wildlife) without panic, and enjoy walks again! Get your free ticket here: https://stressfreewalks.dog/join-free ______________________________________________________________ Does your dog pull like a train, zig-zag after every scent, or lunge with frustration the second you clip the lead on? You’re not alone. Pulling on the lead is one of the BIGGEST struggles dog owners face - and one of the most misunderstood. In this episode I’m sharing 7 reasons dogs pull on the lead - including some you’ve probably never been told before - and simple, practical things you can do about each one. You’ll discover:  ➡️ The real reasons dogs pull on the lead (hint: it’s not because they’re ‘naughty’ or ‘just excited’). ➡️ How your dog’s puppy and teenage phases shape their leash manners for life. ➡️ Why anxiety, overstimulation, and frustration are often mistaken for excitement on walks. ➡️ The simple changes that make loose lead walking training actually work - even if you’ve tried before and “failed.” ➡️ One huge species clash between humans and dogs that explains constant pulling. 🍿 Watch the YouTube Show https://www.youtube.com/@StressFreeDogWalks  💬 Connect with me and join the conversation! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dogwoodadventureplay  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DogwoodAdventurePlay

    10 min
  6. 6 SEPT

    Scatter Feeding Is Not ‘Enrichment’ (Behaviour Can Get Worse)

    ⭐️ Register for the FREE Online Loose Lead Walking Dog Training Event! ⭐️ You’ll learn quick & simple anti-pulling, lunging and reactivity techniques to handle distractions (like dogs, people, wildlife) without panic, and enjoy walks again! Get your free ticket here: https://stressfreewalks.dog/join-free ______________________________________________________________ Your dog is not a chicken. So why are we told to feed them like one? If you’ve ever been advised to scatter your dog’s meal ‘for enrichment’… that’s advice for the wrong species.  What has feeding styles got to do with stress free walks, anyway? We tend to think of ‘walking problems’ (pulling, barking, lunging, ignoring you) starting only when the lead goes on. But calm walks start much earlier. They start in the daily rituals at home. Even in the way you feed your dog. In this episode, discover: Why scatter feeding meals misunderstands what dogs are naturally wired to doWhat enrichment really means (and why it’s harmful that we’re misunderstanding this)Easy alternatives that fulfil your dog’s instincts without creating frustration or panic It’s a bit controversial, but I think you’ll find it liberating. 📈Dog Walking Diagnostic - Discover Your Dog’s Walking Style!  Do you know the REAL reason your dog pulls, barks, lunges or ignores you? It’s often not what you think!  Discover why your dog struggles on walks - and more importantly, what you can do about it. The Dog Walking Diagnostic Quiz is completely free, takes just 5 mins, and could be your first step toward calmer, stress-free walks with a well-behaved dog you’re proud of. https://stressfreedogwalks.scoreapp.com/  🐕 Calm Canine Blueprint Leave a rating/review, and head over to https://stressfreedogwalks.com/review to upload your screenshot. Then I’ll send you my Calm Canine Blueprint completely free as a gift.  🍿 Watch the YouTube Show https://www.youtube.com/@StressFreeDogWalks  💬 Connect with me and join the conversation! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dogwoodadventureplay  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DogwoodAdventurePlay

    12 min
5
out of 5
35 Ratings

About

Join me, Katie G, for the Stress Free Dog Walks show every week on YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts from! You’ll get real-world practical advice that you can apply immediately to your own dog, out there on your very next walk, so they ignore distractions and listen to you, walk nicely, and come back when called - even when there’s something more exciting going on! Even more importantly, I’m showing you why dog training alone will NOT solve your problems. We’re diving deep into everything they DON’T tell you in face-to-face training: the psychology of turning your pulling, barking, lunging dog into a stress free walking companion! There are SO MANY training classes, 1-1 programmes, books, reels, blogs... but so few dog owners ACTUALLY enjoying relaxing walks. I untangle the common misconception that dog training is all it takes to fix the pulling, barking and lunging... and what you need instead! It’s free to listen and subscribe, and some episodes I’ll be joined by a stress free dog owner spilling their secrets to success - so you can steal their strategy for your own dog! Plus look out for longer behind-the-scenes juicy bonus episodes with my team of dog trainers and behaviourists! Find Stress Free Walks on all your major podcast players. Prefer to watch the show instead? YouTube. Or grab a cuppa and read the full written article. Did I mention? It’s free! Tune in while you’re commuting in the car, jogging at the gym, and of course, walking your dog! 🎙️ Connect with me and join the conversation: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@StressFreeDogWalks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dogwoodadventureplay Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DogwoodAdventurePlay Learning Centre: https://www.stressfreedogwalks.com

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