Any experience of pack walks? What to ask before booking?

[FuzzikinsPompombum]

I’m considering a pack walk for my boy maybe once a week to give him some variety and socialization. Are these generally a good thing and what any key questions I should ask the walker?

The reason I’m a little hesitant is because a small dog (not involved in the pack walk) was attacked by a dogs in a pack walk last year where I used to live (and very sadly it died). I talked to a few local dog owner friends at the time and some of them felt teaching pack behaviour isn’t a good thing.

My boy is a 4 year old golden retriever; very social and loves everyone and everything. We live rurally so he gets lots of time off-lead playing but we have less contact with other dogs now and I feel he would benefit from more time with some dog friends.

I’ve had two recommendations for a dog adventure walk place nearby so keen to hear other people’s experiences and what I need to look into/ask before I book him in.

Any advice appreciated; thanks

What sort of pack walk? One where a dog walker takes out several dogs? Or one where several owners get together and walk their own dogs, supervised by a trainer?

Yes.as pp said. How many dogs, how many walkers? Your dog needs integrating slowly. GRs can be a pain in the arse ( not saying yours is). They can be too much for other dogs. Id be wary if i were you.

I’d be wanting to know how many other dogs, do the dogs ‘meet’ before the pack walk to get to know each other, is it the same dogs on each pack walk, what the walker does if there’s issues with the dogs. Our dog walker does group walks at an enclosed field, and makes sure it’s the some groups of dogs each time and new dogs are introduced gradually. If two dogs don’t get on, the groups are rearranged. Our wonderful dog walker puts a great deal of thought into to it.

I agree ask how many dogs and what type of dogs as in how friendly are they?
How established is the actual group? Will they tolerate a new member?
Where does this event take place? Public park with lots of dogs and largish pack: avoid!
How are the dogs supervised?

Lastly think about what your dog would be comfortable with. Big dogs, yappy dogs, young and bouncy or older and more docile....

Thanks, this has given mile ideas of what I should be asking.

it’s an organized thing with owners dropping dogs off for half a day or the whole day. I don’t know how many dogs or staff members so will ask that; will also ask about numbers and how they integrate new dogs. Looks like from the website there are regulars but also casual options so the dogs won’t be the same every day.

my GR is very calm and not the bouncy annoying type mentioned above but I totally get what you mean! He does like all dogs but yes he would find too many ‘big’ personalities a bit much.

thanks all

As a dog walker myself, I would personally steer well clear of anyone offering “pack walks”. Small groups, paired walks, socialisation walks - yes. But pack walks? No.

Sounds like a day care situation rather than a walk? Anyway mine went with a pack walker and hated it the walker said he was too nervous and stopped taking him which was fair.

We have a 1-2 walker he takes his own dog and mine loves it and trots out happy to see them.

@Coffeeishot they describe it as pack
adventure walks but yes, it is almost a daycare situation. Website says they have a 130 acre rural property with fields, forest tracks and ponds but also mentions they sometimes go to local parks and beaches. One of my questions is whether they decide on the day/would I know if the dog is going to be on site or elsewhere.

@tumblingdowntherabbithole would you mind saying more about why you’d steer clear? I’d be interested to know your perspective.

It actually sounds fun and loads of room for your dog to explore and wander if other dogs get too much. Try him the worst that can happen that it isn't for him and he doesn't go back.

@FuzzikinsPompombum unfortunately in my experience it seems to mean letting a massive group of dogs off lead in a field for an hour or two then bringing them home again. I prefer walks to be structured with elements of training and calm, rather than just a massive free for all where they all hype themselves up for an hour.

I meant to say ask about different locations i am sure they will let you know if it is a beach day.

I stopped myself posting until you gave more information, OP, as my gut assumption was a no. But with more information... it's a big nope from me.

Meeting the odd dog on their daily walk, or even weekly, is more than enough. Yes, some dogs have 'friends' but they also would be fine not seeing them for ages (unless it is a dog they live with). The idea of dogs needing friends is a human concept. Yes, my dogs have 'friends' but these are dogs they have met organically who - being honest - share the same wanky chakras as mine do. They'd be just as happy without having ever met them.

And 'pack' behaviour doesn't exist - anyone touting that sort of nonsense is a fool at best and a cretin at worst. I would be really uncomfortable with anyone who even used it in a business name, or to explain what they do, being in charge of my dogs.

Dog day cares are very different to what you've suggested above. It's only usually 3-4 dogs (usually less) who know each other very well and the introductions are done so carefully. They don't just randomly introduce new dogs into the dynamic. They also often only take the dogs out as 1-2 at a time, not as a big group or a pack.

Ultimately, no one should be in charge with multiple dogs (more than 2-3) - particularly when those dogs might not know each other - who likely have very different needs and behaviours, other than the owner. Managing multiple dogs is challenging enough as it is, let alone trying to do it with dogs you do not know and 'pack walks' sounds like 6+ dogs which is a recipe for disaster - there's a reason good dog walkers only take 2-3 dogs (who they know incredibly well) out at once. Not only do things like 'pack walks' risk dogs being out of control, it also increases the risk of dangerous behaviour (fights, dogs not coming back when called because they are distracted - which obviously then leeches into your dogs behaviour more broadly - bullying, injuries etc).

Would you be comfortable with someone with say 5-6 dogs, that weren't theirs off the lead at the beach when you were walking your dog there? Would you trust that they had total control over those dogs? Would you trust they could stop anything dangerous happening? I would assume the answer to that is no. If so, why would you put your dog in that situation in reverse?

If only that was the worst that could happen. Dogs get seriously injured in these massive group settings.

Basically - what @LandSharksAnonymous said. These big group walks look great on social media and in adverts for the dog walking companies, but in reality you can’t control a massive group of dogs all the time. Think of that dog walker who was killed by her group of dogs not that long ago after one reacted and they all turned on each other and she got caught in the chaos.

There is no way one or two people can control a massive group of 6+ dogs. People will say they’ve never had an incident but dogs aren’t robots and all it takes is for one of them to react one day and you have a massive fight on your hands that will be impossible to sort out.

I am a dog walker and I only offer solos/sane household walks.
I would never allow my dog on a pack walk and I would never offer them. Particularly as you say this is for the dog, rather than you needing a walker.

Walkers offer pack walks as they earn them the most amount of money in a given time frame. Not for the benefit of the dogs they walk.
The potential for your dog to have a negative experience or be attacked is too high to risk.

Your dog will either feel frustrated/overwhelmed from being in a big group, or return massively physically overstimulated and prefer to play with other dogs than listen to a human.

All owners should be aiming for their dog to be neutral around other dogs, not immediately wanting to go and play when they see another dog, as that’s when you get dogs running over to unfriendly dogs and getting into trouble or barrelling up to puppies and badly scaring them if they’re unsure of the world.

Thanks everyone, I appreciate the insights.

yes @Springflowersyay it’s more for the dog than me. Where we used to live we had lots of dogs we met regularly either by chance or as a planned group and he seemed to really enjoy having social interaction with other dogs. We’ve moved and live rurally now and it’s much harder to regularly walk him where he will see other dogs - a couple of times a week we’ll be out st th beach or local town, rather than twice a day at our old place.

.He gets loads of exercise here because we have a big piece of land and we’re always out with him and his toys, but when I’m working (at home) he seems really bored and I contemplated this as a way of giving him some different stimulation. Of course there are other ways I can give him variety.

We met someone a couple of days ago who asked if we went to this doggy adventure place because she thought the dogs seemed to know each other. Which is interesting when I reflect on the comment about dogs learning to run up and want to play with others - hers did come up proactively to mine which is probably why she thought they knew each other. (Mine is very social and wants to say hello to every dog but he sits and waits and looks at them. I don’t really want to lose that habit as it took some work when he was little to train him not to run up to others. I hadn’t considered that so really appreciate the insight).

As an aside, I don’t think doggy daycares are limited to 3-4 dogs here @LandSharksAnonymous I’ve never used one but looked into them a couple of years ago. I also know a friend of mine used to send her dog to a similar farm-type adventure place a couple of times a week ;different part of the country) and I’ve heard of this type of thing before so maybe it’s just more common here. Her dog used to love it and she loved getting the updates from them.

I’m really glad I posted as it’s been incredibly helpful; thanks everyone. I’ll need to think of some other ways that I can give my boy more variety in his days. I don’t think a dog-walker would work because we’re really rural but I’d never considered it and haven’t done any research to see what options are available.

@FuzzikinsPompombum look into what sports are available in your area - obedience, agility, hoopers, man trailing etc etc.

it’s a great way to work your dogs brain, it’s an amazing way to bond together and you’re in the company of other dogs, while still retaining the focus on you so he doesn’t get fixated on other dogs. If you’ve worked hard to achieve the focus, don’t loose it now! 🙂

@FuzzikinsPompombum i don’t think they are limited, but a good one will never have more than 3-4 dogs.

It’s like how a good breeder won’t have more than one breeding bitch at any one time. Just because you can have more, doesn’t mean it’s smart or fair on the animals

It’s a terrible idea and potentially dangerous.

I have two Labradors and the advice from my very experienced breeder/ trainer was that you don’t need to socialise them. Their breed is born with a huge dose of sociableness! I imagine retrievers are the same.

If anything, training should be about encouraging them to ignore other dogs in the park, or sit quietly at heel whilst the owners have a chat. Not bounding up to every dog they see to sniff and play. A great way to lose all your ability to recall. The dog’s relationship and focus should be on you.

For that reason, I’ve always avoided doggy day care settings and group dog walkers like the plague. At best, you end up with an over-stimulated, exhausted dog. At worst, your dog becomes a reactive fearful mess terrified of other dogs.

I've read loads of negative comments on daycare and I've not really understood them, mine goes once a week when I'm in the office.

I think they can have up to 50 dogs at a time.
It was bit like nursery for DS when he was small, they have inductions 😂

He's been going for over 3 years now and never had any problems.

They do a lot of things with them, have equipment and do agility, scent work, games etc to shake it up. They have paddling pools, trampolines, loads of things.

He is a really well behaved dog, he doesn't approach others, in fact he's very rarely interested when dogs approach him when we're out, so it hasn't made him some crazy over friendly pest.

They seem to be very strict if dogs show any kind of aggression, they are kicked out.

He loves going. We've had nothing but a positive experience.

When daycares work well, they work really well.

The problem is that most daycares don’t work well.