One Minute to a Better Walk: Why Engagement Exercises Change Everything

BAXTER & Bella
2 days ago
3 min read

by Amy Jensen

Daily walks are one of the best ways to meet your dog’s exercise, enrichment, and bonding needs. But if your pup barrels out the door, drags you down the street, or ignores your cues, walks can feel more stressful than enjoyable.

The good news? You don’t need to overhaul your whole routine to see big improvements. A simple one-minute habit before you step outside can transform your walks:

👉 Practice engagement exercises.

In this post, we’ll cover what engagement exercises are, why they matter, and how to start using them today.

What Are Engagement Exercises?

Engagement means your dog is actively choosing to connect with you—checking in, responding, and staying tuned into what you’re doing. Engagement exercises are short, fun activities that reward your dog for focusing on you, even when other things are happening around them.

Examples include:

Eye contact (“Watch Me”) – Reward your dog for looking into your eyes.
Hand touches – Ask your pup to boop your palm with their nose.
Simple cues – Sit, down, or spin in place.
Mini recalls – Call your dog from a short distance and reward generously.

These exercises are simple, but powerful—they shift your dog’s brain into “working with you” mode.

Why One Minute Matters

You might be wondering: Can one minute really make a difference? The answer is yes. Here’s why:

Prevents pulling before it starts Dogs often charge out the door in a rush of excitement. When you pause and ask for focus first, you teach them that walks begin with calm connection—not chaos.
Helps your dog transition. Inside the house is a calm, predictable space. Outside is full of smells, sounds, and distractions. That one minute acts like a “reset button” to help your dog shift from home life to training mindset.
Strengthens your bond. Each time your dog learns that checking in with you leads to rewards, you build trust and communication. This makes your walks a shared experience, not just your dog dragging you around.
Creates lasting habits. What you practice at the beginning of a walk sets the tone for everything that follows. With consistency, your dog will learn that connecting with you is always the first step.

Common Mistakes Handlers Make

Even with the best intentions, some habits can backfire. Here are a few to avoid:

Rushing out the door – Skipping engagement because you’re short on time usually leads to more pulling and frustration.
Asking for too much too soon – Keep it simple; one or two easy cues are better than trying to drill obedience before every walk.
Withholding rewards – Engagement needs reinforcement! Use treats, praise, or play to make checking in worthwhile.
Waiting until problems start – It’s much harder to get attention once your dog is already pulling. Build connection before stepping outside.

What If My Dog Is Too Excited to Focus?

It’s normal for some dogs—especially puppies or high-energy breeds—to struggle with engagement when they know a walk is coming. Here are a few tips:

Start inside – Practice engagement in the living room before clipping on the leash. Add distractions indoors before heading outdoors.
Use high-value rewards – Save your dog’s favorite food rewards just for this routine.
Keep it short and upbeat – Even one successful “Watch Me” before the door opens is progress.
Add movement – Ask for hand touches or spins, which channel excitement into something productive.

With patience and consistency, your dog will get better at calming themselves and tuning into you.

How to Add This Routine Today

Clip on the leash like usual.
Before opening the door, set a timer for one minute.
Work through a few engagement exercises, rewarding often.
Step outside and begin your walk.

You don’t need to change the length of your walk or add complicated drills. This is about quality over quantity—one intentional minute is enough to create lasting results.

Final Thoughts

Training doesn’t always require long, formal sessions. Sometimes, the most effective changes come from small, consistent habits. By adding just one minute of engagement exercises before every walk, you’ll: