Your Dog Doesn’t Need More Walks… Interview with Niki French

If you’ve ever been told your dog needs walking every day, this episode might completely change the way you think.

In this episode, I sit down with award-winning dog trainer Niki French, founder of PupTalk and author of Stop Walking Your Dog, to talk about one of the most misunderstood topics in dog training.

We unpack why the “more walks = better behaviour” advice isn’t always true and, in many cases, can actually make things worse.

From reactive dogs and overstimulation to owner guilt and social pressure, this conversation dives into what’s really going on behind the behaviour and what dogs actually need instead.

Niki shares how her own journey into dog training began after a life-changing accident, how working with struggling and rescue dogs shaped her approach, and why sometimes the best thing you can do is stop.

This is not about doing less.
It is about doing what actually works.

In this episode, we cover:

Why some dogs are not thriving on daily walks
How walking can increase reactivity, stress, and over-arousal
The pressure owners feel from social media and well-meaning advice
What to do instead of walking your dog
How to build calm, confident behaviour at home first
The power of ACE Free Work and enrichment
Why short, simple training moments can outperform long walks
How to break the cycle if your dog is struggling

If you are dealing with barking, reactivity, overwhelm, or a dog that just cannot cope on walks, this episode will give you a completely different lens.

You do not fix overwhelmed dogs by exposing them to more of what they cannot handle.
You build the skills first, then the world becomes easier.

Find Niki and learn more here:

Direct link to the book:
https://puptalk.co.uk/stop-walking-your-dog/

Free ACE Free Work guide:
https://go.puptalk.co.uk/how-to-get-started-with-ace-free-work-landing-page/

Website:
www.puptalk.co.uk

Learn more about #dontwalkyourdogday:
https://puptalk.co.uk/awareness-day/

If this episode hits home for you, please share it with someone who needs to hear that they are not failing their dog and that there is another way.