What is a
Social Walk?
At Hund aufs Herz, a Social Walk is a calm group walk with several dogs – on leash, with distance and a relaxed atmosphere.
The walks are guided by dog trainer Claudia Lang, specialised in rescue dogs and sensitive dogs.
Participants learn to:
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read their dog better
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understand canine body language
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give their dog more safety and orientation
A Social Walk is not a traditional dog training session – and it is also not just a casual walk to chat.
It is a shared walk where dogs and humans move calmly and respectfully together.
Learning calm dog encounters – and growing together
Many dogs today are no longer used to simply walking together calmly – without rushing up to each other or being overwhelmed by other dogs.
During a Social Walk, dogs experience how to:
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calmly observe other dogs
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walk together with comfortable distance
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practise respectful canine communication
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explore the world together
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gain confidence from each other
Over time, this often leads to genuine friendships between dogs.
At the same time, guardians learn to better understand their dogs – because we pay close attention to what is happening.
And that is exactly what makes these walks so relaxed and special.
Why Social Walks are so valuable for dogs
Many difficulties during dog encounters do not happen because dogs are “difficult” – but because we humans often don’t notice their needs while walking.
In everyday life, it often happens that:
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dogs are forced to pass other dogs too quickly and too closely
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people are distracted (phones, conversations, thoughts) and tighten the leash
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the dogs’ body language and signals are overlooked
As a result, dogs can quickly feel overwhelmed or pressured.
Some dogs then react by:
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barking
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growling
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jumping into the leash
During a Social Walk, we change exactly this situation. Dogs learn to:
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calmly observe other dogs
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walk together with comfortable distance
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develop trust in their guardian
At the same time, guardians learn to slow down, relax, and see the leash as a safe connection between themselves and their dog.
Many dogs become noticeably calmer during encounters as a result.
How a Social Walk works
We walk together as a small group of guardian–dog teams. During the walk, we consciously pay attention to:
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keeping enough distance between the dogs
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maintaining a calm walking pace
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observing the dogs’ body language
At the beginning, the distance between the dogs is usually larger. If everyone remains relaxed, the distance can gradually become smaller.
Many dogs quickly settle into their own calm walking rhythm.
They sniff, observe, walk alongside each other –
and are simply allowed to be dogs.
A Social Walk is not a training course. There are only very few exercises to check the dogs' energy and emotional status.
The focus is on:
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observation
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communication
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trust between guardian and dog
Participation guidelines
To make sure all dogs feel comfortable, a few simple rules apply.
Equipment
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Collar & harness
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Standard leash approx. 1.5 m
(no retractable leashes or long tracking lines)
Depending on the season it can also be helpful to bring:
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a headlamp or flashlight
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a light-up collar for your dog
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water for you and your dog in warm weather
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a small towel or blanket
Safety
If needed, the following is allowed:
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Halti / head collar
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a well-trained muzzle
The most important thing is that every guardian can safely handle their dog at all times.
Food
During the Social Walk we do not use treats. Why?
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to avoid food competition between dogs
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to keep the focus on calm communication and awareness
Sometimes a Social Walk becomes a small adventure
Occasionally we also include things like:
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a short stop at a café or restaurant
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a ride on public transport
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walks in new locations
This helps dogs learn to handle new situations together.
Any costs for food, drinks, or transport are covered individually by each participant.
When Social Walks may still be too early
Because Social Walks take place in larger groups, every guardian needs to be able to handle their dog safely on leash.
If leash walking and dog encounters are currently still very challenging, I usually recommend starting with:
Assessment & Training Plan
or one of the small group courses:
Foundation 1 – Everyday Life & Connection
Leash Heroes – Learn calm, confident walking
These courses help you build the basic skills and confidence needed so that Social Walks can later become a relaxed experience.
Which option is the best fit for you and your dog, we decide together during the free assessment.
An option for dogs that struggle with encounters
Many dogs bark or react strongly when they meet other dogs because they feel overwhelmed or insecure.
For these dogs, the small group course can be particularly helpful:
Leash Heroes – Learn calm, confident walking
In this small training group (2–4 teams), dogs learn step by step:
• calm dog encounters
• relaxed leash walking
• orientation towards their guardian
• how to handle everyday situations calmly
The course runs for 5 weeks and prepares dogs specifically for Social Walks.
New here? Here’s how to get started
Before joining their first Social Walk, new teams briefly meet dog trainer Claudia Lang (pictured on the left with her dog Thor).
📍 Meeting point: Bottmingen
⏱ Duration: 15–20 minutes (free of charge)
📅 When: usually about 30 minutes before the Social Walk
This short meeting helps ensure that:
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the group is a good fit for everyone
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each guardian–dog team gets the right starting point
Simply send a WhatsApp message to arrange the next available introduction.
After the assessment, you can start with the option that fits best:
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join a Social Walk
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start a group course
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or begin with individual training
Adventure Hike
– A special experience for you and your dog
In addition to the Social Walks, there is also a monthly Adventure Hike for guardians and dogs.
During these hikes we spend several hours exploring together:
• through forests and nature
• over trails, hills and natural paths
• with a shared break or picnic along the way
Depending on the location, dogs may also run and play off leash – of course only if all dogs feel comfortable and the situation allows it.
The idea for these hikes came from my own adventures walking with my dogs in Brazil.
Those moments created an incredibly strong bond between us –
and it is exactly this kind of experience I would love to share with you and your dog.
