Understanding Your Dog’s Instincts: Why a Walk Isn’t Always Enough

Let me start by saying—I'm not a dog trainer. I'm a dog walker. But after living with a high-drive German Shepherd who ran the show, and now keeping up with a high-energy (yes, really!) beagle, I’ve learned a few things about what it means to meet a dog’s needs.

A lot of people assume that a daily walk is enough to keep their dog content. While walks are important, they often don’t provide the full range of mental and physical stimulation that many dogs need. When those needs aren’t being met, dogs can become restless, frustrated, and may start showing behaviours we humans consider “problematic.”

Take beagles, for instance—they’re known for being destructive. While sometimes this behaviour is learned (especially if it gets them attention—good or bad), often it’s a sign that the dog is under-stimulated. And no, a walk alone doesn’t always cut it. It really depends on the dog and their individual needs.

So how do you make sure your dog’s needs are being met?

A great place to start is by looking at what your dog was originally bred to do. Then, think about how you can incorporate that into their daily life. I’ll be using my beagle, Noah, as the main example here.

Noah doing what beagles do best - sniffing!

Understanding the Beagle

Beagles are ancient scent hounds, bred to track, chase, and kill small game—mainly rabbits. Obviously, I’m not about to let Noah loose to hunt wildlife. That would be both cruel and wildly irresponsible. Beagles also have a reputation for being hard to train, mostly due to their independent nature. But I’ve found that when their natural instincts are engaged, they become much more responsive and focused.

So here’s how I try to meet Noah’s needs based on what he was bred for:

Track

This is the beagle’s bread and butter. For Noah, tracking is the most important part of his instinctive drive.

We do a mix of scent work and man-trailing. I don’t follow any formal protocols, and we don’t attend structured classes anymore—but we still make it fun and engaging. Sometimes a friend or partner will hide, and Noah uses a scent item to track them down. While we can’t do that every day, I always incorporate basic scent games into our walks.

Simple ideas include:

• Tossing treats into tall grass and letting him search.

• Hiding a treat while he waits, then asking him to “find it.”

These little exercises go a long way toward fulfilling his need to track.

Side note: One of the main reasons beagles aren’t often let off-lead is their tendency to follow their nose over commands. Instead of fighting it, give them safe, structured opportunities to use that amazing nose!

Chase

Chasing is another key part of the hunting sequence. In the wild, this would involve jumping over logs, crawling under fences, or charging through dense brush.

We tap into this with agility training. While it’s not identical to a hunt, it mimics the same physical challenges—tunnels = bushes, jumps = hurdles. It's both physically demanding and mentally stimulating.

Another great option? The flirt pole. Think of it as a cat teaser for dogs. It’s a fantastic outlet for chase-driven energy and a great bonding tool.

“Kill”

Okay—obviously there’s no actual killing involved. But we can simulate the satisfaction of catching prey in healthy, dog-friendly ways.

Noah has a tug toy that we use for training and play. It’s not left out 24/7, which keeps it exciting and prevents him from destroying it too quickly (trust me, we’ve gone through a lot of tugs).

We also give Noah cardboard boxes to shred—safe, messier fun that satisfies his need to “catch and dismantle” something. He’s never going to be a working hunting dog, but I do my best to honour his instincts in safe, enriching ways.

Final Thoughts

Meeting your dog’s breed-specific needs isn’t the same as training. A well-rounded dog still needs basic obedience and should know how to settle and relax. Also, this isn’t a quick fix for behavioural issues—those should always be addressed with a professional trainer.

But incorporating breed-specific enrichment into your dog’s routine can dramatically improve their mental wellbeing, reduce excessive energy, and strengthen your bond.

Pro tip: You don’t have to do it all every day. Small, consistent bits of breed-specific engagement can go a long way toward keeping your dog balanced and happy.

When I’m out walking with different dogs, I tailor activities to their individual personalities and breed traits. It’s not one-size-fits-all—but I know that a dog whose needs are being met is a happy, more content dog. And that’s always my goal.

Ola xxx