The right dog walk can make or break your day.

Dog walking has to be one of the most popular UK hobbies but knowing where to take your dog for a walk when you’re on holiday or travelling can be tricky. And when it is, many of us opt for online research or buy a local dog walks book.

But there is so much choice out there, how do you know you’re going to get the great ideas and advice that’s going to leave you and your faithful hound smiling?

This summer I’ve been writing a South Devon and Dartmoor book of dog walks for a client. It’s been great fun, and I’ve learnt a few things along the way about what dogs and their owners or walkers need for an enjoyable day outside.

More importantly, I’ve learned how to present this information so it’s easy to follow.

And I’m here to help you spot a duff dog walk when you see one.

Happy humans often mean happy dogs so I’ve included a section on what you need on a dog walk below but let’s talk about your dog’s needs first.

No two dogs have fun in exactly the same way, their age, fitness, breed, experiences, training and general attitude all play a part. But when you’re choosing a dog walk, it is important to think about what your dog actually likes doing. Here are some questions you could ask:

• How far (or for how long) does my dog like to walk?
• Do they need a safe and suitable space for off lead play?
• Is getting in water an important part of my dog’s outdoor experience?
• Do they enjoy travelling or are walks closer to home better?

As well as asking yourself what your doggy enjoys on a walk, you also need to ask yourself a few practical dog-centred questions. Here’s a few examples:

• What about dog poo? Will there be bins?
• Are there streams or do I need to carry extra drinking water?
• Will there be stiles to negotiate?
• Is this route going to be safe for my dog?

Dog walking is going to be more fun for everyone if your needs are satisfied as much as your dogs. You probably don’t want to sniff verges or run around like running has just been invented but you might want to enjoy some cool scenery or chat to your partner as you walk. Everybody’s different but when your choosing a dog walk route, have a think about these things:

• How long do I want my walk to last (better question than ‘how far’)?
• How important is being in nature to my dog walk enjoyment?
• How many hills do I want to walk up (or down)?
• Is the route complicated, will I get lost on my dog walk?
• Will there be somewhere for me to eat/drink/go to the loo?

Added together, I’ve given you a lot of questions to answer, but luckily that’s where a good dog walks book can step in. It should provide you answers to your questions, even if you didn’t know you were going to ask them.

The comparison below should explain this more.

I’ve mentioned AI writing once in the lists above but it’s so common (and often so poor) especially online, that perhaps I should have done so more.

One reason to choose a book of dog walks over online dog walking routes might be that, although it’s common to find AI generated outdoor writing online, I’ve yet to spot it in a printed guidebook.

It’s something to be aware of whether your walking with a dog or on your own. Using work generated by hard-working outdoor writers like me, AI can write walking routes, give advice about what your dog might enjoy and tell you stories about the location you’re visiting.

But it can’t do it well.

And it perhaps can’t do it safely.

If you want to know when my dog walking book is published, why not give me a follow on Instagram. I’ll definitely be talking about it!