New Book Launch from Author Niki French

When Niki French published STOP! Walking Your Dog in 2021, she encouraged dog guardians to question something many had always accepted: that every dog needs at least two walks, every single day.

Her message attracted widespread attention when her Don't Walk Your Dog Day campaign went viral in 2022. But behind the provocative title was a simple idea. If a dog is frightened, overwhelmed or struggling on walks, sometimes taking a break or changing how and where they walk can be the most helpful place to start.

The book became an Amazon bestseller and has since sold more than 7,000 copies worldwide.

Now Niki, an award-winning dog trainer based in Twickenham, has published the follow-up, STOP! Walking Your Dog Volume 2: Grow Great Walks With Your Nervous, Reactive or Over-Excited Pup.

And this time, she's answering the question that so many dog guardians have asked since reading the first book.

"Once people tried taking a break from walks, or choosing quieter and simpler places, they often started noticing positive changes in their dogs," explains Niki.

"Some dogs were settling more easily, becoming less reactive and starting to enjoy things again. But then their people wanted to know what to do next. How could they help their dog build confidence? Could they ever go back to enjoying walks together without things becoming overwhelming again?"

For some, the challenges go far beyond the daily walk.

"When you're living with a dog who struggles, your world can become very small. You might avoid certain places, stop meeting friends or dread seeing another dog coming towards you. Even a simple trip to the park or a café can feel impossible.

"There's also the guilt. You see other people enjoying lovely walks with their dogs and wonder why you can't do the same. You worry that you're letting your dog down, or that they'll be missing out if you don't take them everywhere.

"But our dogs don't need to live somebody else's version of a perfect doggy life. They need us to understand what they're comfortable with and help them build from there.

"That's what I wanted this book to do. Help people move beyond simply avoiding difficult situations and start creating more opportunities for their dogs to enjoy life."

The new book brings together Niki's experiences working with dogs and their people, alongside the learning that has shaped her approach over the past seven years.

It explores how to recognise subtle signs of stress and discomfort, understand what might be contributing to behaviour and create opportunities for dogs to feel more comfortable and confident.

One important influence has been ACE Free Work, developed by Sarah Fisher. This approach gives dogs opportunities to explore different surfaces, textures, objects and activities at their own pace, while allowing their guardians to observe how they move, what they choose and what they might be finding difficult.

"Sometimes we're so focused on trying to change a behaviour that we forget to look at the whole dog," says Niki.

"Are they comfortable? Could they be experiencing pain? What are they telling us through their body language? What happens when we slow down, give them more choice and reduce the pressure?

"Those observations can change the way we support our dogs."

Research published by The Kennel Club in 2023 highlighted how easily subtle signs of anxiety can be missed. It found that 88% of surveyed dog owners didn't recognise yawning as a possible early sign of anxiety or fear, while 82% didn't recognise lip licking.

For Niki, learning to notice these quieter signals is an important part of helping dogs before situations become too difficult.

But the book isn't only about observation. It is packed with practical activities and training games to help dogs and their people build useful everyday skills.

Readers can explore ways to develop confidence, improve communication, introduce new experiences gradually and make activities such as car journeys, veterinary visits and grooming more comfortable. The book also looks at the connections between physical health, pain and behaviour, as well as the emotional impact of living with a dog who struggles.

"Small steps can make such a difference," says Niki. "It might be helping your dog feel comfortable sitting in the car, exploring a quiet new place together or learning a game that eventually helps them cope with something they previously found difficult.

"Progress doesn't have to mean walking further or doing more. Sometimes it's about your dog feeling better about what they're already doing."

Niki is keen to stress that her message has never been about stopping walks for every dog.

"I love walking my own dog, Bodie. For lots of dogs, walks are wonderful. But they aren't wonderful for every dog in every situation.

"Sometimes the kindest and most useful thing we can do is stop thinking about what our dog should be doing and ask: what does my dog actually need today?

"And when they're ready, we can help them explore more of the world in ways that work for them."

The foreword to the new book has been written by Andrew Hale, founder of Dog Centred Care, whose work around emotional experience and felt safety has been another important influence on Niki's approach.

Andrew describes the book as "thoughtful, compassionate and quietly transformative", adding:

"This may be a book about walking less, but its real gift is helping us to understand more."

For dog guardians who have felt stuck, and professionals supporting dogs who struggle with everyday experiences, the new book offers a different way to think about progress.

It's not about achieving the perfect walk or expecting every dog to enjoy the same things. It's about understanding the individual dog, building skills together and creating more opportunities for them to feel comfortable, confident and happy.

As Niki puts it: "One step really is enough. When we stop measuring success by how far we've walked, we can start noticing all the other wonderful things our dogs are capable of."

STOP! Walking Your Dog Volume 2: Grow Great Walks With Your Nervous, Reactive or Over-Excited Pup is out now, published by Authors & Co.

Find out more about Niki's work at www.puptalk.co.uk.