In 2012, as new dog people (Beau had been with us less than a year) who were navigating a very steep learning curve with a shy, anxious dog, I made the impulsive decision to co-found a pack walking group with two of my new “dog friends.” (This was also back when I referred to them as “dog friends” — now I call pretty much all of these original “dog friends,” just plain friends!) We were living across the river from Manhattan in Hoboken, New Jersey, where the sidewalks are narrow, the parks are crowded, and the dogs are aplenty! Disgruntled with chaotic dog parks and inspired by groups like Chicago Sociabulls and Hike-A-Bull in California. my friends and I started Positive Pittie Pack Walk (PPPW) with the fairly simple goal of creating a new way to exercise our dogs — one that was safe and structured.
If only we had known then what we know now: that PPPW is so much more than that.
In retrospect, we created this group not quite knowing what to expect. We started a meetup page and spread the word to everyone we knew with a dog, and just over a week later we found ourselves overlooking Lady Liberty in Jersey City, with over 20 amped up dogs ready to walk through the park. That first walk was exhilarating, but also nerve-wracking because we recognized we had so much to learn! I remember emailing Two Pitties in the City (founders of Chicago Sociabulls) and asking, “how do we keep the pack together?” and “what do you do when people don’t show up?” or “what should we do about the dog that can’t calm down?” It was soon after these first few walks that the three of us PPPW co-founders got together “just for a drink” and ended up staying at the bar until the wee hours of the morning writing all over the paper table cloth, brainstorming ways to make PPPW the best it could be. From there our mission statement was born:
The purpose of Positive Pittie Pack Walk (PPPW) is to create a structured environment to exercise and socialize our dogs. We recognize the importance of being responsible dog owners in order to raise confident, stable dogs, while working towards improving the image of pit bull type dogs. We welcome all types of dogs, and encourage owners who are working on reactivity and socialization issues to join us. Our dogs are always in training, and PPPW strives to be a constructive experience for every dog and his owner, regardless of what issues they are working through.
Now, since our humble beginnings 6 years ago, we have accepted over 250 members and hosted over 240 pack walks at 30 or so (we’ve lost count!) different locations.
When two of us co-founders/organizers moved to the suburbs, we took it as an opportunity to expand our geographical reach. We now do walks throughout more of Northern New Jersey, and we are always expanding our membership, too. We accept new members when they complete a one-page questionnaire about their dog so that we can get to know them a bit before their first walk. We call this a “questionnaire” rather than an “application” because as long as the dog is spayed/neutered he or she will be accepted. There is no such thing as a dog that is “too reactive” for PPPW. Once we’ve received the new member’s questionnaire, he can begin RSVPing for walks. We limit each walk to 20 dogs, one handler per dog, and close our RSVP’s 24 hours before the walk. This gives us time to set the pack order prior to the walk, based on which dogs are coming. We alternate our walks between urban walks and hikes so as to try to keep things interesting for both dogs and humans. Each one is between 3 and 4 miles long, and usually lasts about an hour to an hour and a half.
PPPW is a community of dog owners free of judgment, preconceived notions, or bias. We accept dogs ranging from happy-go-lucky “dog park dogs” to dogs that have never had a positive experience with another dog.
PPPW serves as a forum where dogs can just be dogs, and owners can find other like-minded owners who “just get it.” There’s no better feeling than seeing a new member come to their first walk feeling apprehensive and nervous, and then leaving saying things like, “my dog did so well, I can’t believe it!” Just as rewarding is overhearing conversations between owners about the issues they are working through with their dogs, and recognizing the trust and humility in that conversation because the owners know they are not being judged.
At this point, it’s hard to imagine our lives without PPPW. All of the original “founding dogs” (whose issues have ranged from leash reactivity to fear of strangers to aggression towards skateboards) have benefitted tremendously from the weekly walks, and we can’t even count how many times we hear the same from other members. Knowing this, we are always so excited to hear from friends in other cities who are thinking about starting their own walking group.
The truth is, with a little guidance and a willingness to learn by trial and error, anyone can start a pack walking group.
Here is some advice to anyone thinking of going for it. Some of these tips were given to us before we started PPPW, whereas others we figured out “the hard way.”
1. Delegate.
Don’t be a hero. In order to make your group successful you’re going to need a group of people who are as committed to it as you are. In our group we have three organizers (we take turns leading the walks each weekend) plus a new member coordinator and “scouts” who find new locations for walks. Quite honestly, we could probably delegate more! It really helps our members take ownership of the group and maintain a strong retention rate.
2. Make rules.
When we first started our walks they were kind of a free for all, and we found ourselves feeling out of control and a bit nervous. Because of that we wrote down rules that each of our members now signs off on so that everyone is on the same page.
3. Don’t be afraid to enforce those rules.
No one wants to be the fun police, but that’s the only way you’re going to have consistency. Of course, with this comes the requirement of a thick skin when people push back. The two rules that we have had to enforce most frequently are honoring the RSVP policy and (relatedly) two no-shows and you’re out. In both instances, when we explain that the reason for the policy is so that
4. Set a pack order.
I will never forget when I found out that Chicago Sociabulls sets their pack order before their walks. It was such a lightbulb moment! Up until that point we had hosted a few walks with the “free for all approach” and we usually ended up with what was essentially three different packs, all spread out, with no structure whatsoever. Sometimes, we even ended up with two dogs next to each other who didn’t get along. The pack order sets everyone up for success from the very first step of the walk.
5. Have a questionnaire.
In order to set a pack order, you’ll need to know something about the each dog before the walk. If there’s one thing we’ve learned from having a questionnaire it’s that people love to talk about their dogs, just like us! The information that we get from reading this is incredibly valuable. Plus, since it’s confidential and only read by us, people are not afraid to admit certain issues that their dog might have, or request certain accommodations, whereas at the beginning of the walk they might be embarrassed or apprehensive.
6. Start on time.
Most of our walks start at 10AM (in the winter) or 9AM (in the summer, to beat the heat). Our members know that we don’t wait for latecomers, because most of the dogs become stressed an anxious when waiting before the walk — they’re ready to exercise, they see all of the other dogs, and some begin vocalizing or exhibiting other behaviors that indicate stress. When we start on time, the dogs start out as relaxed and happy as possible.
7. Keep an open mind.
We have learned so much from PPPW, and we’re learning more and more as we go. Sometimes this has meant reevaluating a well-intentioned rule, or completely modifying a pack order that isn’t working halfway through a walk, or accepting a member’s training technique or tool that is unfamiliar to us.
8. Celebrate!
February 2017 marked 5 years of PPPW. We celebrated with a pack walk at our original location, followed by pupcakes for the dogs (thank you, Bubba Rose Biscuit Company!) and mimosas for the dog people. Cheers!
