It is likely that you are walking your pet incorrectly; understand

We treat dog walks as a chance to do two (or three) things at once, taking our dogs around the neighborhood while checking our phone, chatting with a friend, listening to a podcast, or pushing a stroller.

The most ambitious even incorporate dogs into their exercise routine, jogging or cycling while their pets run alongside them.

It’s understandable. In today’s busy world, this type of multitasking can be very productive. And walking the dog twice a day through the same streets can be boring.

But animal behavior experts say that, at best, walkers who aren’t paying their full attention can confuse or frustrate dogs by giving them mixed signals. And, in the worst case, they can jeopardize the safety of the dog and hers.

“It’s like walking the dog equivalent of distracted driving,” says Leslie Sinn, a behavioral veterinarian in Ashburn, Virginia. “You’re not paying attention to the signs that your dog is uncomfortable… and if you’re missing all those cues because your head is elsewhere, that’s a problem.”

Dogs Can Swallow Something Harmful When You Aren’t Looking

Matt Semrad is an avid reader and devours audiobooks from the library, about one a week. He also spends several hours a day walking around with his two black doodles, Sirius and Sonny.

So, to make the most of his reading time, this suburban Atlanta resident listens to books during his dog walks.

“I would get bored just walking the dogs,” he says.

Semrad says he doesn’t worry too much about the welfare of his dogs on walks because they are well-behaved and he keeps an eye on them when they pass other dogs on the street.

Other dog walkers may not be as vigilant. CNN spoke to a handful of animal behavior experts who say they regularly see people walking their dogs, talking on the phone or pushing strollers through their neighborhoods and seeming to ignore their pets.

This can pose a safety concern for several reasons, dog experts say. Research has shown that only a small percentage of people can multitask effectively.

Distracted hikers may not notice potential threats: cyclists, joggers, cars or stray dogs, experts say. By the time a person looks up from their phone, their pet could be in a fight with another dog, or worse.

“You have to be alert at all times,” says Jacob Hollier, founder of Crate Escape, an Atlanta-based dog walking and sitting service. “If there is a runaway car or scooter coming up the curb… at one point it can be dangerous and possibly fatal.”

Hollier says he requires his employees to stay away from their phones while walking the dogs, except to take photos of the dogs to send to owners.

“I work with a 180-pound Great Dane and have to keep an eye on him at all times,” he explains. “He is bigger than me.”

Not only dogs are in danger. Experts say they have seen unsuspecting dog walkers injure themselves by tripping on sidewalks or even tripping over their own dogs. According to one study, injuries sustained by humans when walking dogs more than quadrupled between 2001 and 2020.

Plus, dogs are known to eat things that are bad for them, experts say.

“If you’re not vigilant, dogs can pick up and eat things FAST: chicken bones, cigarette butts, dead or poisoned rats, etc,” says Amy L. Pike, a behavioral veterinarian in Fairfax, Virginia.

“If you haven’t seen it, you won’t know how to take it to the vet. Or if you bring him in because he’s sick, he won’t know what he’s ingested, which helps the vet treat him.”

Distracted owners can also affect the mental health of pets

Physical safety is the most pressing concern, but distracted pedestrians can also be detrimental to a dog’s behavioral training and even mental health, experts say.

A multitasking dog owner may be missing out on an opportunity to reinforce basic training — sit, come, stay and other commands — in a hands-on setting, says animal behaviorist Mary R. Burch, director of the American Kennel Club’s Family Dog program.

Also, a person busy with their phone might not notice their dog becoming agitated or showing signs of exhaustion or injury.

“Your dog ‘talks’ mostly with your non-verbal body language,” says Pike. “If you aren’t paying enough attention to what they are ‘saying’, you won’t know how your dog is feeling.”

According to Valli Parthasarathy, a behavioral veterinarian at Synergy Veterinary Behavior in Portland, Oregon, walking isn’t just about physical exercise, it also has mental benefits. Parthasarathy says dogs like structure and consistency on walks.

If the owner just steps forward or doesn’t give full attention, the dog may be confused by conflicting signals, for example, being allowed to sniff one bush but prevented from sniffing another.

Dogs perceive much of the world through smell and can get frustrated if they don’t have the space to explore, explains Parthasarathy.

“My ideal walk for a dog is one where he has plenty of time to sniff and observe his surroundings,” he says. “They have their own dog priorities. Using your nose is your enrichment… it’s like reading the news.”

Parthasarathy says he has seen unconscious dog owners pull the leash while the dog was peeing.

An absent-minded walker could also be losing bond with your dog, says Burch of the American Kennel Club. “Interacting and having fun together creates a bond that can last a lifetime,” he says.

Some dog owners try to multitask during walks without sacrificing their pet’s well-being. Teddy Thomas from suburban Atlanta likes to listen to music or audio books on his walks with Stella, a rescued tan mix.

“I don’t feel like I’m looking at my phone as much while I’m walking her,” she says. “I would say she has most of my attention, maybe not 100%, but enough to keep us safe.”

Parthasarathy says he understands why some people multitask while walking their dogs. Some overworked parents can’t leave their kids out for a walk, so they take them with them. Other parents don’t have time to go out every day.

“Each one does what they can,” he says. “But walking the dog should be about building that relationship and focusing on what the dog needs. It might be the only time you leave the house that day.”