What I notice on a dog walk: small changes worth mentioning to your vet

Updated September 2026

September is Animal Pain Awareness Month. It is a useful reminder that pain is not always obvious. A dog may not cry, yelp or refuse to move. Sometimes the first clue is simply that something familiar has changed.

As a dog walker, I do not diagnose pain or decide what treatment a dog needs. That belongs with a veterinary professional. What I can do is learn how an individual dog normally moves, behaves and copes on a walk. When that pattern changes, I can adapt the outing, make a clear note and tell the owner.

That matters because owners do not see every part of every walk. A dog may be keen to leave the house but slow down after ten minutes. They may move comfortably on grass but hesitate at a familiar kerb. They may still enjoy sniffing, yet take longer to stand after a short rest.

None of these observations proves that a dog is in pain. They are pieces of information that can help an owner decide whether veterinary advice is needed.

The important word is change. Every dog has their own pace, habits and quirks. One dog may always stop at every tree. Another may walk briskly until they reach a noisy road.

What interests me is not whether a dog walks like every other dog. It is whether they are walking differently from their own normal.

Pain does not always look dramatic.

Many owners expect pain to look like a clear limp, a cry or a complete refusal to walk. Those signs can appear, but discomfort can also manifest as much smaller changes in movement, stamina or behaviour.

The PDSA guidance on limping and stiffness in dogs includes slow walking, an unusual gait, stiffness after rest, and reluctance to jump or use stairs as signs worth taking seriously. It also advises owners to have limping and stiffness assessed, even when the problem appears minor.

Pain is only one possible reason for a change. A dog might be tired, worried, too hot, distracted by a new smell or unsettled by something in the environment.

A sore paw, damaged nail, injury, joint problem or another health condition may also affect a walk. Observation helps, but it cannot tell us the cause on its own.

Knowing what is normal for one dog

One advantage of walking dogs individually is that I am not watching them disappear into a group. I can pay attention to the dog in front of me.

Over time, I learn their normal rhythm. I notice which routes they enjoy, where they usually stop, how readily they step off a kerb, how much they pull on the way to the park and how they move when we turn for home.

I also learn what is normal for that particular day of the week, time of day and weather.

A slow dog is not automatically a painful dog. Some dogs naturally take their time. Older dogs may need a gentler pace, and nervous dogs may pause to gather information.

The useful question is: has something changed for this dog?

A regular walker can sometimes spot a gradual difference because the comparison is not with another dog. It is the same dog as last week, last month, and earlier in the year.

Small changes I would mention to an owner

I would not treat one small difference as a diagnosis. I would look at the whole dog, the conditions and whether the change happens again.

These are some of the observations I would pass on:

• Walking more slowly than usual on a familiar route, especially when the weather and surroundings do not explain it.
• Hesitating at a kerb, step or doorway that the dog normally manages without concern.
• Taking shorter steps, moving unevenly or appearing to shift weight away from one side.
• Scuffing a paw, catching the toes or wearing one set of nails differently.
• Stopping repeatedly without sniffing, toileting, watching something or showing another clear reason for the pause.
• Choosing grass or another softer surface while avoiding a familiar stretch of pavement, gravel or uneven ground.
• Being less willing to turn, climb, jump or change pace than usual.
• Showing a sudden reluctance to have the harness fitted, the lead attached or a particular area handled.
• Taking longer to recover after the walk, including stiffness after rest, unusual tiredness or reluctance to go out later.

Context matters. A dog slowing down on a hot day is different from the same dog slowing down in cool weather on an easy route.

A pause beside a busy road may be a cause for worry. A pause halfway up every kerb may suggest that something physical deserves attention.

I would rather give the owner an accurate description than attach my own label to it.

A slower walk is not always a problem, but a changed walk is information

Dogs are allowed to have slower days. Walks also change with age, fitness, weather, sleep, stress and what has happened earlier that day.

The aim is not to monitor every step anxiously or turn a pleasant outing into a test.

I look for patterns:

• Did the change begin suddenly?
• Does it affect one part of the walk?
• Does the dog improve after a few minutes or become less comfortable as the walk continues?
• Does it happen on one surface or every surface?
• Is the dog different after resting?

Repeated change is more useful information than a single isolated moment.

A short note over several days may show that the dog is consistently slower after ten minutes, hesitates on steps or struggles more the morning after a longer outing.

For a fuller guide to pain, mobility and recovery in senior dogs, read Signs of Pain in Older Dogs: Movement and Behaviour.

This article has a narrower purpose. It is about noticing and communicating a change during everyday walks.

Behaviour changes can matter too.

A change in movement is not the only thing worth mentioning. Pain or physical discomfort can affect how safe and tolerant a dog feels.

A dog who normally enjoys being handled may begin moving away from the harness. A relaxed dog may become more worried about being bumped by another dog. A dog who usually trots towards the door may hang back.

Another may become restless, unusually quiet or less interested in sniffing.

These changes do not prove pain. Fear, stress, and environmental changes can create similar behaviour.

That is why sudden behaviour change should not simply be treated as disobedience or trained away without considering health.

If walks have suddenly become difficult, my guide to reactive and nervous dog walking in Finchley explains how I reduce pressure and give dogs more space.

A veterinary check remains the right starting point when the change is new or unexplained.

What I do when something changes during a walk

My first job is to protect the dog, not complete the planned route.

Depending on what I see, I may shorten the walk, slow the pace, choose flatter ground, avoid difficult surfaces or head home.

If a dog suddenly limps, appears painful or cannot comfortably continue, I stop rather than asking them to push through.

I check only what can be checked calmly and safely, such as whether there is an obvious object in the paw. I do not manipulate a limb, repeatedly test the movement or give medication.

I then tell the owner what I observed in plain language.

Useful information sounds like this:

• She walked normally for the first ten minutes, then began taking shorter steps with her right back leg.
• He stopped at three familiar kerbs and needed more time before stepping down.
• She was keen to go out but slowed noticeably on the way home and appeared stiff after resting.
• He moved comfortably on grass but repeatedly avoided the gravel path.

That is more useful than saying, “I think he has arthritis” or “she was being stubborn”.

It gives the owner something specific to watch and share with their vet.

What you can record for your vet

Dogs do not always move at the veterinary practice exactly as they do at home or on their usual walk. A simple record can help you explain what has changed.

Write down:

• When you first noticed the change.
• Whether it started suddenly or gradually.
• Which leg, side or movement appears different.
• How long the dog can walk before the change appears.
• Whether particular surfaces, steps or slopes make a difference.
• What the dog is like after the walk, later that day and the following morning.
• Any changes in appetite, sleep, toileting, mood or tolerance of touch.
• Any recent falls, slips, unusual exercise or other incidents.
• Current medication or supplements.

If it is safe and the movement happens naturally, a short video from the side and from behind may help.

Do not make your dog repeat a painful movement to film it. Your vet can tell you what information they need and whether the dog should be seen urgently.

When to contact your vet

Contact your veterinary practice when a change in movement or behaviour is new, persistent, recurring, worsening, or causing concern.

You do not need to diagnose the problem before asking for advice.

Blue Cross guidance on arthritis in dogs advises arranging a veterinary check when you notice a behaviour change.

Arthritis is one possible cause of stiffness or changed movement, but dogs of any age can be affected by injury, illness or other sources of pain.

Seek prompt veterinary help if your dog:

• Suddenly cannot stand or use a limb.
• Collapses.
• Has breathing difficulties.
• Suffers a significant injury.
• Appears to be in severe pain.
• Is in serious distress.

Follow the advice your veterinary practice gives you.

For wider emergency guidance, visit my Dog First Aid Guide for Owners.

Why one-to-one walks make observation easier

I provide calm solo walks, one household at a time. I do not use vans, crates or group collection rounds. Each walk starts and finishes at the client’s door.

That setup lets me adapt the route and pace around one dog.

I can allow extra sniffing, take a shorter route or turn back without asking the dog to keep up with a group. It also helps me notice the small differences that could be missed in a busier walking arrangement.

You can read more about my one-to-one solo dog walks in Finchley.

If your dog has a diagnosed health condition or veterinary exercise restrictions, please tell me before walks begin so we can decide whether the service is suitable.

Frequently asked questions

Does walking more slowly mean my dog is in pain?

Not necessarily. Dogs may slow down because of heat, tiredness, worry, age, low fitness or something interesting in the environment.

A new, repeated or unexplained change is worth recording and discussing with your vet.

Should I wait to see whether a limp improves?

Contact your veterinary practice for advice. PDSA recommends veterinary assessment for limping and stiffness, even when the problem appears minor.

Sudden inability to use a limb, severe pain or a significant injury needs prompt help.

Can pain make a dog reactive on walks?

Pain or discomfort can affect behaviour and tolerance, but reactivity can have many causes.

A vet should assess a sudden or unexplained change in behaviour before it is treated as a training problem.

Is a video useful for my vet?

A short video may show how your dog moves in a familiar environment.

Film only what happens naturally and safely. Do not repeatedly ask your dog to perform a movement that appears painful.

What should I tell my dog walker about a health problem?

Share the diagnosis, medication, veterinary exercise limits, signs that mean the walk should stop and the correct contact arrangements.

Keep your walker updated if the advice changes.

Do you diagnose pain during a dog walk?

No. I observe, adapt the walk and report changes to the owner.

A veterinary professional is best suited to handle diagnosis and treatment.

The small changes are worth noticing.

A dog walk is not a medical examination. It is, however, part of a dog’s normal routine, and changes in a familiar routine can tell us that something deserves attention.

I am not looking for a dog to move perfectly. I am looking at what is normal for that individual.

If the pace, stride, confidence, recovery or behaviour changes, I slow down, adapt and tell the owner.

Sometimes there will be a simple explanation. Sometimes the vet may find a problem that benefits from treatment or a change in activity.

Either way, a calm, accurate observation is more useful than guessing or pushing the dog to finish the walk.

You know your dog best. If something feels different, make a note, take a safe video if helpful and contact your veterinary practice for advice.

Veterinary disclaimer: This article provides general information about changes that may be noticed during a dog walk. It does not diagnose pain, injury, arthritis, or other medical conditions, and it is not a substitute for veterinary advice. Contact your veterinary practice about new, persistent, worsening or significant changes in your dog’s movement, behaviour, stamina or comfort. Seek prompt veterinary help if your dog is seriously unwell or in severe distress.

Continue around the blog circle.

This article is part of a pet-professional blog circle for Animal Pain Awareness Month. Each member shares a different perspective on recognising pain and supporting animal welfare.

Find out what Flawles Paws Va has to say on Pain awareness, then take a look at some of my other articles

• Why Use a Dog Walker
• Senior Dog Care: A Complete Guide to Supporting Your Older Dog
• Dog Products that Finchley Dog Walker Recommends
• Approaching Dogs
• Is My Dog Just Getting Older? Signs Your Senior Dog May Be Slowing Down