When your dog is given complete freedom to move naturally in an open space, their movement choices reveal

fundamental insights into their physical enrichment needs and natural energy expression. Do they burst into high-

energy action, seeking running, jumping, and athletic challenges? Do they move with steady, purposeful

exploration, investigating their environment with rhythmic curiosity? Do they prefer gentle, flowing movement

that supports relaxation and regulation, or do they naturally choose minimal movement, preferring to observe and

rest unless gently invited to explore?

The Soft Walk Test is designed to assess your dog's authentic movement preferences when completely free from

constraints, expectations, or structured exercise. Unlike walks on leash or directed play sessions, this assessment

captures how your dog naturally chooses to express themselves physically when given total autonomy. Some

dogs are driven athletes who crave intense physical challenges, while others are gentle observers who prefer

calm, minimal movement.

This test reveals whether your dog is a Driven Athlete who loves high bursts of action and challenge, a

Purposeful Roamer who enjoys rhythmic, meaningful exploration, a Gentle Mover who benefits from slow, low-

impact movement, or a Restful Observer who prefers minimal movement and gentle prompts to engage.

Understanding your dog's natural movement style becomes crucial for designing exercise routines, physical

enrichment activities, and daily movement that truly serves their physical and emotional wellbeing. A Driven

Athlete might need intense agility challenges and athletic activities, while a Purposeful Roamer might prefer long

exploratory walks. A Gentle Mover might thrive on calm, flowing activities, while a Restful Observer might need

very gentle encouragement for minimal, comfortable movement.

Remember that this test provides just one piece of your dog's enrichment puzzle. Dogs can show different

movement preferences in different contexts—being athletic in cool weather but gentle in heat, or energetic

outdoors but restful indoors. The goal is to gather information about their natural movement tendencies, not to

limit them to a single movement category.