Pibble Parade & Packwalk

Join the Pibble Parade!

Bully Breed Meetup & Packwalk

walking together is healthy socialization for dogs

• please keep dogs on 6ft leash
• ask before dogs meet & greet
• respect space of shy and reactive pups
• scoop poop and follow park rules

NEW MEETUP SPOT! meet at the Park & Ride parking lot on 65th, it's on the left before you get to the boat launch, across from the Western Fisheries Research Center.

walk starts at 10:30, message me if you are running late and I'll make sure you can find us

Questions? email seattlepackwalk@gmail.com or call/text 206-949-3076, IG @thestaffygibson

Detailed directions to meetup spot: https://tinyurl.com/pibbleparademeetupspot

Route map: https://tinyurl.com/pibbleparademap

What is the Pibble Parade?

A packwalk to provide healthy socialization for dogs, led by Gibson, a 5 year old pitty mix. Walking together builds trust between dogs and allows them to get to know each other before having direct contact.

We walk the trails and paths inside Magnuson Park, attempt a group photo about mid-way through, and share pup cups in the parking lot after the walk.

10:15-10:30 - Please join the parade walking in a circle in the parking lot when you arrive. This will help organize the group and set expectations for the pups before we start the walk in the trails.

Keep dogs about 6 feet apart from each other and don’t introduce dogs who don’t already know each other.

At 10:30 we will start walking from the trailhead at the NE corner of the parking lot.

Help us keep the pacing and spacing comfortable for the group! Keep enough distance for dogs to stay under threshold. That means enough space that they aren’t trying to play, interact, or barking/lunging at each other. If a dog stops to potty or get back under threshold, it’s ok to go around them and keep walking, but let the group ahead know to slow down a bit so we don’t lose them.

Learning together topic of the month: “Over Threshold”

“Over Threshold” is a common buzz word among dog trainers when talking about reactive dogs. What does that mean and what do we do?

Some of the dogs in the group are selective about their dog friends, or working on reactivity towards other dogs/bikes/scooters/kids/etc. Others are adolescent puppies still learning manners.

The best experience for all the dogs is when they are able to be challenged with new experiences without getting stressed to the point of being “over threshold”. When they are over threshold, dogs aren’t easily redirected and have trouble focusing on you or performing basic commands. It’s similar to being flooded with emotions, when you can’t think straight or make good decisions.

Here is a graphic I found online that describes dog body language when under, approaching, and over threshold.

Tips: If your dog is approaching or over threshold during the packwalk, create more distance between your dog and the trigger. Shorten your dog’s leash, turn and lead them away. On the wider trails you can pull off to the side into the grass. On the narrow trails, just say “space!” to alert the other folks to give your dog more room. Walking in a circle or figure 8 is one way to help calm your dog and get them back under threshold. When they are calm enough that they can focus on you to perform basic commands, they are back under threshold and ready to rejoin the packwalk.

Gibson and I look forward to seeing you all on Saturday!