Breed Specific Outlets - Why Your Dog Needs More Than Just Walks

Breed specific outlets are often the missing piece when it comes to solving behavioural issues in dogs. Many owners try to fix frustration, reactivity, or hyperactivity in dogs by increasing walks and exercise. But most dogs already get enough physical exercise—what they’re lacking is an appropriate way to express their drives. Without a proper outlet, they remain frustrated, restless, and difficult to manage.

In this post, I’ll go through why breed specific outlets are the key to reducing frustration, how the predatory motor pattern influences behaviour, and how the right outlet can help your dog. Plus, I’ll break down the best outlets for different breeds so you can find ones that work for you and your dog’s needs!

Daily walks have become the default exercise for dogs, but the truth is, they aren’t a necessary component for a happy and fulfilled dog. While going outdoors is still important, walking just to walk—especially as a way to burn energy—often isn't adequate. Many owners unknowingly get trapped in the cycle of longer and longer walks, hoping it will fix their dog’s behaviour, only to find that their dog remains frustrated, reactive, or overly aroused.

For many dogs, walks are actually a source of stress, not relaxation. The outside world is filled with triggers (like dogs and people if you have a reactive dog), overwhelming scents, and stimulation that many dogs struggle to regulate.

👉🏾 [You can read more about taking breaks from walks in my blog post here].

If a dog is already overstimulated, anxious, or reactive, daily walks without a clear “purpose” can make them worse, not better. Instead of helping a dog reset, these walks often build more frustration, reinforce bad habits, and leave the dog in a constant state of arousal.

This is why I recommend prioritising a breed specific outlet daily, over going on walks. Dogs don’t need to walk every day for the sake of it—they need purposeful activities that help them feel fulfilled and mentally satisfied.

You’ve probably heard the phrase “give a dog a job”—and that’s exactly what an outlet is. Without a structured outlet, dogs will find their own way to satisfy their instincts, often in ways we don’t like and at times we don't want. A dog that wasn’t given a proper outlet for their chase drive may fixate on joggers and cyclists. A scent-driven dog with no structured outlet for sniffing might pull obsessively on walks, nose glued to the ground dragging you along with them. The more frustrated they become, the harder it is to manage them in your everyday life.

Many dogs become obsessed with certain behaviours out in public because they don’t have a structured release for them elsewhere. This is why so many dogs fixate on chasing, sniffing, or even herding children and other dogs—because they’re desperate to engage in their natural instincts.

✔ ️ Example: A scent hound that pulls like crazy on walks to sniff every patch of grass may be far more manageable if they get structured scent as an outlet. Instead of feeling the need to sniff everything, everywhere, they learn when and where to engage with that need.

Your dog will still want to do these things, but the obsession and frustration will decrease, making them more engaged and easier to redirect in everyday situations.

👉🏾 You can learn more in my blog post about my strategies on how to deal with a frustrated dog.

A dog that only gets physical exercise without a mental or instinctual outlet is more likely to become:

Many owners unknowingly increase their dog’s frustration by over-relying on exercise that actually feeds arousal rather than relieves it. Endless games of fetch, for example, can teach a dog to need constant stimulation.

This cycle of overstimulation → poor sleep → constant frustration is what keeps many dogs stuck in behaviour struggles.

A lot of reactive dogs go through life stuck in a cycle of daily walks that are meant to “help” but are only throwing gas on a fire and making things worse. Even though these walks are filled with chaos, owners don't realise that their dog's needs are not being met on these walks OR that there are [even more fun] alternatives!

If a dog doesn’t have proper outlets to burn off energy or regulate their nervous system, that stress starts to build — walk after walk, trigger after trigger. Over time, it boils over. That’s when reactivity shows up.

Outlets provide a crucial alternative to walking. Whether it’s scent work, shredding, chasing, digging etc, outlets are especially important if you’re living with a reactive dog — because the calmer and more fulfilled they are at home, the better they’ll cope outside.

This all ties into something I call the Holy Trinity:

Rest, outlets, and enrichment.

When these needs are met, reactivity becomes easier to manage, and so does your dog — because they are now better equipped to handle the world.

Want to learn more about how the holy and unholy trinity, and the dangers of stress builds up and what to do about it?

👉🏾 [Download my FREE Reactivity Starter Guide] — it breaks down trigger stacking, the Holy Trinity, and real-world ways to support your reactive

For dogs that are already stuck in a state of over-arousal, structured outlets combined with a detox from overstimulation can be a game-changer. My detox helps:

The predatory motor pattern, also known as prey drive, is a hardwired sequence of instinctual behaviours that dogs use to hunt, capture, and sometimes even kill prey. While our dogs are domesticated, this instinct is still very much alive and even  though dogs no longer need to hunt for survival, their drives to track, chase, and grab are deeply ingrained in their DNA. The predatory motor pattern is made up of several key stages, with different breeds thriving in different areas:

Each stage in this sequence is inherently rewarding. Dogs don’t chase just for the sake of running—they chase because it satisfies a deep instinctual need. This is why you might find it hard to recall your dog off a chase—they are fulfilling a drive that brings them mental satisfaction and relief.

Without an appropriate outlet for these instincts, dogs always find their own ways to satisfy them—often in ways we see as unwanted behaviours. This is why we see dogs fixating on movement, lunging at triggers, chewing destructively, digging constantly or struggling to settle down.

By understanding where your dog falls within the predatory motor pattern, you can create a structured, fulfilling outlet that matches their natural drives.

Every dog has natural instincts, and certain breeds excel at specific parts of the predatory motor pattern sequence because they were originally bred to use those skills. By selecting outlets that align with your dog’s breed-specific instincts, you’re more likely to meet their needs fully.

However, it’s important to remember that not every dog fits neatly into its breed’s typical preferences. Some may enjoy outlets outside their breed’s norm, and that’s perfectly okay. My dog Jasper has an obsession with anything scent related so I make sure we add plenty of scent based outlets into his routine!

The key is to experiment and observe what excites your dog the most while ensuring that their outlets provide a structured way to express their instincts rather than reinforcing chaos or overstimulation.

For example, terriers, like Jasper, bred for hunting and pest control, often thrive on outlets like flirt poles or destructive enrichment. These activities allow them to chase, grab, “kill,” and dissect, tapping into the parts of the predatory motor pattern they love most!

It’s essential to provide opportunities for your dog to engage in these instinctive behaviours within a controlled environment. When dogs aren’t given a structured way to express themselves, they’ll find their own outlets.

Below I've listen some breeds and their outlets outlets based on their natural instincts and predatory motor pattern:

Whether it’s scent work, flirt pole, swimming, weight pull, or structured fetch, having a selection of activities ensures that your dog stays engaged, fulfilled, and happy.

Discover more on utilising both mental stimulation and exercise in my blog post mental stimulastion vs physical.

If your dog struggles with frustration, obsession, or constant overstimulation, finding the right outlet is just one part of the solution. Many dogs are stuck in a cycle of over-arousal, where their nervous system is always on high alert—making it difficult for them to switch off, settle, or handle frustration.

This is where my detox program comes in. It helps:

Instead of relying on more walks, more exercise, or random stimulation, the detox helps reset your dog’s system, giving them the clarity and structure they need to fully benefit from proper outlets.

Click to claim your FREE detox today!

Every dog has natural instincts, and if we don’t provide an appropriate outlet, they’ll find one on their own—often in ways we don’t like. The key to a calmer, and more balanced dog isn’t just more physical exercise; it’s about giving them a purpose, meeting their instinctual needs, and providing structure.

By understanding your dog’s predatory motor pattern, choosing the right outlets, and resetting their nervous system through the detox, you’re giving them the tools to be more balanced, less frustrated, and easier to live with.