Neutral & Social Walks
Here at Honest Hounds, we’re pretty famous for our neutral and social walks.
Come find out why!
🚩 Struggling to Walk Your Dog? We Understand.
You’re not alone. For so many owners, walks have become a source of stress instead of joy. Maybe you’re scanning every field for off-lead dogs, dreading every encounter, or walking at odd hours just to avoid conflict. Maybe you’ve stopped walking altogether.
At Honest Hounds, we’ve been there—and we’ve built a better way forward.
We run the UK's largest network of Neutral and Social Walks, helping thousands of dogs and owners feel safe, supported, and connected. With over 100 locations across the UK and new ones launching every month, we’re creating a nationwide movement towards calmer, more enjoyable walks.
Our walks happen weekly in dozens of towns and cities across the UK. Whether you're looking for a nearby group or planning a holiday, our interactive map makes it easy to find the right fit.
Every walk is run by our trusted Neutral Walk Leaders—volunteers who are supported and upskilled by the Honest Hounds team. They’ve got your back, they understand your challenges, and they’re here to help.
Each month we add new Neutral Walk Leaders so if you don’t see a local near you, check our interactive map again soon!
📍Find the rough location of our neutral walks with the blue icons on the map.
🌍 Find a Walk Near You
🐕 What Are Neutral Walks?
Neutral Walks are structured, on-lead group walks designed for dogs who:
React to other dogs or people
Struggle with greetings or social interactions
Have been overexposed, attacked, or misunderstood
These walks are not about socialising in the traditional sense. They’re about creating a safe space for dogs to walk calmly alongside others, with no pressure to interact, and a clear structure that reduces stress for everyone involved.
Neutral Walks are included in all Honest Hounds memberships and are free to attend. You can join as many walks as you want—wherever you are in the UK.
You’ll meet owners who understand. You’ll see progress. And you’ll finally get to enjoy walking your dog again.
🔎 Looking for more than walks?
If you're feeling stuck, confused, or simply want to keep progressing, our Education Tier is a great place to start. It gives you access to our entire platform of resources—courses, webinars, guidance, and professional support from our training team. You don’t have to figure it all out alone.
And it’s not just about learning—it’s about putting that knowledge into practice. That’s where our walks come in. Designed to support everything you’re learning, they give you the perfect opportunity to apply new skills in real-life settings with the support of our wider community. They’re the ideal companion to your training journey.
✅ How to Join a Neutral Walk
1
Join the Honest Hounds Community
Choose any membership level that suits your needs, our walks are included in all levels!
2
Head to the Neutral Walks Page
Browse all our walk locations and find your local groups. Join as many as you want with your membership!
3
Join the Relevant Walk Groups
We run all our groups in WhatsApp chats so you can connect, get updates, and stay in the loop.
4
Add the Next Walk to Your Diary— and Get Excited!
It’s time to walk with confidence again. Feeling nervous? Don’t be - we’ve all been there!
🤝 From Neutral to Social Walks
When you and your dog are ready, our Social Walks are the next step.
These walks are about more than just social time—they’re about helping your dog relearn how to interact calmly and confidently and helping you rebuild trust in your dog. With carefully managed on-lead and off-lead opportunities, they’re designed to support real-life social skills—so you can both start enjoying the world again.
Our Social Walk Leaders are specially trained and supported by the Honest Hounds team to ensure every walk is safe, structured, and genuinely helpful, a space for steady progress and real connection.
These are more than walks, they’re the chance to learn, grow and connect with your dog and the most wonderful community to support you.
💸 Social Walks are available at a reduced rate for Honest Hounds members, giving you priority access and exclusive discounts on assessments and ongoing walks with our trusted leaders.
How to Join a Social Walk
Find your closest Social Walk Leader (you will see these as the yellow icons on the map)
Connect with them for a 1:1 assessment to ensure your dog is ready
Join a social walk & start living that life you dreamed of with your dog
✨ Real Stories, Real Results
"We started going to neutral walks 1 year ago and progressed to also do social walks in the summer, and we love them so much that we go to 3 different neutral walks. They are wonderfully supportive environments where Bruce has really been able to learn how to be around other dogs. All the neutral walk leaders we have had have been so passionate about building a welcoming environment, and everyone helps each other and you get a supportive WhatsApp community too. We are also lucky to have a great social walk leader who supports us in moving beyond neutrality. I understand going to the first neutral walk can be daunting, but I would recommend it to all dogs. "
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Heidi & Bruce
"Neutral walks and social walks are worth their weight in gold. It’s opened up a whole new life for us 😊"
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Amber, Mimi & Cooper - Derby Neutral Walk Leader
"We joined the neutral walks because Ruby really struggled being near other dogs on lead. We started the walks over a year ago and when we first started, we didn’t go near any other dogs and just kept our distance. Now, we’ve made so many friends that we practice all our neutral walk skills with, side by side. They’ve definitely helped us become neutral on walks, our next step is get to a social walk!!"
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Ellie & Ruby
"I was shocked when our very first neutral walk and Wilbur didn’t react to any of the dogs there. I struggled with his sniffing in a new place and the whole group got behind me to support and help me. They made me see that you can, with the support of this community, come out the other side of behaviour issues. ❤️"
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Jessica & Wilbur
“It took me months to build up the courage to join our first Neutral Walk, and now I wish we’d started sooner. My spicy dog is like a different dog, relaxed, sniffing, and just doing his thing around others.
We’ve recently started Social Walks too, and Lemmy keeps surprising me with his good choices. It's boosted my confidence massively.
Fair warning ⚠️ These walks are very addictive, especially if you’ve got multiple groups nearby—your calendar might fill up faster than you think 😉 "
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Linda & Lemmy
😊 No pressure, no judgement—just progress at your pace
🌟 Supportive walk leaders who are there to help you, no matter your situation
🤝 A supportive community of owners who know what it feels like to walk alone, anxious, or afraid and who are ready to support you
💖 Everyone is welcome here—no matter your dog's breed, training background, or your experience level
🏡 Over 100+ locations (and growing!) with multiple walks happening every single week
Why Our Walks Work
FAQs
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You’re not alone — so many of our members felt exactly the same before their first walk. That’s why our Neutral Walks are designed to be calm, no-pressure, and judgement-free. There’s no forced interaction, and our walk leaders are there to support both you and your dog every step of the way.
You can always start by watching a walk from a distance, messaging your walk leader beforehand, or even coming without your dog the first time if that helps. We’re here to meet you where you are — and we promise, you won’t be the only one feeling that way.
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As a member, you can join as many Neutral Walks as you like — there's no limit. Walks are included in all membership tiers, and we encourage you to attend as many as you’d like to build confidence, consistency, and connection.
Once you’re a member you can join the relevant Neutral Walk Groups and keep updated.
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Yes, all dogs are welcome on our Neutral Walks, including banned breeds and dogs of all ages, from young puppies to older dogs. We are proud to offer a supportive space for every type of dog, no matter their background or behaviour.
Dogs who show signs of reactivity will need to be muzzled for safety, and we are happy to help guide you through that process if necessary. Our full list of walk rules is HERE.
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Walks take place every week across the UK. Each Neutral Walk Leader agrees to run at least one walk per month, although many choose to offer more. They are all volunteers and work closely with the community to decide the best times and locations, using local WhatsApp groups to organise walks.
There is no need to book in advance. Just keep an eye on your local WhatsApp group, let your walk leader know you are coming, and turn up on the day. It is all kept simple to make things as easy and welcoming as possible.
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Neutral Walks are for any dog needing calm, controlled exposure to others, whether they’re overexcited, reactive, nervous, or just learning. Dogs stay on lead and are given space to build confidence without pressure, guided by our supportive walk leaders. Anyone with an active membership is welcome to attend a Neutral Walk as long.
Social Walks are the natural next step. They focus on building well-rounded groups of dogs who can interact and engage in a safe, supportive environment. Humans also get the chance to learn more about body language and behaviour, with input and encouragement from our Neutral Walk team. Social Walks are available by assessment only to ensure the group dynamic stays calm and positive for everyone involved.
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Becoming a Neutral Walk Leader is a member-exclusive opportunity, and we love welcoming passionate volunteers into the team. If you’re part of the Education Tier and aligned with the Honest Hounds ethos, you’re already on the right track.
We offer plenty of perks and support for our leaders, including resources, coaching, and the chance to be part of something that’s genuinely making a difference.
If you're interested, just email admin@honesthounds.co.uk and we'll send over some more info so you can learn more!
Stop dreading every walk
Rebuild your dog’s confidence
Feel supported and understood
Enjoy real progress in a realistic setting