According to a recent study, people want their dogs to connect with their “dog-ness” during walks – that is, have fun, experience freedom and space, and generally feel like a dog.

The study also found that the flow of power in the relationship between people and their canines is more fluid during a walk, with humans being more apt to listen to what their dog wants.

“In most cases, characteristics of the walk such as timing, length and place, were determined by their dog’s personality and what they, as humans, thought the dogs liked and disliked the most,” said researcher Dr. Thomas Fletcher.

Read more about the study here.