In prosperous Germany, walking dogs degenerate into non-existence. The activity is called "dogging hobbies".
They take an empty leash, give an imaginary dog a name, practice commands and lead it through an obstacle course. Some straps may be stiff so it looks like someone is pulling from the other end. The idea originated in Germany among armed men and became viral on the Internet as a mixture of performance art, stress relief and satire: this way you can have a familiar routine and the feeling of a dog company without expenses, mess and responsibility.