The weather here is warming up, so many people are getting out more & walking your dog which is a great thing to do. In this post I will cover 15 potential benefits I discovered when walking your dog. You may be able to come up with another reason to walk your dog as well. If you do I’d like to hear about it, so please comment & share any other benefits you thought of.
- Walking your dog uses up some of their physical energy, they need this, especially if they are an active breed or are still quite young.
- Most dogs LOVE going for walks.
- It uses mental exercise & many people don’t know that a 1/2 hour of mental exercise is equivalent to about 2 hours of physical exercise. When you walk your dog you are giving them both physical & mental exercise. The mental exercise comes from them sniffing, exploring & seeing new things.
- It helps to keep them fit/healthy, which saves money on Vet bills.
- It builds muscle, which helps their overall health & immune system.
- It can help them lose weight, sadly over 1/2 the dogs people have are over weight, which can lead to a number of health issues.
- You get exercise as you are exercising your dog. Most of us need to build up our muscles as well.
- It gives you time with your dog(s) to interact & enjoy the great outdoors together (plus you get Vitamin D if you’re out walking when the suns is out). NOTE: Dogs don’t process Vitamin D thru their skin like we do.
- It can be a training time, I think some of the walks should be for just sniffing & marking their territory.
- Socialization: If you walk with a friend your dog has an opportunity to interact with your friend. If your friend has a dog that your dog is friends with then they get to share that walk time, sniffing & checking out all the smells. If you have two dogs they also get the social time together. I sometimes meet people on walks with my dogs, so they get a chance to interact with them. I need to be cautious as my dog Echo is reactive to most dogs ( working with him) & unsure of men that are strangers (but loves kids). I will blog on how I go on walks with & work with reactive or fearful dogs in the near future.
- The dog gets to relieve its bladder (do its business), it’s very important that you carry bags to pick up after your dog. https://amzn.to/4io4Zpk https://amzn.to/4ijq3NX I like ones with handles (& are biodegradable, better for our environment) like these, so it is easier to tie & carry after you clean up after your dog. https://amzn.to/4ikhxOE These dodo bag holders come in a set of two & have an LED flashlight https://amzn.to/4jAljEr I attach a holder full of bags to each dog leash, so they are always available when I walk them. I have tied a bag to the leash handle for a quick walk, so I was ready to clean up after the dog as well. I do this when I don’t have their regular leash & no pockets. I also wear a pouch to carry treats in, for training opportunities on walks. This one is really nice, it has room for treats, your cell phone, keys, has a bag dispenser & a place for your clicker if clicker training. https://amzn.to/3Y3m8NT
- It can be safer to walk with a dog then alone, most unscrupulous characters are less likely to mess with someone with a dog. Whether 15 lbs or 85 lbs anything that has teeth can bite.
- Walking your dog helps prevent boredom, they get excited, get to go on an adventure & smell all the things they come in contact with.
- After a walk you can have a happy well exercised dog, mentally & physically & they will nap or rest & you can get some things done you need or want to do, or take a nap as well.
- I use an app on my phone when I walk my dogs called Woof Trax & when I walk it keeps track of how far & how long we walk & they donate money to a local shelter of my choosing once I reach a certain amount of miles. So my walking supports shelter pets as well, it is a free app, easy to use, so it’s a win, win.
When you walk your dogs please be a responsible & courteous dog walker, clean up after your dog(s). I see piles all the time when I walk & that’s just not right. Don’t let your dogs do their business in other people’s yards (use curb side)or on yard decor (I know sometimes you’re caught off guard),or walk on their flowers. Remember many people don’t care for strange dogs, so don’t let them greet strangers unless the person requests to meet your dog. I have my dogs come to a stop if someone is riding a bike, skateboard, or scooter by us. I believe it is potentially safer for the person & my dog(s).
I like to give my dogs some freedom on some walks if it’s where I can do this, then I use long leashes (10-30 feet).This leash comes in a variety of lengths & colors, is made out of nylon so waterproof. https://amzn.to/3ErTVtC This next one is made from PVC & is easily cleaned & comes in a variety of lengths as well. https://amzn.to/3Rp5KUb Giving your dog some freedom on a walk or in a field, park, or near a lake, can be very enjoyable for your dog. ALWAYS be courteous & only do this with permission or when other people are not around or other dogs. Not everyone is comfortable when a dog is 10-30 feet from their owner, even when on a leash. Many times you will find dogs that pull hard, pull less when given some freedom to roam. Dogs like to go back & forth & rarely when given a choice will walk in a straight line. Watch your dog in your yard or on a long line & you will see they move in a variety of directions.
I hope this post has motivated you to start walking your dog. If you haven’t walked your dog regularly or your dog is a puppy or a senior, or new to you, start slow & let the dog help decide what is far enough. If your dog is not a small dog you can’t easily carry don’t walk too far from home or the car.
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Echoing Great Pet Care 