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Your dog is your best friend and a loved member of your family, so of course, you want what's best for him. Experts show that walking your dog for at least half an hour each day not only benefits him but benefits you as well. Bonding is just one of the many perks of daily walks with your dog. There are plenty of other benefits as well.
1. It Reduces Your Dog's Stress
According to some research, walking your dog on a daily basis reduces the amount of stress that he is under. In fact, one survey showed that 93% of people said they felt their dog was less stressed if they were walked every day. There are two major reasons for this. For one thing, walking your dog every day helps him to release exercise energy, which can present itself as stress when it becomes too much for your pup to handle. Daily walks also expose your pet to a number of different sights, sounds, types of people, and types of vehicles, which helps him to learn how to process the smells and noises that they make. Your pup will be less likely to bark at the UPS truck every day if he's used to seeing them out in the world.
2. It Helps You Both Stay Physically Fit
Physical fitness is important for both you and your dog, and walking is an excellent low-impact exercise that helps you both to maintain a healthy weight and strong cardiovascular system. Because you can walk nearly anywhere, it's also an excellent way for you to stay motivated to work out. Going to the gym every day can become tiresome, but visiting different parks or neighborhoods, or even going on weekend hiking trips with your dog, keeps things fresh and interesting for you both. Just remember to carry water and a travel dog bowl with you on hotter days, and keep in mind that bigger dogs tend to have more endurance than small ones do.
3. It Keeps Your Dog Mentally Healthy
Dogs need a lot of mental stimulation to remain healthy. Even with a myriad of dog toys, spending too much time indoors can make and dog bored and even lead to depression and anxiety. Walking your dog every day, especially if you do it in different neighborhoods from time to time, keeps him mentally fit. He'll love checking out all the new sights, smells, and sounds every day, whether he's sniffing new bushes or saying hello to new people on the streets.
4. It Protects Your Belongings
When your dog is mentally stimulated and physically exercised, he will not be as likely to be destructive at home. This means you spend fewer dollars on anti-chewing sprays and on replacing furniture, clothing, and shoes. Some dogs even chew on doors or walls when they aren't exercised enough. A daily walk of even just 15 minutes (although 30 minutes is ideal) protects your belongings, not to mention ensures you don't need to spend time and money on veterinarian appointments to ensure your pup is okay.
How To Walk Your Dog Safely
The first thing you can do to ensure your dog is safe on his walks is to take him to the vet first. No matter how safe you try to keep your dog while you're walking him, accidents happen sometimes. In addition, you don't always know how safe other people will be with their animals. Vaccinating your dog and ensuring his heart and joints are healthy before you start daily walks ensures he's as safe as possible.
Using the right equipment during your walk is also important. If your dog tends to pull on his leash, avoid hooking it to his collar. Instead, buy a harness that fits over his body, which prevents him from accidentally hurting his throat while walking. Avoid using retractable leashes, which tangle easily, and put both you and your dog in danger. Instead, buy a sturdy leash that is no more than six feet long, and walk with it wrapped around your palm to avoid accidentally dropping it.
Protecting your pooch from the elements is important as well. When the sun is shining bright, your dog is just as likely to get sunburn as you are. Don't forget to spray him with some pet-safe sunscreen to protect his delicate skin. Is it cold outside? Unless you have a breed that grows long coats during the winter and loves the snow, your dog is just as likely to get cold as you are. Buy your pup a coat to keep him warm on those blustery winter walks. Finally, windy days can be dangerous for your dog as well. Wind can kick up dirt or other debris that gets into his eyes but dog goggles protect him while he trots along beside you.
Finally, be sure to give your pup some training. A dog isn't automatically born knowing how to walk on a leash or understanding that safety is important on his daily walks. If you're bringing a new dog into your home, regardless of his age, practice walking him around the yard first. This allows you to get a feel for how he handles on a leash as well as helps your pet to understand what you expect of him when he's leashed and walking. As you two get used to each other, you can move to walks around the block, through the neighborhood, and eventually to check out other places.
