What Can Walking Really Do For Your Dog?
Let’s face it - it’s always ‘busy season’ for you. But fall can seem a little more chaotic than others since we’re coming off that summer high and have to switch into the fall festivities of back to school packed calendars. Unfortunately, our pets can get the short end of the leash when it comes to our chaos and it usually comes in the form of less exercise or walks. Running around in the backyard is nice, but nothing can replace the benefits of walking your dog - or, having your dog walked by a local dog walker. We dive a little deeper into the effects that walking - yes, just walking - can have on your dog.
According to Psychology Today, there are about 69 million US households that own a dog. On average, 41% of dog owners regularly walk their dogs and between 30-60% of dog owners have reported that they do not regularly walk their dogs. An estimated 57% of dog owners who say they walk their dog have admitted to skipping at least one walk per week with some of the most common reasons being:
Unsatisfactory weather
Work pressures
Difficulties dealing with the dog
Family responsibilities
Laziness
That means that 30-60% of dogs who are pets don’t get the exercise they need and crave - a daily walk. While walking may seem like just another stroll around the neighborhood, it’s actually a great low-impact activity that can be done anywhere and at any time because during the course of your walks, your dog is strengthening their muscles, bones and joints. It’s also an activity that is safe and easy for puppies and older dogs of all breeds, sizes and shapes. It’s kind of awesome because it works for everyone and it’s s i m p l e.
An average walk for your dog is actually more than just walking. Getting them out and about in the neighborhood or park helps to curb their boredom at home, get their sniff on to keep their mental side of things active AND helps with their socialization skills. While out walking, it’s almost inevitable that you will meet another dog or person which can help increase your dog’s ability to socialize and meet new people, turning into a training lesson that was usually never planned. Sniffing can sometimes be a turn off for us pet parents, but letting your pup be curious and use their nose to take in their surroundings can actually be a great way to keep their brains active while letting them move around.
So your low-impact exercise of walking already promises a lot more than just a walk, but let’s add on 3 more health benefits that can help elevate your dog’s physical wellbeing.
1. Improves digestive and urinary health. When your dog has consistent exercise, it helps to keep their digestive tract on a regular schedule. This helps to allow your dog to empty their bladder and bowels like clockwork, preventing constipation and other potential health hazards. Bladder infections can occur when urine sits in the bladder for too long, so regularly emptying it keeps your dog safe from infections and keeps their bladder staying healthy.
2. Improves joint health. Joints, even old ones, need to keep working and mobility is a great way to keep muscles active to prevent them from weakening. When dogs are sedentary for too long, they can get stiff, which can lead to immobility. Walking helps to keep those joints in motion, therefore improving their function and improving their joint health.
3. Helps maintain their weight. Dogs who don’t get enough exercise are at a higher risk for becoming overweight or obese. Being overweight for a dog can lead to several health risks including cardiovascular and liver disease, osteoarthritis, diabetes and a shortened life. Regular walks are a good way to burn those excess calories and keep the extra pounds away.
Walking may seem like it’s just another stroll in the neighborhood, but the benefits are too good to be passed up by dog owners. Integrating a walk into your daily routine for your dog is a great way to get them active while keeping it low-impact and not too complicated. Remember, your dog will get out of it what you want to put into it so don’t give them the short end of the leash when it comes to their health.
Walking is not always an easy feat to add to your long days when you have multiple meetings, sports games or just a longer than average day at work finishing up a project. There is a solution that can benefit everyone involved - a local dog walker! Yes, when time isn’t on your side and you’re feeling guilty for leaving Fido alone all day, a daily walk from Going Mutts Pet Services can be a great way to let your pup know you’re still thinking about them. We would love to help check off a to-do list item, so contact us today to see how we can customize a visit for you and your dog!
Sources:
https://danspetcare.com/importance-of-daily-walks
https://www.helpguide.org/articles/pets/health-benefits-of-walks-with-your-dog.htm