One of the most important things you can do for your dog is to keep him or her engaged and exercised. The easiest way to achieve this is by taking your pup for a walk. However, as important as a good walk is to your furry friend, we still find excuses not to do it. Here are a few reasons why you should carve out time for dog walking every single day.
If Your Dog is Overweight, You’re Not Getting Enough Exercise
If you’re not exercising, chances are your pup is not either. This means he or she is probably gaining weight, whether you realize it or not. You see your dogs every day so you may not notice their widening girth. Like humans, dogs can suffer health issues due to excess weight. Veterinarians are observing more instances of overweight pets as our lifestyles become more sedentary. So don’t just do it for you, do it for your dog as well. Walk off those pounds, together.
A Tired Dog is a Good Dog
Does your pup bark excessively,chew,dig,run away or jump on people? Any unwanted behavior that your dog exhibits is often caused by frustration and boredom. A bored pet with energy to burn will find things to do to amuse itself. However, these things will most likely not amuse you. Luckily, your furry friend is extremely easy to entertain. Simply take your dog for a walk.
A Wolf in “Shep’s” Clothing
Your dog comes from good stock: wolf stock. No matter how small, coiffed, cute and domesticated, all dogs share one thing in common — the very undomesticated, wild wolf. Wolves are nomads by nature and spend up to one-third of their time on the move, often covering over 100 miles in a day in search of food. This wanderlust is deeply ingrained into your pet’s DNA. This is “pack” behavior similar to what wolves do to work up adrenaline before a hunt. Wolves wander, hunt and eat, in that order. Your pup wants and needs to walk. Additionally, if you walk your dog before feeding him, you are fulfilling his elemental psychological drive to “work” for his food.
Marking Their Territory
It is crucial to dogs that they know their “territory” and are able to leave evidence that they were there. With each sniff in the grass or at the base of a tree, your dog’s nose is communicating to him a rich history of what and who passed by that way before. When your dog pees, that is his or her way of “bookmarking” the spot for him or herself later while at the same time letting others know he or she belongs there, too. A walk around your neighborhood allows your dog to have the opportunity to get to know, by scent, the players in his or her stomping ground. This also keeps your dog’s mind active, which is just as important to your dog’s health and happiness as keeping his or her body in shape.
Socialization
A walk with your pup is an excellent exercise in socialization. He or she will get to know all the sights and sounds of the neighborhood by meeting other people and other dogs, encountering small animals such as birds and squirrels and becoming familiar with common noises. Cars, motorcycles, bicycles, skateboards, horns, lawn mowers, you name it — the more your pet encounters on their walk with you, the less likely they will be scared or nervous of new sounds in the future.
Dog Walks Provide Training Moments
A walk is an ideal time on basic obedience or expand your dog’s learning. A squirrel running up a tree or a bicyclist ridding by are great opportunities to practice “sit,” “look at me,” or any numerous other commands. You dog will greatly benefit by getting the chance to exercise his or her brain as well as his or her body, and you will benefit by having an even better behaved dog.
Cultivates Bonding Between You and Your Dog
One of the greatest benefits of walking your dog is that it cultivates bonding. You dog loves you and your dog loves walking, so walking him or her is similar to a mini lottery win for your pup. Spending time with your pet discovering new places and sharing experiences strengthens and enriches your relationship.
These are just a few of the many benefits of walking your dog daily. Whether it be a 15 minute run, 20 minute hike, 10 minutes of hide and seek, or even 5 minutes of chase, make sure your dog gets regular exercise can greatly benefit both you and your furry friend. Don’t hesitate to contact All Pets Veterinary Medical Center with the link below!
