The importance of walking your dog

Written by Marcie Whidden

What happens when the leash comes out at your house? Probably your dog can hardly wait and wiggles all over with excitement. Walking is as beneficial to your pet as it is to you. It is not just exercise and a bathroom break for your pooch it is much more. Dogs need social interaction and mental stimulation in addition to fresh air and exercise.

Benefits of daily walks

Daily walks provide your dog with positive attention from you and a chance to be with you doing something he loves. The mental stimulation your dog gets by investigating every smell, sight and sound along the way is as important as the physical workout. A walk is a great opportunity to practice obedience skills with your dog and reinforces that bond between you. When you encounter another dog or person it gives your dog the opportunity to practice appropriate social skills.

Walking is the best exercise for any age or lifestyle. Even a dog with a large yard needs to walk as he may not be inclined to exercise without you. Apartment dogs should ideally get out four times a day and dogs with small fenced-in areas, two or three times a day. Twenty minutes (or more) is a good amount of time to aim for but realistically what ever you can fit in will be beneficial.

Walking your dog soon after he eats is the time he is most likely to urinate and defecate. (This works well with schedule feeding which usually equals schedule defecating, helpful when you need to be out the door to work.)

Leashes and doggie bags

Most communities have a leash law in place. Leash walking is the safest way to walk your dog; even the best trained pooches can become distracted and cross the street. Leash walking also keeps your dog from entering another dog’s yard and possibly offending the owner. If you are looking for a place to let your dog off leash, check with in your local area for a dog park. Many cities and towns are offering a large fenced in area just for dogs to socialize. Regardless of where you walk, don’t forget a plastic bag to clean up after your pet. If you will be out for an extended time you should also carry a small travel bowl and some water.