Here’s why walking your dog on a daily basis can do wonders for your health and their wellbeing. We reveal the top 8 health benefits of walking your dog daily.
8 Health Benefits of Walking Your Dog
Owning a dog is a wonderful experience, but it also comes with responsibilities. As well as providing appropriate food, healthcare, love, and attention, walking your dog is one of the best things you can do to keep your canine companion healthy and happy. However, the benefits of walking your dog don't stop there - exercise with your dog also has a host of health benefits for you. Here we explore the top 8 health benefits of walking your dog daily, both for you and for your dog.
1. Physical Health Benefits
Regular exercise is a great way to maintain a healthy weight for people and dogs alike. Walking your dog is an excellent low-impact activity that can be done on a daily basis. Even if you haven’t exercised in a while, it’s something you can start immediately without risking injury. And once you establish a routine, you can start increasing the time and distance you and your dog walk to improve your level of fitness. Just make sure your walk is tailored to your dog’s needs and abilities - younger dogs can cope with long distances, but older dogs might struggle.
If it’s cold and wet outside, or your dog has short hair, you might want to invest in a coat to keep them comfortable - check out our full range of dog coats here. If it’s a hot day or you're traveling a long distance, make sure you have plenty of water for your dog to prevent them from overheating. Our Foldable Pet Feeder Bowl is a convenient water-feeding solution for such occasions.
2. Optimize Your Mental Health
Exercise with your dog is highly beneficial for your mental health too. In fact, it’s well-documented that exercise can help alleviate feelings of depression and anxiety. Additionally, the routine of walking your dog daily can be a healthy distraction from any negative thoughts swirling around your head, as well as giving you a sense of purpose. Since petting your dog causes your brain to release endorphins that give you a sense of pleasure and wellbeing¹, spending time with your dog on a walk will go a long way to making you feel happier and content. Plus walking your dog in areas where they can use their senses to explore new surroundings will do wonders for their mental well-being too.
3. Reduce Unwanted Behaviors at Home
Dogs are highly intelligent animals, and if you don’t take the dog for a walk and keep them occupied, chances are it will get bored, leading to negative behavior like chewing. One of the benefits of walking your dog is that it allows your dog to use up excess energy by walking, sniffing, and interacting with other dogs. Another benefit is that walking your dog will generally tire them out. Most dogs spend about 50% of their day sleeping, and a well-rested dog is a happy one.² Check out our full range of dog beds here. Anything that keeps your dog occupied will help reduce negative behavior. Our Slow Food Bowls will slow your dog down at mealtimes, while our Interactive Dog Toys allow dogs to burn up energy during play.
4. Better Cardiovascular Health
In the
United States, nearly 70% of adults are either overweight or obese. Being overweight can lead to high blood pressure and cholesterol, which in turn can lead to cardiovascular issues like heart disease.³ Regular exercise, such as walking your dog, can help lower blood pressure and resting heart rate, which reduces the risk of developing heart attack, heart failure, and coronary heart disease. Exercise with your dog will also help you maintain a healthier weight, reducing the risk of developing complications associated with obesity. Obesity is bad news for dogs, too, as they can suffer the ill effects just like us - regular walking helps them keep the weight off.
5. Better Joint and Bone Health
Physical activity strengthens our muscles, joints, and bones, and the same applies to dogs. In particular, walking is a great way to prevent osteoporosis (the loss of bone density). As dogs age, they can sometimes suffer from joint pain, but regular walks over the course of their lifetime can prevent this by keeping their joints and bones strong, keeping your dog on its feet well into old age.
6. Improved Social Skills
Walking your dog is a great way to get out and meet people. Dogs are a brilliant way to break the ice and start conversations between humans. It’s important that your dog is socialized and exposing it to other people and dogs is a great way to do this. Regular walks encourage dogs to develop appropriate behaviors when interacting with each other, which will reduce the risk of aggression and fighting.
7. Reduce Your Stress Levels
We lead busy lives these days, and stress can be a common occurrence. Even small amounts of physical activity can help lower blood pressure, which in turn can reduce stress levels. Getting outside into the fresh air can also help us destress and unwind, particularly after a hard day at work. Dogs can also get stressed, particularly if they don’t get enough exercise, so walking your dog is a great stress reliever for you as well as your dog.
8. An Opportunity for Training
Spending time with your dog one-on-one while out on a walk is the perfect opportunity for a training session. Although it's a good idea to work on commands in the home, training sessions outside not only provide mental stimulation for your dog but also help to reinforce the bond between you. If you’re not confident in your dog’s recall, keep it on a long leash until you’re sure they have the command down.
Ready to Get Walking?
The bottom line is that walking your dog has a wide range of health benefits for both you and your pooch. If you’re ready to embrace the benefits of walking your dog, our wide range of collars, harnesses, and leashes make it even easier to take the dog for a walk. Visit our website to find out more!
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