Can you name 7 reasons to walk your dog? I came up with about a million, but narrowed that down to 7. Today is the first day of National Walk Your Dog Week, which has been celebrated since 2010. Our family is big on walking, but that is not the case for everyone out there. I thought I would share my favorite reasons for walking with you all today.
7 Reasons To Walk Your Dog
1. Fun and Happiness
Who doesn’t love to go for a walk with their best furry friend or friends? It’s rare to find a dog who doesn’t want to go for a walk whenever asked. Walking a dog is a fun way to explore for both humans and dogs. There’s nothing to compare to getting out in the fresh air with your dog. Speaking of manners, leave your cellphone in your pocket. Attention should be on your dog and the walk, not on your phone.
2. Exercise
Walking is a form of low impact exercise that can be done just about anywhere you are. It will get your heart rate up, work your muscles, and build some endurance if you go for long walks or hikes. Young and old dogs should take shorter, slower walks, but everyone else can do some good tempo walking.
Dogs are perfect exercise buddies as most of us will gladly accompany our human on walks in any weather. Burn those calories with walking, to keep the weight off, or to make room for a few extra treats. Did you now just a couple extra pounds will shorten a dog’s life by one or more years?
3. Bonding
One great way to bond with your dog is through activities. Walking is something you can do together, normally connected by the leash. It teaches both of you to work with each other at an activity you both enjoy. Humans teach us canines some manners, and we teach our humans how to spot critters like squirrels and wabbits. My mom learned quickly from us, and is able to spot critters before we even do most of the time!
4. Creating a Routine
Dogs love routine. At our house, we walk together every morning, 365 days a year, rain or shine. We also walk every evening at dinnertime. Our feeding schedule is set so we always eat after our walks, which has us thinking we have to work for our food. Food doesn’t ever appear, nor do treats, without us doing something to earn it. It is our routine and we are completely happy with it.
5. Confidence Building
Fearfulness in dogs has many causes, but one contributor to fear is the lack of exposure. Taking your dog for walks not only around your home, but in many places, and new places will help your dog develop confidence. Learning to be in new areas can be scary if you are not used to it. For the human, walking with a dog also gives confidence in the form of not being alone in a new place, or in the dark. It is a win/win situation.
6. Stress Management
Walking is a great way to relieve stress because it boosts endorphins, which reduces stress hormones. I know my mom always goes for a walk or run if she is stressed out. Walking makes dogs and humans happy, and takes away a lot of the worries we might have at the moment.
7. Contentment
A nice workout of any kind results in contentment. Your body and brain feel good from having exercised. Your dog will be mentally and physically at ease, and less wild in the house. All the sniffing and environmental stimulants on a walk will help tire out a pup. Remember, a tired dog, is a well behaved, good dog!
Those are my 7 reasons to walk a dog, the chosen reasons from the millions I have. Do you walk your dog, or do you have any good reasons to add to my list? Get out and walk your dog every day, but especially during National Walk Your Dog Week. We’ll have a couple more posts on walking in the dark, and our favorite walking accessories coming up this week for you.
Those are all wonderful reasons and I hope you all enjoy lots of happy walks!!!
I don’t think any walk can be bad. We all love our walks.
All excellent reasons to head for a walk with your best friend(s)
Thank you. I think they are my seven best ones.
Torrey and I are big fans of dog walking. Roxy likes to go along for the ride.
Nothing wrong with being older and so small. Getting a ride she still gets all the sites.
Hi Emma. This is Lilly. Thanks for this post. Mom has been too sad to walk with me. She says it makes her heart miss my brother even more. She says putting on one leash is just so sad. We did walk this weekend though, two times! I hope reading this post will remind her how much she loves walking and so do I. Great post! your friend Lilly
It is very hard to go from more than one to just one dog. Your mom will feel like something is missing. Mom likes to take us places we went with Katie, or her dog we didn’t know before Katie. Along the walk she tells us all kinds of stories about the dog who is no longer with us. Sometimes she cries, but she says she loves to remember the good times and tell us all about it. Huge hugs to you, as we know how hard it is to lose a fur sibling.
I need to show these to Dakota who is NOT a fan of walks π
What? Is there such a dog? None of us can imagine not wanting to go for a walk! Dakota – off the couch, and hit the pavement buddy!
We will be walking this week for the health of it. BOL!
We always walk because we love it and everything else just happens as a natural benefit π Gotta keep my figure you know, wink, wink.
What a great list! We were out walking in the rain this morning, and I have really grown to appreciate being out in all weather, instead of just being fair weather walkers (even though sunny days would be my first choice). Luke sure doesn’t care what the weather is doing, he’s just happy to be out!
With a schedule that can sometimes be all over the place with my different jobs, I love that every morning we can at least start the day with a nice walk. That routine is definitely an important factor.
It becomes a real habit. Mom would be crabby if we didn’t walk first thing in the morning. Glad you are getting out too. Rain is alright if you are prepared, but my mom prefers nice weather, or snow. Happy trails!
Those are some great reasons to go on walks, Emma!
Thanks for the reminder!
xoxo,
Rosy, Jakey & Arty
FABULOUS list! We need to get our parents behind these. They are lazy we think, and they do not like squirrels! what is wrong with them??? your friends, Chablis and Elbe
My mom must love squirrels because she almost always finds them before we do!
My guys walk to potty. It is really the only times Sampson gets outside. Great reasons to get those feet moving!
We walk to go potty, and because it is fun. We know you guys used to walk more, but as we pups age, things can change.
Those are such great reasons!!