• HOME: BLOG
  • About GW
  • Work With Us
  • Press
  • Contact GW
 
  • Dog Treat Recipes
  • All About Golden Retrievers
  • Dog Travel
    • Dog-Friendly Cars
  • SHOP

10 Benefits of Walking Your Dog

January 13, 2021
7 Comments

Walking your dog is not an optional activity; it is a necessity.
Why should you spend time walking your dog? Regular walks provide your dog with physical, emotional, and behavioral opportunities necessary for their overall wellbeing, including much-needed exercise, a bonding experience, an opportunity for training, and a chance for mental stimulation and socialization.

Without offering your dog the opportunity to walk daily, you are also setting them up for failure.

benefits of walking your dog

10 BENEFITS OF WALKING YOUR DOG

1. Walking Is A Way To Bond With Your Dog
A nice long walk together is the perfect chance to bond with your dog. You are giving your dog your undivided attention and reinforcing your bond with them.

2. Taking Your Dog For A Walk Helps With Your Dog’s Socialization
Walking your dog allows them to meet people and other dogs. This experience is great as your dog will learn how to behave and interact with others. Regular socialization also gets your dog used to being around and new faces and even strangers.

3. Walking Your Dog Is A Great Exercise For Both Of You
Exercise is necessary for both you and your dog, and walking together is the ideal opportunity to get that workout in. You will both keep that excess weight off and be able to live a more active lifestyle!

4. Walking Your Dog Enhances Your Dog Obedience Training
Walking your dog is also a good time to rehash training commands that your dog has learned previously. Practicing these commands will reinforce them and make sure that your dog does not start pushing boundaries.

5. Going For A Walk Teaches Your Dog How To Response To External Stimuli
When your dog is outside, they experience new stimuli that they would otherwise not see or hear. Regular exposure to different sights and sounds will help your dog become more confident and less likely to experience fear when put in a new situation.

6. Walking Is A Great Mental Stimulation For Your Dog
During your walks, your dog experiences new information that challenges them to interpret that information using existing mental blueprints.

7. Walking Helps Your Dog Release Excess Energy
Some dog breeds and younger dogs can be a handful. Walking burns off some of that energy and helps your dog focus and sleep better.

8. Walking Keeps Your Dog’s Joint Health
Staying active keeps excess weight off and keeps joints moving regularly, helping prevent arthritis symptoms and stiffness.

9. Walking Is Vital to Your Dog’s Heart Health
A healthy heart requires regular activity and healthy body weight; walking helps you and your dog achieve and maintain these two things.

10. Walking Your Dog Helps Communicating With Your Dog
Walking together helps your dog better understand what you expect from them by replicating commands in new situations.

How “Regular” Should “Regular Walks” Be?

The answer to this question depends on your dog, their health, and their age. For example, senior dogs and dogs in poor health may lack the stamina to keep up with multiple daily walks or long walks. Younger dogs may need shorter but more frequent walks.

How many minutes a day should you walk your dog?

Most healthy adult dogs should be walked one to two times a day for 15 to 30 minutes per walk – longer if desired. Don’t push your dog too far – if you see signs of fatigue; it’s time to call it quits.

Don’t cheat them out of a good healthy walk either! If your dog is happy to keep walking, spend a little more time outside with them!

Should You Let Your Dog Sniff On Walks?

Stop And Smell the Roses
An essential part of walking with your dog is allowing them the time to stop and sniff! Your dog’s sense of smell tells them a lot about their environment and who has been in that environment previously. Allowing them to stop and sniff allows your dog to “take it all in,” to experience new things, and most of all, to enjoy the variation in the different scenery!

Grab your dog’s leash, put on your walking shoes, and take your dog for a walk.

walking tips with your dog

5 Waking Tips With Your Dog

1. Commit To A Time To When Walking Your Dog
To eliminate any excuses, it is important to set a schedule.

2. Choose the RIGHT Collar/Harness and Leash When Walking Your Dog
Your dog’s comfort is essential on your daily walks. Many dogs are accustomed to wearing a regular collar rather than a harness. Large and strong dogs benefit from wearing a harness for better control and it will be easier on your arms and back. To avoid hazards, using a retractable leash on walks is not recommended. Also, a retractable leash makes your dog pull more.

3. Taking Your Dog For A Walk, Be a Responsible Dog Owner
Pick Up Your Dogs Poop: Always bring poop bag(s) and makes sure to pick up your dog’s waste, Scoop That Poop.

Bring Water For Both You and Your Dog: It is important to stay hydrated on your walk especially when you are going for a long walk on a warm day.

Keep Your Dog’s Attention by Bringing A Good High Value Dog Treats: If your dog is easily distracted or reactive on walks, using a high value treats helps to keep his/her attention and focus on you.

4. Bring Creativity Into Your Dog Walking Route
Vary your walking paths. Be adventurous and explore new parks or indoor/outdoor places.

5. When Walking Your Dog Enjoy the Present Moment
Unplug (no music/phone) and enjoy the moment with your dog. Make your walk a special precious moment where you slow down and appreciate what’s around you especially your dog.

These tips are based on our previous Infographic: 5 Walking Tips With Your Dog

Happiness Is A Long Walk With Your Dog

Walk Your DOG!

As your dog ages or as you get busier, it can be tempting to skip walks in favor of naps, relaxing on the couch, or other activities. DON’T! Regular walks are one of the highlights of your dog’s day and an opportunity for you both to step away from the tedious monotony of day to day life.

Happiness Is A Long Walk With Your Dog!

Related Posts:

  • 8 Reasons You Should Give Your Dog Supplements | Front Of The Pack
    8 Reasons You Should Give Your Dog Supplements |…
  • 5 Dog Care Routines to Keep Your Dog Healthy All Year Round
    5 Dog Care Routines to Keep Your Dog Healthy All Year Round
  • 5 Benefits of Bathing Your Dog Featuring Rufus & Coco
    5 Benefits of Bathing Your Dog Featuring Rufus & Coco
  • Why Do Dogs Love To Play Fetch?
    Why Do Dogs Love To Play Fetch?


Filed Under: TIPS
7 Comments

Comments

  1. easyweimaraner says

    January 13, 2021 at 1:53 AM

    we agree… and right now we have our dogs to go out even when we feel not in the mood with all the trouble….. but we go and it helps us to pull through…

    Reply
  2. Priya says

    January 15, 2021 at 6:19 AM

    If it’s cold he refuse to walk what can I do ? Of he sees sun outside he will be happy to walk .

    Reply
  3. Lila says

    January 15, 2021 at 7:17 AM

    Especially during these days of covid we should benefit the time we have we our pets.
    These activities are so important to avoid overweight.

    Reply
  4. Spencer says

    January 15, 2021 at 12:36 PM

    Walks are the best and a must on our daily routine. PAWsome benefits and tips. Woofs to you KB!

    Reply
  5. Edm Groomers says

    January 23, 2021 at 5:04 PM

    Fillup (my Aussie Shepherd) keeps me accountable especially when I don’t think Im feeling lazy or don’t have enough energy to take him out. I end up feeling way too guilty when I try to ignore him asking me to take him. It is by far the best bonding time Fill and I get together – and a great chance to meet others.

    Reply
  6. Elaine says

    February 2, 2021 at 3:44 AM

    I have a cat and a dog, somehow they learn from each other. Now each of them has some of the other’s characteristics and hobbies, such as my dog can jump nearly as well as the cat, or my cat likes walking along with me, which is not the thing she used to do previously.

    Reply
  7. Brandon Pennington says

    February 7, 2021 at 4:29 PM

    Thanks for the tips. Dogs help us to at least get outside and get a little bit of exercise everyday. Something too many people don’t do enough of.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Golden Woofs : Sugar The Golden Retriever BlogWoofs! Golden Hello to our Blog!

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Your Resource for All Things Golden Retrievers

all about Golden Retrievers

SEARCH Golden Woofs

Join our Subscriber List

PRESS/Featured In

PRESS_Featured-In-Golden-Woofs-2021

Books

e-book Available on Amazon Kindle
Sugar's Furry Friend
dog treat book Cooking For SUGAR Available on Amazon.com

Are You Pet Prepared?

Hills Pet Pet-Prepared-Pet-Emergency-Plan

Dog Friendly Car Rides

KB Dog Friendly Car Rides

Golden Meow

cat vs dog - Which pet is best for you

Golden Retriever Resources /Adoption

Morris Animal Foundation

Golden Woofs Archives

Private Policy
Contact GW
HOME

Connect With Us

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Affiliate Diclosure

Golden Woofs sugarthegoldenretriever.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for our site to earn advertising fees and affiliate commissions by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Our site also participates in other affiliate programs and is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies.

Written permission is required to reproduce any images or words in either partial form or its entirety.

Copyright © 2008 - 2016 Golden Woofs : Sugar The Golden Retriever

                   © 2016 - 2021 Golden Woofs: Sugar The Golden Retriever