The first week of October is National Walk Your Dog Week. In honor of that, the theme for our Positive Pet Training blog hop this month is exercise and training. In this post, we are going to focus on the benefits of walking your dog(s)!
In the past, Walk Your Dog Week was something I often used to motivate me to get out and walk. With four dogs in the house, we were not daily walkers; it was easier for me to play with all the dogs at once in the yard. We still went for walks on occasion, but it was never a daily habit. Now that we are a one dog household, we walk almost every day, and I’m very happy about that. I am seeing so many benefits from my walks with Luke. I am sure there are more than 10 good reasons for walking your dog, but here are our top 10!
#10 Most dogs love to walk. There are certainly exceptions to this, but most dogs enjoy getting outdoors and getting a good chance to sniff around and stretch their legs.
#9 Almost all dogs and humans can do it. Even handicapped and elderly dogs can enjoy a walk with a stroller, wagon, or wheelchair.
#8 It can be as long or short as you want/need. Walking doesn’t burn as many calories as running, but you can make it longer if that’s your goal. If you have physical limitations, you can keep it shorter. Our walks vary in time depending on what I need to do that day. Even a 10-15 minute walk is better than nothing in my book.
#7 Fresh air and enjoyment of the outdoors. We are strong believers around here in getting outdoors and enjoying our beautiful earth. One of the things I hate most about winter is being stuck inside in stale air more. As long as it’s not pouring rain or a blizzard, we get out there!
#6 Walking stimulates your dog’s senses – smell especially. Also, since it is both physical and mental for them, they are more well behaved. When dogs get the exercise they need, they are more relaxed and less apt to be looking for things to get into. While Luke still looks for attention and play time in the evening, he hangs out quietly when I’m working at home.
#5 You can combine it with training. We use walks to practice many of Luke’s cues, such as “watch me”, “this way”, and “let’s go”. I always have a bag of treats in my pocket and Luke enjoys stopping to get them.
#4 There are so many health benefits! Walking benefits their heart and can lower blood pressure just like it does for humans. It helps to keep their weight down. You might notice in our photos how lean Luke is, and trust me, he eats A LOT! While he does chase the ball a bit, along with squirrels and chipmunks in the yard, walking is really his biggest form of exercise. When we walk in our woods, he also gets to scramble or jump over logs and stone walls, so he gets a little cross-training in there as well!
#3 It’s good for you as well. While I do credit working around the farm some too, I think these daily walks are one of the biggest reasons I’ve kept my weight down lately, and I feel better, mentally and physically, overall. There is nothing like a good walk to clear your head. Our morning walks help me to plan my day as well and get it off to a good start.
#2 It helps bond you and your dog. Our daily walks, along with trick and other training that Luke and I do together really makes us closer. He’s by my side all the time, always interested in what we might do next! He gets so excited when he knows it’s time for a walk, and he gives me kisses and then sits patiently to have his harness and bug spray put on. He has worked hard to learn how to please me and make things easier to head out.
#1. Walking is low impact exercise that’s good for their joints. There is a reason I made this my #1. When I first started planning this blog post, something came to me that I hadn’t even realized lately. I can’t remember the last time I saw one of Luke’s knees pop out because of his luxating patellas. I’m pretty sure it’s been months. And while summer is usually better for that, we don’t restrict his running like we probably should. If he wants to chase a squirrel, I let him. While I do try to let him out of the house via the patio door instead of the deck where there are stairs he completely leaps over when he’s excited, I think our daily walks are the biggest factor in this. We are keeping his joints loose and lubricated every day, and strengthening the muscles around his knees as well when we climb hills. I was really thrilled when I realized this (and hope I didn’t jinx it). I also think the CBD oil could be helping, but I really believe the daily walks are the biggest factor here.
Bonus point! Our daily walks in the woods on our 17 acres of property gave me an excuse to buy Luke a new harness from ComfortFlex*. Autumn is hunting season in New England, and while we keep our land posted from hunters, they could wander in and miss the sign, or hubby might give permission for friends or neighbors to hunt. I feel more relaxed with Luke in his new blaze orange harness; I always feel it’s better to be safe than sorry. Notice how it coordinates nicely with his orange Nifti SafeLatch leash*!
Autumn is our favorite time of year to walk. Even the Dadz has been taking Luke for walks lately on days he has off and I have to go to work. While I miss those walks on those days, I think it’s great for my hubby to get to enjoy the benefits of walking as well.
Do you walk your dog daily? What is your #1 reason for doing so?
We are pleased to be co-hosting the Positive Pet Training blog hop with Tenacious Little Terrier and Travels with Barley. Pet bloggers, please join us in this hop by posting your positive pet training stories. The hop remains open through Sunday. Our theme this month is “Exercise and Training”, however, you may share any positive pet training story, whether it’s on our theme or not!
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Great post! I agree with each and every point you made. Although I don’t own a dog, I walk my local shelter’s dogs regularly. It gives me the opportunity to bond with them. As you mentioned, I also keep treats with me and I practice commands such as “sit” and “look at me” when we are out on walks. This keeps the dogs interested in both me and the surroundings. I can tell how much the dogs enjoy the walk as they do not get enough chance to outlet their energy, that’s why I love to go there and walk them.
Whether it is a small walk or a long one, it does make a difference! and I would also encourage others to take their dogs out for walks daily.
By the way, I have also started a blog about dogs. Feel free to check it out!
https://theruffstuff36291169.wordpress.com/
Walking shelter dogs is such a wonderful thing to do!! It can really help prepare them for a good home, and yes, they definitely need that outlet for their energy.
I will try to stop by and visit your blog – it’s so exciting to be starting a new one!
This is very inspiring, but I’m kind of scared to walk my maxie outside because he really loves to wander around a lot and i’m afraid he might get lost, but i’ll try it with a complete equipment and accessories.
We are happy to inspire! The right equipment can make all the difference in the world, and as long as you keep Maxie secure with you, you will probably both really enjoy it! We really feel like harnesses give extra security and are better for dogs, as opposed to hooking a leash to their collars.
We do! It stops Mr. N from going crazy and it stops him from driving me crazy. He enjoys it so much that unless the weather is truly horrid, we go for a decent chunk of time.
That is so great! It really does benefit everyone in the household! 🙂
I’ve gotten to a place where I can walk all 4 dogs at once, but it isn’t optimal. Now, our old doggie needs a stroller for half the walk, but that way he doesn’t get left at home! It’s harder to walk 3 dogs plus the stroller, but I’m still trying! I need a human walking buddy, really. Love your post!
You are amazing! I could never even manage to take all four of my dogs anywhere….one time I did and almost lost all of them! I had to slog down through a muddy farm field to get our beagle back. LOL
I can definitely see where some help would come in handy for you!
I love all your reasons. But I really love your pictures–especially the top one. I can see why you love your country home. What a beautiful place to walk.
Thank you!! We really do love it here, and we are constantly making new trails to keep it interesting too. With all the wildlife that goes through, Luke has plenty to smell (and I know when the wild turkeys are around, because his nose knows it first!).
Those are great reasons. I need to get out and walk more.
I’m sure you get a lot of walking in when you are hunting and testing though!
Great reasons for getting out and walking. We first started walking to help get the dogs weight down. Then we walked twice per day because Sampson needed to rehab from his surgery. My current top reason for walking is to get them out of the yard to potty. While there is still occasion when Delilah poops in the yard, the majority of poops take place off property, and are promptly picked up. 🙂
That does make life easier! I started walking more with Kobi, because he wouldn’t do anything else to get exercise, and as he got older I knew he needed it. We were all so much more active when we were younger! 🙂
We have yet another benefit. The Runner and I walk the dogs together so we have time to talk too!!!
Great post!
That is so great! My hubby and I used to walk more together too, but now it’s a rare occasion when I can get him to go with us. He’d rather be doing projects around the farm, like cutting wood!
Sometimes, I think I need a dog to give me an incentive to exercise [among other reasons of course] … but then I see the dog people in the rain and snow and I’m thankful for my cats 🙂 I’m just too lazy.
I love how honest you are about it! Maybe that’s one of the things that makes us either cat people or dog people, how much exercise we want to get! 🙂
Great post. I miss walking a dog, except when it is raining.
Thank you! I do really have to force myself when it’s raining, and we’ve been dealing with a lot of that lately!! Finally today the sun was shining, but it was darn chilly out!
We love walking the boys but it has been too hot for Bentley (and us) to get out for very long. Hopefully, the cooler temps will get here soon and we can go longer distances.
We would be happy to send our cooler temps to you! While we are happy it’s cooler, it’s been TOO cool, and cloudy…rainy….so not the beautiful autumn weather we enjoy for walking. We might actually see the sun today, and hope it gets better for you soon too.
Those are all good reasons and Luke looks terrific in his new harness!
Thank you! I think the orange really pops on his black and white fur. 🙂
Sam and Elsa could have been on the select committee to designate this ‘howliday’ week as something special to celebrate. And truth is, I love walking with them as much as they love walking. 😇
It makes it so enjoyable when you know you are making them happy too. ♥
I absolutely love walking with my dog. It feels good. The fresh air in the morning refreshes my mind and it also creates a positive impact on the mood of my dog. You have explained so many reasons that I never thought about. So informative!
Thank you, Lucy! We’re so glad to hear you enjoy walks with your dogs too – it really starts the day out right, doesn’t it?
When I still lived on Long Island, I used to take Kissy for a walk every morning and evening during the work week, and more on weekends. When we moved down here, it was no longer safe to walk anywhere other than the back yard and the ball field across the road. Twenty-five years later, it’s sometimes difficult to even cross the road. And the ball field is so covered in dog poop that I refuse to even try any more. The church has a poop-bag dispenser and garbage can at the gate – as well as a sign asking people to clean up – but people ignore it. I got tired of being the only one who cleans up after her dogs. So, now the treadmill has become indispensable. (Which reminds me, its time to put the lube oil under the tread.)
Anyway, it’s a beautiful day out here so far, so the girls and I can play as much as we want to. I might even set up the cavalettis, weave poles, and tunnel in a little while. The squirrels haven’t been visiting much lately, so Ducky’s been missing her favorite game.
You get your dogs out for lots of fresh air, and that is great. The treadmill is awesome, I wish we had one so I could stay in on those cold/snowy days! Having a yard like you do is perfect. When Cricket was still with us, being out in the yard was still our favorite thing. What’s important is what works for you and your particular dogs – getting out in the fresh air and moving. You don’t have a good place to walk, so you’ve adjusted to that; and do great with what you have to work with!
Your points are great and we agree that taking walks with your dog is wonderful….I need to show Dakota these tips who is NOT a fan of taking walks (usually)…but…he does do better when I take him. I am lucky to get 15 to 30 minutes out of him though.
15 – 30 minutes is great, Caren! It really only has to be what you and Dakota want it to be; whatever makes you both happy. ♥
Walking is such a big part of our daily life, too! Rye’s walks have been cut back a bit because she’s been having some issues and we’re trying to focus on quality rather than quantity–but Barley and I go crazy if we don’t get in our 3+ miles every day! It’s so clear how much Luke has benefited from his walks, too.
You have always been an inspiration to us, with all your walking! I’m sorry that you’ve had to cut back Rye’s walks, because I know how much you enjoy them. That’s when it’s good to have multiple dogs – if one can’t walk, you still have a partner. I can’t imagine how lost I’d be if Luke couldn’t walk with me.
Thanks for the reminder! We forgot this walk your dog week! It will have to wait until Wednesday, but I’ll try to post something too. For now, I shared our post about training your dog to compete in herding. I think it fits with your blog hop theme. 🙂
It definitely fits, and thank you for joining in!! Your post is great, and very interesting to us here on the farm! 🙂
Walking is the way we start our day 365 days a year. We all look forward to walking, it makes for a good day. Even when time is tight, we all get in at least a 20 minute walk. Happy trails!
You have always been the ones to inspire me and really help me to get out there, no matter the weather. Thank you!