Walking your dog becomes part of your daily routine once you’ve adopted your furry friend into your family. Dogs have a lot of energy and need a way to get it out. There’s nothing worse than keeping a dog inside and seeing it cry from boredom. The look in your pup’s eyes when they see you pull out the leash and say ‘walkies’ is enough to make any heart melt.
Becoming a dog owner, you somehow know you need to take your pet out for a walk, but did you know why? Of course, it’s a good way to get all their built-up energy out, but there’s actually a lot of health benefits associated with your daily walk. To top it off, not only does it build up your pup’s health, but it can also have a positive effect on yours.
Below are some of the health benefits for you and your dog when you go for your daily (or twice daily) walk.
Walking Benefits for Your Dog
There are many health benefits for your dog when you take them on their much-loved walks. Like humans, they can’t be cooped up for too long and need to get some exercise in order to keep themselves healthy.
If your dog eats all day and never walks, they risk obesity, leading to many other medical issues such as osteoarthritis, cardiovascular disease, liver disease, and liver resistance. Keeping up with regular walks will help burn excess calories from overeating and prevent obesity.
Joint health is very important in dogs and gets worse as they get older. However, keeping them active and regularly exercising their joints prevents any issues in the future. If your dog is sedentary for too long, they will also get stiff, so walking will keep them in motion and improve their function. Our Buddy Bed is also a great way to help remove stress from key pressure points!
Believe it or not, walking can also actually contribute to digestive and urinary health in dogs. Since a lot of dogs are trained not to ‘go’ in the house, they may keep it in if they don’t get out for a walk. This can lead to constipation and bladder infections from keeping urine in the bladder for too long. Even if it’s not a long walk, make sure you regularly take your dog out so they can do their business.
Walking also isn’t all about physical benefits in dogs; it can also increase their mental health. Daily walks won’t just exercise their bodies, but also their mind. Your dog will get enough mental stimulation which stops them from getting bored and becoming destructive inside the house. Not to mention, the extra time you both spend together walking will also strengthen your bond, which makes anyone happier.
Walking Benefits for You
Taking your dog out for a walk may sometimes feel like a chore when you’re tired and not up for it, but it’s not always just for them. You can benefit a lot from going on daily walks too. Although it’s not a complete workout, getting in those extra steps each day will help you keep any excess weight off and help you lead a healthier lifestyle.
Here are some other health benefits us humans get from walking:
- Improved cardiovascular fitness
- Lower blood pressure
- Stronger muscles and bones
- Decreased stress
So, next time you aren’t in the mood to take your dog out for a walk, think about how it can benefit you too.
How Often You Should Walk Your Dog
You now know the health benefits you and your dog get out of walking, but how often is enough for these benefits to come into effect? There isn’t just one answer as it depends on the age and breed of your dog.
Higher-energy dog breeds will require more frequent walks and gain more from it as well. These types of breeds include terriers, border collies, and labradors/golden retrievers. On the other hand, if you have a less-active breed, they will be fine with just one or two walks a day. These types of breeds include great danes, mastiffs, greyhounds, and bulldogs. However, bear in mind that younger dogs of any breed will need more activity in general.
If you’re still unsure, in general, most dogs will benefit from 30 minutes to two hours of physical activity per day. You can get this all done in one walk or break it up. However, dogs tend to like longer walks because it gives them more time to explore and stimulate their minds.
The Perfect Tool for Walking Your Dog
Walking without a leash can be great if your dog is well trained, and you’re sure they aren’t going to run off and get lost. However, a leash is a tool that many pet parents are all too familiar with and find extremely helpful. The only thing you need to do is find the right leash that will meet all your dog-walking needs. The ZigZag leash can be that one for you.
The ZigZag leash is durable and built for any sized dog. It comes with a shock-absorbing spring that will take in most of your dogs’ energetic pulls, putting less strain on you and making the whole experience a literal walk in the park. You’ll hardly know that your dog is trying to pull away and tug at the leash, and it won’t harm them in any way either.
A powerful mountaineering buckle on the leash can be locked and is strong enough to ensure you never lose control, and no dog breaks away from the leash. To top it off, this leash is modern and sleek and will make your dog the most stylish one in town.
If you want to learn more about the ZigZag leash, you can click here. You can ensure you’re getting all your health benefits from the walk without any added stress or strain.