The Health Benefits Of Walking Your Dog

 

Estimated Read Time: 3 ½ minutes

Summary: In this blog, learn about the benefits of taking your dog for a walk. And, spoiler alert… The health benefits of walking your dog exist not only for your pup, but for you too!

Walking The Dog - Why It's Important

Walking a dog every day, or making sure they’re exercised in some way daily, is an essential part of dog ownership. It benefits their health and long-term wellbeing in numerous ways…

• It helps maintain their weight by burning calories, and thus prevents obesity
• It maintains their agility and keeps them limber for longer
• It promotes muscular strength and flexibility
• It helps them feel less stressed
• It diminishes the likelihood of destructive behaviour
• It improves digestion
• It boosts their urinary health
• It reduces boredom
• It strengthens their bond with you
• It reduces feelings of loneliness
• It betters their sleep quality
• It betters their social skills with other dogs and people
• It provides ample mental stimulation (there are so many things to sniff and explore on a walk!)
• It can boost their confidence
• Dogs are creatures of habit, and a daily walk around the same time and of similar length provides them with a sense of structure and stability

The Health Benefits Of Walking The Dog

A lot of the health benefits your dog can reap from a daily walk, you can reap too. 

With an estimated 63% of adults in the UK classed as being overweight or obese, and 1 in 14 dogs in the UK categorised as being obese or overweight too, we do clearly have an evident weight problem here in Great Britain. Obesity has been proven to have a knock-on effect for other health conditions (like diabetes and heart disease) and risks (like cancer) too. 

The average adult (according to the World Health Organisation) should engage in moderate activity for at least 30 minutes a day to help keep their weight down and to help promote their overall health status. And, walking a dog can help that!

According to VCA Hospitals, in a 2008 study based in Seattle and Baltimore in the USA, adults who regularly walked their dogs were less likely to be obese than other non dog-owning members of their community. 

Walking your dog – in addition to many of the perks your dog gets from walking listed above – can also benefit you by:

• Improving your cardiovascular fitness
• Boosting your mental health and decreasing stress
• Promoting your muscle and bone strength
• Reducing your blood pressure
• Helping improve your sleep quality
• Helping with weight loss and management
• Increasing the opportunity to meet other members of your community

Am I Walking My Dog Too Much?

Different breeds of dog need different lengths and styles of exercise. You can check out how much your dog most likely needs daily by using our handy PetLab Co. infographic below:

If you’re unclear on how much exercise your dog needs, do consult with your veterinarian who will be able to advise. 

The occasional walk that is longer than your dog’s breed technically requires should be absolutely fine as long as you’re not over-exercising them every day.

Before you walk, make sure your dog is properly equipped with a well-fitting harness, collar and lead and that they’re suitably tagged and microchipped - which is a legal requirement in the UK. Make sure to bring poop bags with you on your walk so you can pick up and properly dispose of their mess, and always pack a source of fresh, clean water to offer your dog after their walk. 

If the weather is adverse (too hot, too wet or too cold) for a walk, check out our blog on alternative ways to stimulate and exercise your dog here so they don’t go a day without reaping the amazing benefits of exercise. 

Sources

Author Williams, Krista BSc, DVM, CCRP and Buzhardt, Lynn DVM “The Benefits Of Walking Your Dog” VCA Hospitals https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/the-benefits-of-walking-your-dog

“5 Reasons To Walk Your Dog Everyday” Puppy Leaks, Apr 21. 2022 https://www.puppyleaks.com/walk-your-dog-every-day/

“4 Benefits Of Walking Your Dog” Blue Cross Veterinary Hospital https://bluecrossvethospital.com/4-benefits-walking-dog/

“6 Scientific Benefits Of Dog Walking: Your Dog Will Thank You” Whiskers To Tails Petsitting, Mar 15. 2020 https://whiskerstotailspetsitting.com/2020/03/benefits-dog-walking/

“Dog Walking - The Health Benefits” Better Health Channel https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/dog-walking-the-health-benefits