You probably already know just how much your dog wants to go out on a walk. Just by showing them the leash, they start running and jumping all over the place out of excitement. Even just mentioning the word “outside” will get them excited. So, it is clear that your little friend does love going out for walks, but is it really that needed and healthy for them? This kind of question always comes up, especially now during the pandemic when going outside is a bit of a risk.
However, pandemic or not, providing your dog with a bit of exercise every single day is essential if you want it to stay healthy throughout its lifetime. We understand that getting up early in the morning or after coming back from a stressful day at work just to get your pet out can be frustrating, but they really need that bit of activity throughout the day. To help you understand why it is so important to go out on a walk multiple times a day, here are the benefits both you and the dog can experience.
Great exercise for yourself and your dog
The number one reason why you should consider going out for a morning stroll every morning with your little furry friend is the health benefits both of you will get. Exercising is one of the most important factors that contribute to your body’s health and your dog’s health too. Believe it or not, but a short 15-minute stroll can actually be a huge contributor to your daily calorie burn, especially if you spend most of your day stuck on a desk.
Many studies have shown that having the habit of going out on a stroll can actually increase your lifespan. The same thing can also be said for the lifespan of your pet. Assuming that you do want your furry friend to live as long as possible, you should definitely incorporate more walks throughout the week.
Improved relationship
One of the best ways of creating a unique relationship between you and your dog is through intimate activities such as training, playing and walks. However, as your puppy gets older and bored with toys, your only option of bonding time is through those strolls throughout the day. To keep that bond between you two as strong as the day you met, you need to take him/her out as much as you can. You will both form a lot of respect for each other.
Healthy bladder
Assuming that you have taught your pup that they should do all of their dirty deeds outside then you can’t keep them inside any longer than you should unless you have a backyard. You must take them outside so they can do their business. Irregular urination can actually lead to a weakened bladder when they become older which can be a serious problem. In other words, a weakened bladder means that your furry friend will not be able to hold their urge for longer periods of time and will pee everywhere. If the situation gets worse, they might even pee without even noticing.
To keep your home free from pee in the future, we recommend regular strolls throughout the day.
Socializing
Dogs are one of the most curious animals on the planet and they love to meet other animals too. Going frequently outside means that you will have a lot of chances to introduce your furry friend to many other pets. Socializing is very important for canines. It helps them develop their character and become friendlier with both humans and animals. You probably do not want your pet chasing every single animal it sees outside, right? Keep in mind that frequent walks and socialization with other pets may lead to fleas. To prevent that from happening, you should get them the right flea collar. To help you find the right one, here you can read more reviews about collars.
Exploration
We already mentioned that canines are very curious which means they are always up for an adventure. Exploring the unknown, marking their territory and sniffing everything in their way. This is simply their nature and you shouldn’t be the one to take that away from them. Sure, you might have a huge backyard, but that is still not enough for a puppy. The backyard is already a familiar territory which means they do not find it as exciting.
Calmer behavior at home
It is simple. A tired pup is a happy pup. If you have started noticing hyperactivity and other strange behavior from your dog, it might just because they are not getting enough exercise throughout the day. These animals might seem small compared to our size, but they are full of tons of energy and that energy has to be spent somehow. If it doesn’t, it can turn into whining, barking, biting and other behaviors that you do not want to experience at home. And if you want to get more about this topic, please visit this website.
How long should the walks last?
Now that you understand the importance of going out on a stroll every single day, you are probably wondering how much is enough for yourself and your pet. Well, there is no straight answer to this question. The requirement for such an activity is influenced by a lot of different factors. It depends on the size of your dog, its breed and your overall health too.
If you are physically unable to spend so much time exercising, you should probably keep the strolls anywhere between 5 and 10 minutes. It is enough to keep your furry friend happy. Although, bigger breeds will probably require at least 30 minutes of walking or 10 minutes of running.
Be consistent
Staying consistent with this kind of activity can be a difficult task, especially when you do not have a lot of time throughout the day. Sometimes you will oversleep, other times you will come much later from work.
To stay consistent, you could download a calendar-like application which will track all of your programs.
