Reasons to Walk Your Dog Daily
Most dog owners don’t need to be told twice to go walk their dogs. For many, it’s a matter of finding the time to go. However, squeezing in a daily walk or two with your furry friend is extremely beneficial for their health and yours. Check out all of the benefits of walking your dog daily, and once you’re done reading, grab your leash and bring your pup out for a stroll!
Physical Health
This one’s pretty obvious, but walking your dog gives them some great physical exercise that they may not otherwise get! Walking can help them your dog maintain a healthy weight, which, in turn, can reduce the risk of your dog developing hypertension, liver disease, or diabetes. Walking also keeps your dog’s joints spry and healthy, even in old age. Your dog’s physical health is extremely important, and walking can help your dog stay healthy for years to come!
Mental Health
Aside from physical health, mental health is also improved and maintained with daily walks. Exercise is known to improve mood and energy levels. Squeezing in some time to walk around the neighborhood could work wonders on your dog’s mood, especially if they’ve been cooped up in the house all day! Freedom to sniff around and explore their surrounding area keeps your dog’s mind sharp and creates new neural pathways that your dog needs to stay mentally healthy.
Socialization
Another important reason for you to get your dog out of the house and take them for a walk is to socialize them. Encountering different people, dogs, and situations helps your dog learn. Most socialization will happen when your dog is just a little pup, but you should try to keep up on their skills by taking them on walks. You can also try out new walking routes and off-leash dog parks near you to boost your dog’s socialization even more! This will help your dog learn how to behave around people and other animals, which will make them an even better family member for you.
Confidence Boost
As it turns out, walking your dog can give them a huge confidence boost – and we’re not just talking about their physical appearance! Building a daily walking routine gives your dog a sense of stability and structure in their life. Some predictability in their day can do a lot to improve your dog’s confidence, especially if they tend to be shy or fearful in general. Your dog will learn to look forward to your walks and time spent with you!
Bonding Time
That leads us into our final reason for walking your dog daily: bonding time! You’ll be shocked at the difference some exercise can make in strengthening your relationship with your dog. They’ll associate the fun exercise time with you and will gravitate toward you to boost their mood. Any time spent with your dog is time spent learning to understand each other and work as a team. Walking is one of the best ways to accomplish this in a short period of time!
Walking has many benefits, including improving your dog’s physical, mental, and relational health. However, all of the same benefits apply to you, too! Take control over you and your dog’s wellbeing and start walking daily.