Recently I wrote an article describing the 2 ways your dog benefits from daily walks that you might not expect. But now I want to talk about the ways in which your dog benefits from walks that you probably know about.
We all know our pets need to be walked daily but many of us just don’t make the time. In fact, according to a study done by Purdue University, an average of around only 40 percent of dog owners report walking their dog regularly.
Studies also indicate that how often a person walks their dog often coincides with how they feel about their dog. People who reported strong attachments to their dogs often walked their dogs more than those who didn’t feel as strongly about their dog. In essences, more than half of those those who reported they felt strongly about their dog said they were rewarding their bond with walking.
In a territory in Australia, dog walking is taken so seriously that earlier this year the Animal Welfare Legislation Amendment Bill was enacted that would allow dog owners to be fined up to $2,700 if they failed to walk their pets at least once a day!
So what makes walking your dog so important that a territory would fine people for not doing so? Like I said before, walking your dog can decrease behavioral issues, it can make your dog’s mind healthier and happier, and it strengthen the bond between you and your pup, but physically, walking your dog regularly has major health benefits
Walking helps manage weight
Overweight dogs, just like humans, are at an increased risk for a multitude of health issues including heart trouble and high blood pressure. Studies have shown that a simple 30 minute walk several times a week can help both you and your dog lose weight and maintain a healthy weight.
According to The Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, 56 percent of dogs in the United States are obese. This is an issue. Unlike people, who can choose when to say no to food and know better when we indulge in bad habits, dogs rely on us to keep them healthy; they don’t know better. It’s up to us to do our best to keep them healthy, and that includes taking them on regular walks.
Keeping your dog’s weight in check also helps to lessen the chance of your dog obtaining a lot of other issues from arising from pet obesity such as arthritis, heart and breathing conditions, fatty tumors, injuries, and more.
According to statistics, obesity can take up to two years off your dog’s life. Walk him today and add years to his life!
Walking prevents injuries and increases joint flexibility
I was surprised to learn that Caesar, who I admittedly walk far more than Jeter, actually had far more joint flexibility than Jeter, who for the most part runs around the yard and comes in for a nap. Upon a visit to the vet, I learned that Jeter was actually in need of joint supplements despite being younger, while Caesar experienced no joint pain or stiffness at all.
I thought that will all of Caesar’s physical activity that he would have a higher chance of injuries and joint issues, but actually, all of his physical activity is keeping him “well-oiled.” It turns out that dogs are a lot more like us than I thought. Just like people, the better shape a dog is in, the less likely they are to be injured while doing a physical activity. In fact, dogs who are well exercised experience less injuries than dogs who rarely exercise, and they have increased joint health. It’s just common sense.
Dogs and people are a lot a like, except as people, we know better. People have no one to blame but themselves when their health starts to fail for reasons that are within their control. We know we should eat better. We know we should exercise more. Our dogs don’t. They only have us to guide them and make good decisions for them.
Walking your dog regularly sets them up to have a better, healthier, longer, more fulfilling life. Dogs who walk regularly are simply healthier than dogs who do not, and interestingly enough, according to a study conducted by Michigan University, humans who walk their dogs often exercise more than those who do not walk dogs.
But that is an article for another time! Until then, get out there and get walking with your best friend!