Regardless of the breed of dog you own, one common factor with each type is that they will need to be taken for at least one walk per day. Depending on the age and breed of your dog, the frequency and length of these walks may vary. Newborn puppies will naturally have a lot more energy than older dogs, and so will need a lot more walking and exercise. It is good to keep older dogs active for as long as possible, so even as the pace of your dog slows down it is good to encourage gentle exercise as they get older.
If you don’t have a garden for your dog to use throughout the day, your dog will probably need to be taken out once for a short walk in the morning, a longer walk in the afternoon, and another short walk just before bed. Taking them out frequently will not only be great for their physical and mental exercise – giving them plenty of opportunities to wee and poop will avoid any unwanted accidents in the house.
Before you adopt or buy your dog, it is a good idea to do some research into their breed and how much exercise they need. For example dogs such as Dalmations, Greyhounds and Border Collies will need a lot more exercise and more frequent walks than smaller dogs such as Bulldogs, Shih Tzus and Chow Chows.
While you’re walking your dogs you may wish to consider using this time for training exercises, encourage playing, and interacting with other dogs. There are a lot of exciting things outdoors that can distract your dog. It may seem difficult at first at first to train an extremely excited puppy while it explores its new surroundings, however this training will not only benefit you and your dogs behavior, it will keep your dog mentally stimulated.
Dog walking is best when you are able to take your dog off its lead to run around freely, however this is not always possible for people living in urban areas. It is not advised to walk your dog without a lead anywhere near a road, even if they are well trained. Nowadays however there are many urban parks designed specifically for dog walkers, so do some research of your local area and see if there are any near you. For those walking dogs in rural areas, be sure to check your route in advance to be sure you’re not letting your dog free on private farmland.
The biggest problem facing dog owners are those who do not work from home, or are not able to bring their dog into work with them. Perhaps you work close enough to pop home on your lunch break to walk your dog, or you have family or friends who can help out during the day. If this is not the case there are plenty of organisations who can take dogs out during the day for that much needed afternoon walk. There are many dog walking London professional services who will be able to take your dog out for exercise when you’re not able to.
Finally, taking your dog out for regular walks is not only beneficial physically and mentally for your dog, it’s a great opportunity for you to get some exercise too. This is a wonderful time to bond with your pet, meet other dog walkers in your local area and explore your surrounding in the fresh air.
