Pawsitive Effects: How Walking Your Dog Benefits Both of You

As pet parents, we love making our pups happy, right? When we see their faces lit up, eyes bright with joy, wide smiles, and tongue lolling along with a tail wagging like a metronome we can’t help but be happy along with them. So naturally, enhancing our dogs' lives and happiness is immensely important to us! 

When you spend time walking your dog, you enhance your dog's life (and yours!) in so many ways, because there are so many physical and mental benefits that come along with it. 

How your Dog Benefits from the Walk

Physical Benefits

The physical benefits of routine walking cannot be understated. With this simple, low-impact way to get the body moving, you can actually extend your dog's lifespan by lowering their risk of obesity. Regular exercise through walking and keeping the pounds off also improves joint health and decreases the likelihood of developing arthritis! 

• Dogs with obesity have an increased risk for many other problems such as cancer, diabetes, and heart disease. 

Mental Benefits

So, while your furry friend enjoys the bonus of maintaining a healthy weight and toned muscles, let's not forget about the mental perks that come with each step of your walk together. These mental perks are important because, just like us, dogs don’t like being bored and crave variety. Walking exercises the mind as well as the body!

When we take our dogs for walks, we open up a world of new sights, sounds, smells, textures, and even the occasional taste! This smorgasbord of sensory experiences keeps their curious minds engaged and active. Dogs view the world through their nose, which are at least 100,000 times more sensitive than our own. So, as we venture out together, they're not just walking; they're exploring an entirely different universe, one rich with scents and sensations beyond our human perception.

This mental stimulation is important to your dog's overall health as it relieves stress and anxiety which can fight off symptoms of depression and slow cognitive decline. Behavior is also impacted outside of the walk as dogs are more relaxed and destructive behaviors decrease. 

Socialization Opportunities

 

As your dog explores the world on their walk, there is an opportunity to expose them to people, animals, and experiences that they don’t see at home. Depending on where you take your walks, you may encounter a variety of things from children playing, wildlife, the sights and sounds of traffic, and much more. Especially with young dogs, it can be so important to have these interactions to improve our dog’s social skills and reduce fear and reactivity.

• If your dog struggles with reactivity or fear already, it is important to know their limits, work with a trainer, and work on their struggles. This doesn’t mean they can’t enjoy walks, just that accommodations need to be made.

Bonding

Spending quality one-on-one time with your pup deepens your relationship and strengthen the unique canine-human bond. In our busy world, going for a walk is a time to get away and just be with your dog. Watch what catches their attention, how their body moves, and what it's telling you. With a deeper connection with your dog, training becomes easier and you'll notice medical issues sooner. 

Benefits for You

It should be no surprise that when we accompany our furry friend for a stroll around the neighborhood or hike through scenic trails, dog walking offers numerous benefits for owners. After all, many studies have shown the individual benefits of exercise, being outdoors, and being around dogs. And here we are doing all three at the same time! The physical and mental benefits we experience go hand in hand as well. 

Walking for 30 minutes a day has been shown to:

• Increase heart and lung health

• Reduced risk of heart disease and stroke

• Stronger bones and improved balance

• Increased muscle strength and endurance

• Reduced body fat

• As well as reduce the risk of or improve management of conditions such as hypertension (high blood pressure), high cholesterol, joint and muscular pain or stiffness, and diabetes.

 The simple act of being outdoors, breathing in fresh air, and enjoying the company of your canine companion can work wonders for your mood and overall well-being. 

Exposure to the natural environment has been shown to:

• reduced blood pressure

• Boost immune function

• lower levels of depression, anxiety & stress

• Improved cognitive function (improved attention, executive function, and perceived restorativeness)

Moreover, walking your dog provides an opportunity to unplug from the stresses of daily life, offering a much-needed break from screens and technology. This is an opportunity to clear your mind, breathe fresh air, and refresh your spirit. So, the next time you leash up your pup for a walk, remember that you're not just doing it for them—you're also taking important steps toward improving your own physical and mental health.

Conclusion

In essence, as pet parents, our greatest joy lies in seeing our beloved pups happy and thriving. Their infectious excitement, from bright eyes to wagging tails, brings us immeasurable happiness. Therefore, it's our heartfelt duty to prioritize enhancing our dogs' lives and well-being at every opportunity. After all, their joy is our joy, and their happiness is our ultimate goal.