Ah, this is easy: you should take your dog for a walk as long as necessary to defecate, urinate and get enough exercise. Everyone knows that dogs of all ages need proper exercise, but it is often difficult to define this in concrete terms. Determining the suitable level of exercise requires careful consideration of a variety of factors, including the size, bride, breed and health status of your dog.
The Benefits of Frequent Dog Walks:
Dog Walking can provide your dog with a slew of health benefits (many of which, you will surely enjoy as well – let’s not forget that few humans get enough exercise themselves). The most important ones that You need to include:
Exercise: moving and challenging your puppy’s muscles helps keep him fit and healthy.
Weight control: the walks help your dog burn excess calories, which can help you stay fit. Obesity is a common problem among dogs, which can lead to a number of serious diseases, such as diabetes and joint disorders.
Reduction of naughty behaviors: the walks help to tire your dog and burn excess energy, which will generally reduce the prevalence of undesirable behaviors. As they say, “A tired dog is a good dog.” The number one solution to most dog behavior problems is simply to have your dog exercise more!
Bonding time: the walks give you the opportunity to hang out with your dog and strengthen your bond. This is good for both you and your puppy!
Why Your Dog Needs to Be Walked!
Mental stimulation: when you leave the house and let your dog smell the roses (or anything else you want to smell), it provides you with mental stimulation. This is important for the well-being and quality of life of your dog. Dogs can’t stand being locked inside all day: they want to explore the outdoors!
Behavioral reinforcement: You can use walks as part of your typical training job, teaching your dog to step on and walk politely on a leash. This is not only useful for training your dog to behave well and be obedient, but it is another form of mental stimulation.
Socialization: You are likely to encounter many other people and dogs while walking, and this can provide your puppy with beneficial socialization opportunities. Dogs that are not properly trained are more prone to anxiety, stress and behavioral problems that can end up being dangerous if left unchecked. Well, socialized dogs are happy dogs. Just be sure to keep your dog on a leash and use common sense when introducing him to new people and puppies.
Guidelines for walking adult dogs: hitting long, dusty trails
How much exercise does the average dog need every day?
The professional dog walkers give specific recommendations regarding exercise limits or guidelines, but those that do often recommend that healthy adult dogs do between 30 and 120 minutes of exercise per day.
Obviously, walking should be a component of this, but you will also have to provide time for more intense exercises.
Ways to provide your dog with high-intensity dog exercise include:
Chasing a ball
Frisbee
Jogging
Running with other dogs in the dog park
Some people have the inclination or time to walk with your dog for an hour or more each day, so you will need to determine how much exercise your dog needs and deduct the amount of time that allows him to exercise high octane. Determine the time you need to walk with him.
Your dog’s exercise needs vary by breed.
You will have to take into account your dog’s breed, among other things to determine this figure. For example, high-energy breeds (Australian cattle dogs, border collies, labrador retriever, and others) will need approximately 2 hours of activity a day, and they will want most of this to take the form of vigorous exercise.
So, if you let your cattle dog play for about an hour in the dog park every day, you should take it on two or three walks of 20 to 30 minutes a day so that it has enough activity. In contrast, basset hounds, bulldogs, and other low-energy breeds probably only need approximately 30 minutes of activity per day. For these dogs, a couple of 15-minute walks and a brief game of etiquette with your humans are probably enough.
Look at your dog’s behavior as an indicator of how much exercise your dog needs. If you are restless and in rhythm, you may need more exercise. Dogs that seem happy resting on the couch are probably good with some walks in the neighborhood and won’t need much more.
Keep in mind that while most dogs love a good jog or search game, particularly flat nose breeds should not be pressed hard, as they have respiratory problems that can become dangerous with high levels of intense exercise.
