National Walk Your Dog Week (1st -7th October 2022 )

For most dog owners it might seem strange to dedicate one week a year to highlight the importance of walking their pets - after all it’s a daily occurrence right? However, this international initiative was launched twelve years ago to reinforce the importance of regular exercise in our dogs’ lives.

Dog walks are so much more than the walk itself – they go hand in hand with weight management, socialisation, fun, mental stimulation and much more.

Sniffing and socialising

Being out and about presents a whole world of excitement for our canine friends. They socialise by encountering other people and animals but also by learning about their environment. Different noises, movements and sights all contribute to their experience of being out and about. These things inform our dogs about where they are, how to behave and what to expect.

Our dogs’ powerful sense of smell also lets them communicate, explore and understand their surroundings. Incredibly they can tell if the dog scents they discover are from a male or female, known or unknown and if they are nearby. And dogs sniffing each other is their equivalent of a human handshake! Also, did you know that a dog that sniffs the ground near another dog is simply letting them know that they are not a threat? There’s even a study* that concludes that this sniffing behaviour can also help them to feel more content. Clever stuff – and important to know as it helps us to be more patient when we have to stop at every single lamppost!

Training opportunities

Whilst on a walk you can take advantage of a number of training opportunities. Learning or reinforcing good behaviour will help make future walks more enjoyable and safer - and it all adds to your dog’s mental exercise. Examples include asking your dog to sit before you cross a road, walking to heel, waiting for you on command, lying on command and coming back when you ask. Obviously there are a multitude of other training commands you and your dog can master together with practice and rewards.

Good for body condition

Depending on where you live, a great walk often includes some on-lead and off-lead time. On lead for all the reasons we’ve already covered - but off-lead so they can let off some steam, explore and use up more energy.

Important note: If you have a water-loving dog, watch out for signs of algae at different times of the year, particularly autumn, as it can be toxic and should be avoided. Most nature reserves or parks will display warning signs when algae is present.

If you have the kind of dog that you’d rather not set free in a public place, there are lots of secure paddocks springing up across the UK where you can hire the space, safe in the knowledge that your dog is enclosed but able to take advantage of some off-lead frolics.

The balance of calories in and calories out applies to dogs too so their daily walk is a really important part of their general health. Talk to our Nutritional Advisers if you need some help with your dog’s diet – we have a free weighing service and different nutritional solutions available, depending on your dog’s needs.

Strengthens the owner and dog bond

Being out together regularly is a great way to develop and maintain the bond with your dog. You can learn so much about your dog too. You can see how they respond to different environments and situations and learn to manage any challenges each time. Overall though, the shared experience and peaceful time together is one of the great joys of dog ownership.

General well-being

A good walk is so good for us all – it’s well-documented so we don’t need to spell it out – but getting out and about, varying the geography of our strolls and enjoying the endorphins released is great for you and your pup. For a canine mind, a walk is something stimulating whilst for us humans it can be quite therapeutic in terms of clearing our minds or finding some peaceful time to think or relax. As long as we are in a safe place and breathing in some fresh air, there is little we can fault with a daily dog walk!

Top tips for walking your dog

(why not try these during National Walk Your Dog Week?)

• Introduce additional training – or agility for the more advanced

• Try new routes – switch it up and maybe look for different public footpaths, a nature reserve, canal tow paths or just places in your neighbourhood that you haven’t been before

• Look for safe, off-lead spaces – if you don’t know of any, ask around and see where other people take their dogs

• Meet with friends – for the ultimate in socialising, meet up with both human and doggy friends!

• Ask our Nutritional Advisers for a free weigh in for your dog. Also, as locals, they might have some useful, local dog-walking ideas

Reference

*Duranton, C., and A. Horowitz. Let Me Sniff! Nosework Induces Positive Judgment Bias In Pet Dogs. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, vol 211, 2019, pp. 61-66. 

Author: Sandra Herbert