Why do dogs need daily walks?

All dogs, no matter what their energy level is, need daily exercise.Walks help to keep their weight in check as well as keep those muscles in shape and joints moving. Dogs have an instinctive need to move forward. In the wild, undomesticated canines never stayed in one place, under a tree, all day. Canine family members are not meant to lay on the couch, all day. Get them moving…get that heart pumping!

A brisk walk helps stimulate all the senses — sight, sound, smell, touch and allows the canine to investigate beyond the borders of their home and yard. Although it’s important to allow them to stop and smell the roses, the object is to walk. Allow for a brief sniff session to check their ‘pee-mail’, then move on.

Walking also prohibits destructive behavior. A tired dog, naps. Dogs that receive their owner’s attention when walking usually don’t feel the need to start tearing up a rug or digging in the trash after a long walk. Those type of destructive behaviors are most likely the result of boredom.

If your dog is difficult to walk or unruly, you might want to hire a dog walker or trainer to get things started. Dogs should not pull you on the walk or be aggressive to passers-by.

Experts agree that the proper length of leash should be no more than 6′. The retractable leashes are not meant for dog walks; they should only be used when in a park setting.

So grab your pup’s leash and get walking!

Waggs & Purrs Pet Sitting offers a 20-minute dog walk for those latch-key pups whose people are hard at work for long hours. If you are interested in this service, please contact me to set up a ‘Meet & Sniff’ to work out the details.