Dog walking every day keeps the doctor away!
Having a dog to accompany you on your daily exercise is one of the most rewarding elements of being a dog owner and ‘walkies’ are enjoyed just as much by our four legged friends!
But, for some dog owners, the implications of owning a dog and committing to that daily walk for years and years can be overlooked when choosing cute puppies that are small and cuddly. Getting a dog to walk so that the experience is a pleasure can sometimes prove trickier than perhaps first thought.
So, to ensure that your dog has the right approach to walking from being a puppy, we share our top ten tips that we have gleaned over the years to make walks for dogs and humans a positive experience.
Top 10 dog walking tips
- Establish a routine as soon as you can
- Ensure that your dog is always at your side or behind, never in front. This will establish you as the pack leader rather than him
- Use a short lead. This gives you greater control and you can re-enforce verbal commands with commands through his lead
- Make sure you don’t over exercise your puppy. A good rule of thumb is five minutes per month of age until your dog is fully grown. This can be done twice a day for larger dogs or those who need a little more tiring out!
- Remember to never exercise your dog on a full stomach as this can lead to bloat, particularly in larger breeds
- Make it fun for you both! Plan long walks with your dog and include lunch stops or overnight stays at Dogfriendly places – it’s great to explore hidden corners of the UK on foot or paw!
- It’s a great way to get your 30 minutes+ of exercise each day
- Remember that you should be walking your dog not the other way round!
- Above all enjoy the time with your dog and enjoy getting fit, and staying fit, together!
- And, if all else fails there are dog trainers and behaviourists that can work miracles with the most problematic pooches!
