Walking the dog – is it something you look forward to every day? You should! Your dog loves going for walks and they love spending time with you. It’s a win-win for the pooch of the palace. My dogs absolutely love walks. They get so fired up when they see me put my walking shoes on. If it were up to Milo, my Heinz 57 Alabama Special, he would be walking all day long. Obviously, that is not feasible, but how often should you really walk your dog?
What is the environmental situation like for your dog?
If you have a fenced-in yard that your canine has full access to all the time, they don’t need to be walked as often as a dog cooped up in an apartment building because they have all day to run around and get their exercise. Walks for these lucky dogs are always welcome to keep up on leash manners and socialization. However, if you do not have a yard, your dog should be walked at least twice a day. And not just to go to the bathroom and back in. Take a stroll for 10 minutes or so. It’s good for both of you.
How old is your dog?
Age is important when it comes to taking walks and potty breaks. Puppies need a schedule and need to be walked frequently to avoid accidents in the house. They also need to be taught a routine that their body can get used to. As a rule of thumb, however many months your puppy is, is about how long they can hold their bladder in hours. Give or take a few.
On the other end of the spectrum, senior dogs benefit from walks to keep their joints moving. Just as we age we need to stay moving. The same goes for our older canine companions. Their walks may just not be able to be as long as they use to because of arthritis. Still, once a day for lucky dogs with a yard and twice daily for those who are in-town dwellers is really ideal for all dogs.
What breed is your dog?
The breed has so much lean on how often a dog should be walked because of their energy levels. Working dogs, such as German Shepherds, Heelers, Border Collies, Labs, and German Shorthaired Pointers (just to name a few) require much more exercise than say an English Bulldog. Dogs with high energy need to be able to apply that energy to something, their main purpose was to work. If they cannot Walks are great – at least twice a day. Three times a day would be best and the longer the better!
Is your dog overweight? Then you should most definitely walk your dog…
If your dog is packing on some pounds from the winter. Exercise is great for them to help lose weight and shock your veterinarian at their next wellness check-up. Twice daily and go for longer walks. If your dog is really obese, it might even be worth looking into a dog walker for a mid-day walk if you are unable to. With or without a yard to roam.
Walking your dog is a great way to spend time with you and for both of you to get some exercise. Twice daily is typically the standard for adult dogs and puppies require a bit more to help with house-training and how long they can hold their bladder. Dog walkers are a great resource for those high-energy dogs that need more walks during the day.
Milo loves walks, whether it is in town or hiking into a mountain lake (when he wears a harness, he can even help pull me up the steep spots).
