Four Mutual Benefits Owners Can Get From Dog Walking

Pet ownership offers a wide array of benefits – both health-wise and emotion-wise. This is one of the reasons why a lot of people choose to take care of pets when given the chance. However, pet ownership comes with a lot of responsibilities – from ensuring your pets get regular vet checkups to helping them get their daily exercise requirements through walks.

But did you know that while dog walking does help your dog use up their pent-up energy, it also offers you a wide array of mutual benefits?

In this article, we’ll discuss how dog walking can help you lead a healthier and happier life.

What is dog walking?

Simply speaking, dog walking refers to the regular walks you take to either let your dog go potty or let them exercise. While dog walking is, more often than not, exercised by pet owners, some choose to delegate the task to professional dog walkers.

This is especially common for owners who have day jobs or are unable to walk their dogs regularly. However, while this is absolutely alright, you’re also passing up on the opportunity to benefit from dog walking.

In the next section, we’ll talk about the mutual benefits of dog walking and why you should consider making it a regular part of your day.

What are the mutual benefits of dog walking?

Curious what you can get from walking your dog regularly? Aside from enjoying some quiet bonding time with your dog, you can also enjoy the following benefits for better well-being:

• Physical activity: Did you know that dog walking can help lower your chances of developing chronic diseases, such as heart disease and diabetes? A 2018 scientific study shows that due to the physical activity that dog walking offers, pet owners can enjoy healthy aging and positive health with a few minutes of dog walking.

Dog walking provides regular physical exercise, improving your overall physical health, maintaining a healthy weight, and reducing the risk of many health conditions.

For pets, on the other hand, dog walking can help them get the daily exercise they need to successfully expend any pent up energy they’ve had throughout the night or day. This can help them stay fit and healthy for longer.

If you’re not sure how long dog walks should last, active breeds like Border Collies need about 2 hours a day to expend energy, while lower energy breeds like French Bulldogs and Shih Tzus only need between 30 to 45 minutes each day.

• Mental health benefits: Aside from improving physical health, dog walking has also been found to improve mental health by helping reduce stress and anxiety, and promoting feelings of happiness and calmness. In some cases, pet owners claim that dog walks have helped them deal with their symptoms of depression by forcing them to go out and be active during episodes.

For pets, dog walking can expose them to new situations and experiences – providing them with the mental stimulation they need. This can help them stay sharp and alert even through their adult years.

• Social interaction: Aside from usual family get-togethers, social interaction can also be promoted through dog walking. When pet owners go out to dog parks and other public spaces, they are provided opportunities to interact with other dog owners and pet lovers. This can help reduce feelings of loneliness and allow them to seek more opportunities for social support and interaction.

Pets, on the one hand, can benefit from dog walks by being allowed to play with other dogs while they’re out. This can help them socialize more so that they know how to behave around other animals and other pet owners.

• Increased sense of purpose: One of the top yet undervalued benefits of dog ownership is the stability that pets offer their owners. Because dogs are highly dependent on their humans, owners are given the opportunity to create schedules around their pets for more regular time management.

This gives them an increased sense of purpose. In addition, this can help people create a constant source of fulfillment and responsibility that can give their lives more structure, whether through daily dog walks or through regular dog feeding times.

For pets, a structured day can help provide them with schedules and build daily habits. This can help curb anxiety in pets who are predisposed to this issue and give them more stability.

Dog Walking Helps You and Your Pet

While dog walking may seem like a chore for pet parents, it is actually one of the practices that offer the most health benefits. If you’re a new pet parent, consider blocking off a permanent schedule for you and your pet to go on your daily walks. This will help you build stronger bonds, and allow you to reap all the benefits you can get from daily exercise.