Walking Your Dog

January is Walk Your Dog Month and what better way to start the New Year by enjoying the numerous health and social benefits by walking your dog.

Before starting any exercise regime with your pooch, safety is key and it is important to check that your dog doesn’t have any underlying health issues. Let the fun begin…

BENEFITS OF WALKING YOUR DOG

• Walk off some of that festive food and drink
• Meet other dog walkers
• Improve your and your dog’s well-being
• Keep weight in check
• Increase quality of life and life expectancy
• Enhance cardiovascular fitness
• Lower blood pressure
• Burn excess calories
• Keeping joints in motion improves their function
• Improve digestive and urinary health
• Stimulate mental health
• Release excess energy
• Improve sleeping habits
• Strengthen bonds
• Decrease loneliness
• Dogs are the perfect exercise partners and always available
• Reduce stress
• Walking is an adventure
• Prevent obesity
• Mitigate unwanted behaviors
• Trigger happy chemicals in your body (endorphins)

TIPS

• Protect your dog’s feet from cold/hot surfaces
• Make sure your dog is warm/cool enough – particularly if your dog is young, old or with a condition
• Take plenty of fresh water
• Wear brightly colored or reflective clothing, leashes and collars
• Stay in public areas that are well lit
• After a walk, check your dog’s paws for foreign objects and clean between their toes and around the foot pads
• Don’t forget to clean up after your pooch

Regular walking has many health benefits for both you and your dog – healthier people with healthier dogs! Remember to take lots of treats and most important – Have Fun!