The Benefits of Walking and Dog Walking

Posted on 15. Jan, 2010 by Annvi in Barkin' Doggie Bloggie, Interesting Dog Tidbits

“A house is not a home until it has a dog.” ~ Gerald Durrell

As  a kid, there was a time when my dad traveled a lot.  To make up for lost time, every Sunday, Dad and I would go on walks.  It became a sort of ritual.  We’d walk about two miles to the closest gas station from our house and pick up the Sunday paper (I’d read the Sunday Funnies when we got home) and a gallon of milk (for Mom and Dad’s morning chai).  I used to love those walks.  It was a time when it was just Dad and me and no other distractions.  There weren’t cell phones either back then- so really nothing else that could take you away from the walk.  Even during college, I’d sometimes come home for dinner (I attended the University of Georgia in my hometown, GO DAWGS!) and after dinner, Dad and I would take an after-dinner stroll.  Looking back at it, walking was such a simple way of spending time together, clearing our minds, and getting some exercise.  Too bad we didn’t have a dog back then.

My first dog walking experience was before Rocky.  In fact, I would say it may have been the catalyst to our adoption of Rocky.  A friend of mine was dog sitting and she needed help walking two dogs (her dog and the other one).  I just happened to be around- and so, I got dragged into walking.  By now, it had been probably 4-5 years since my last leisurely stroll in the park with Dad and I had forgotten how much fun walking was.  Having a little companion and walking down the street made it even more fun.  Watching the cute pup sniff new smells, mark his territory, greet other pups… was just a riot for me.  This is what convinced me that maybe owning a dog wasn’t so bad.  And then the next day, I get an email at work- how a cute little yellow lab needs a home.  Life works in mysterious ways.

Rocky and Zeus don’t have a yard where they can get their business done. What does that mean?  It means we have to walk them EVERY DAY twice or three times a day so that they get their daily exercise- rain, humidity, snow, etc- it does not matter.  If our two very active pups do not get outside to play- it is not a pretty sight.  Zeus finds a towel or sock or a pillow to do damage too and Roo starts…humping (but that is another blog entry).  Sometimes, I am glad we don’t have a yard; I think it may make us lazy about putting on our shoes, grabbing the leashes, and getting outside everyday because we’d just throw them in the backyard when we weren’t in the mood to brave the weather.  Getting outside and playing with the pups also helps to remind me that there is much more to life than bills, work, and chores.  And there are a ton of benefits to walking your dog even if you do have a yard.

For us, some of the benefits include:

• Bonding: I try not to take my cell phone so that they have all of my attention.  They need our undivided attention just like our friends, co-workers, family, etc. do.  Maybe it is just me, but I feel that our daily walks have helped in my relationship with our dogs.  They listen more and understand my commands much better.
• Helps with Dog Socialization:  With rescue dogs, you do not know their history.  We know Rocky has had some very bad experiences, he was abused with an electric shock collar as a puppy, but in general, you may not know the history of your rescue dog.  Walking your dogs will teach them how to play and meet other dogs and humans in a controlled environment since they are on a leash.  It gives you the opportunity to correct bad behavior, such as growling at other dogs or people on your walks.  No one likes an aggressive dog on a dog walk.  Plus, many dogs can be dog aggressive only when on a leash, walking your dog every day will help curb this; it teaches the dog that there is nothing to be insecure about when on a leash- no one is attacking the dog’s owner or the dog just because he is on a leash.
• Mental and Physical Exercise: Just like our minds and bodies need to be challenged, so do our dogs’.  A dog that is going on new adventures- even a new street or a new fire hydrant is an adventure for our pups- is a happy dog.  Putting your dogs in the backyard every day to do their business is simply not enough to curb boredom.  They need those new smells and activities to keep them sane.  I know I couldn’t handle doing the same thing day in and day out.  I believe that walking your dog will extend the life of your dog.  A healthy dog is a happy dog.  And happiness can do a wonders of good for the mind, body, and soul- even your cute pup.

Recently, the NY Times reported on whether it is better to have a dog walking partner or a human walking partner.  According to the article, those who chose a dog as their walking partner demonstrated a bigger improvement in their fitness than those who chose a human as their walking partner.

“New research from the University of Missouri has found that people who walk dogs are more consistent about regular exercise and show more improvement in fitness than people who walk with a human companion. In a 12-week study of 54 older adults at an assisted living home, 35 people were assigned to a walking program for five days a week, while the remaining 19 served as a control group. Among the walkers, 23 selected a friend or spouse to serve as a regular walking partner along a trail laid out near the home. Another 12 participants took a bus daily to a local animal shelter where they were assigned a dog to walk.”

The reasoning that walking with a dog may be better for you than walking with a human?  You can’t tell your dog, “I am not well, let’s reschedule our walk.”  Walking speed was another factor.  I know I definitely walk a lot faster when I have two pups with me whether I want to or not.   “C’mon Mom! There’s a new pooch in the neighborhood!“  or “I think someone dropped a fry!” is totally what they are thinking when our speed has slightly increased.  This research showed that those who walked with dogs improved their walking speed by 28 PERCENT compared to the human partners- they only went up 4 PERCENT.

“What happened was nothing short of remarkable,” said Rebecca A. Johnson, a nursing professor and director of the Research Center for Human Animal Interaction at the University of Missouri’s College of Veterinary Medicine. “The improvement in walking speed means their confidence in their walking ability had increased and their balance had increased. To have a 28 percent improvement in walking speed is mind boggling.”

What are you waiting for?  Grab your shoes and leash, get that dog off the couch!  And those of you who don’t own a dog, get to your local shelter or go walk a friend’s dog.  It just may be time for my dad to make an upgrade from his old walking buddy.

Cheers and Happy Barkin’!

Annvi and Tobiah

Tags: Dog Walking Benefits, Exercise, Rescue Dogs