Why Do We Walk the Dog?

Why Do We Walk the Dog?

Have you ever thought where the idea that we must walk our dog everyday comes from? The concept of dog walking has many potential starting points - King Charles, Victorian promenades, the Blitz, more leisure time etc, but since when have we been told that it is necessary? We have had dogs for thousands of years without doing it and without the many behaviour problems we can have today. Cesar Millan (the Dog Whisperer) says we must do it for hours, yet Jan Fennell (The Dog Listener) says we don't have to do it at all. Who is right and why?

Ever since the first curious wolves approached human beings, we began to co-exist for mutual benefit; partners in the hunt, and warmth in the cold. That is the way it remained until Mankind started to farm and keep animals. Even then the dogs remained as an ally, guarding the animals from predators. As we started to create breeds by selective breeding, we invented the lapdog (the Tibetan Spaniel's function was to get under a monk's robes to help him keep warm up the mountain) or carriage dogs like the Dalmatian, designed to keep up with the coach and guard it. But still no dog walking was done.

Today our lives have changed dramatically, but surely a dog is pretty much the same.

If a dog is displaying problem behaviour - is lack of exercise the reason? And why don't we worry nearly as much as to whether our cat, budgie or goldfish is getting enough cardio work? I have also noticed that dogs naturally play together, which not only is great exercise but also surely the more normal thing to do. Even children know that.

Of course, both Cesar Millan and Jan Fennell talk about leadership, which makes a lot of sense. We humans have a need for good leadership (why is the world suddenly jealous of USA again? They have a cool leader). However, like the concept of walking the dog regularly, Jan Fennell and Cesar Millan also differ on how to achieve that leadership, and I know which one I would prefer if I were the dog.

Maybe somebody can pinpoint the exact moment that humans changed so dramatically about this subject of walking the dog, although I heard about an Aborigine who, when asked if he took his dog for a walk, replied, "He's got four legs; he knows how to walk..."

Dog Listener Tony Knight has been training dogs (and their owners) for over 10 years. Get more information and a free CD on Walking Your Dog by going to Walk-Dog

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The Benefits of Walking The Dog

The Benefits of Walking The Dog

Every pet owner or sitter, who enjoys the companionship of a dog, can benefit tremendously from regular exercise with his or her pet. Dogs require regular social interaction, exercise, and attention from their pet owners. By simply taking your dog for a walk, you can provide all of this.

You and your dog together will:

1. Expend some energy

2. Take in fresh air

3. Stimulate the senses

4. Feel connected to each other and your environment

5. Feel good

So many well-intentioned pet owners end up spending most of their time indoors with their pets because of personal and work obligations and inclement weather. However, taking your dog for a walk not only benefits your dog, but also offers you a lot of benefits as well. Just taking the dog for a walk a few times a week offers significant benefits to your health such as better cardiovascular fitness, lower blood pressure, reduced stress, and stronger muscles and bones. Pet owners also experience greater self-esteem from the unconditional love and companionship free of judgment offered by dogs.

Dog’s Health

Your dog’s health also significantly improves from regular walks. Pets that do not have enough exercise become overweight and sometimes obese, resulting in illnesses and conditions that include cardiovascular disease, increased anxiety, osteoarthritis, and liver disease. People who walk dogs also often engage socially with others more and experience greater enjoyment during their regular walks. Stress is significantly reduced by interactions with a pet. When you take your dog for a walk, be sure to have a good leash that gives you control over your pet and a plastic bag to pick up after your pet. If you have a pet that is used to spending a lot of time indoors, it may come as a big surprise to both of you how your pet reacts to the outdoors. Encouraging your pet will help them overcome any shyness and fear, while also keeping them fit and agile. Your dog is loyal and committed to you and the enjoyment from spending time in your company cannot be easily surpassed.

Dog Socialization

Taking your dog on regular walks also helps eliminate antisocial behavior, reduce pet anxiety, prevent behavioral problems, and encourages your animal to interact appropriately with both people and other animals. By praising and encouraging your dog, your pet will grow closer to you, more confident, aware of behavior that elicits positive responses from you, and be less likely to experience separation anxiety from being left at home.

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Dog Walking Health Benefits

Dog Walking Health Benefits

It has long been known that the dog is man's best friend. There are many stories of faithful dogs whose loyalty has saved lives.

Dog and humans have been long-time partners both for the hunt and for warmth. At least, until the modern times of agricultural, where the dog's role became more of a protective one.

Since then, the dog's role has evolved even more into simply being a friend in some cases. This friendship is very important to many people.

The relationship between a human and their dog can be one of the most fulfilling and important relationships that one can have. There are many ways to strengthen this relationship.

Walking the dog is the best way to strengthen this relationship. Not only is walking the dog beneficial to the animal, but can be just as helpful to you.

When walking becomes a normal habit, dogs often will portray excitement when they see the leash. This excitement translates into gratitude for what the owner is doing for them.

In response the owner feels happy to do the task and will often want to do it more. By going walking more, the relationship grows stronger on both sides.

When the dog goes on a walk it can be simply a bathroom break and chance for exercise or it can be a whole lot more. The walk also provides social interaction and mental stimulation for the dog.

In addition, the walk provides social interaction, mental stimulation, exercise, and stress relief for the owner. Even dogs that have a large yard to run around in need human interaction and interaction with other dogs.

The walk also provides an opportunity for the owner to provide obedience lessons to the dog to break them of bad habits such as running after every squirrel and barking at everyone that comes along.

Expending the bottled energy in a dog through a walk can also help other behaviors such as chewing, barking, running away and digging. A leash reinforces the idea that you are the owner and can help you curve the habit of pulling.

When a dog pulls it is not only frustrating and exhausting, but it means that the dog does not know that you are in charge. Status or class ranking as the head dog, so to speak, is very important to establish so that the dog will listen to you.

Throughout the walk if the dog begins to pull, stop walking. Often the dog will run back to you and will stop pulling.

If the dog continues to pull, teach him the command to sit when you want to stop walking. The dog will learn faster if you bring treats along, but do not give it one until it sits down, so that it will learn the command.

It is alright to let the dog wander a little but change directions often to remind it that you are in charge and to test compliance when you are training.

As the owner and provider for the dog, the dog needs to know that you give the orders. When this is established the relationship between owner and dog can grow.

In many instance the older generation, thinks of their dogs as their children. Although this is often made fun of, dogs are very similar to children in their needs.

Children and dogs need social interaction, food, water, mental stimulation, exercise, and love. Providing these needs can be very time consuming, but the resulting relationship can be priceless and lifesaving.
Having an animal in the house has shown that there are many health benefits. These benefits include decreasing blood pressure, cholesterol level, triglyceride levels, and feelings of loneliness.
Dogs also provide other services to humans, such as the Seeing Eye Dogs for those who are partially or wholly blind.

No matter what breed of dog, the relationship between owner and dog can be a very rewarding one. With health, social, and mental benefits dogs continue to be one of man's best companions.

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