Walk your Dog Daily
You may think your dog is safe in the backyard, but did you know that they need plenty of exercise? Taking your furry friend for a walk is important because it provides mental stimulation and keeps them physically fit. It can also give you time to bond with your pup!
When we step out of the house or take a break, our mood immediately freshens, and we feel more active. Similarly, a walk is beneficial for your dog in multiple ways. For example, it helps to cope with their behavioural problems, understand their surroundings, and ease their alert senses.
You can walk your dog before breakfast, at noon, in the evening, or after dinner. The key is to not walk your furry companion right after their feed intake or to give them food immediately after the walk. Also, if your dog gets exhausted after some minutes of walking, it might be experiencing an underlying health problem. In such a situation, please don’t force them to go on a walk. Instead, take your pet to a vet clinic near you for a proper checkup.
Tips for Daily Dog Walks
Follow these dog walking tips to ensure your dog takes maximum benefit from the activity:
Let Your Dog Sniff Around
Now, you must be put off by this, but it helps with your dog’s mental stimulation. If you don’t want to stop every minute so that your dog can be satisfied with sniffing, you may want to stop in a park and let your fur baby have its fill of it. It is a good idea to slowly but steadily teach them the cues to sniff or walk. Signals like ‘go smell’ and ‘let’s walk’ should work fine.
Use a Front Clip Harness
This will change your entire experience of dog walking! With a back clip harness, your dog will pull more because of the design of the equipment. As such, make sure to use a front clip harness to prevent forceful pull and have your dog follow your command. If your dog suddenly shows aggressive behaviour at home or during a walk, it might be experiencing some health issues. In that case, be sure to immediately take your fur baby to a Veterinary Clinic in Aurora for examination.
Avoid using a Retractable Leash
The length of most retractable leashes causes discomfort to the walker, especially in high-traffic areas. Dogs can easily run into the street, making it harder for you to stop them. If you hold onto the leash for support while your dog moves, it can cause severe burns. And when your dog reaches the end of its leash, and you’re not prepared for that sudden jerk, it can cause you to fall over and hurt yourself, or worse, your dog. As such, be sure to always go for a retractable leash, especially in crowded areas.
Carry Water for Your Pup
It’s easier for your dog to dehydrate as it sweats while panting, especially in hot weather. Dogs have a more challenging time regulating their temperature than humans, so they tend to overheat at times. We sometimes miss the signs of that happening, so it’s always better to carry enough water for your dog during the walk.
Tag Your Dog
Pets tend to get lost in busy areas, which causes an emotional strain for the pet parent and the dog. For this reason, it is vital to put an identification tag on the animal. You can consider microchips as well, but that is totally up to you.
Keep Your Dogs Favourite Treats With You
How do you make sure your dog isn’t running after every fascinating thing that moves? You keep their favourite treat with you to bribe them at the right time, of course.
Scout That New Friend
We often find other dogs on a walk and think it’d be nice for us to make a fluffy social group, which it is. But do remember to ask the walker of the other dog whether the dog is friendly and adequately trained for socialization.
Use Reflective Gear at Night
At night, when people are driving, there is often low visibility, which can cause accidents. If you like to take your dog out for a night’s walk, then make sure to wear reflective gear so that a driver or a cyclist can easily spot you from miles away. A cute reflective leash might be a good buy for your dog as well.
Things to Avoid
You might be ruining your dog’s walk unintentionally by:
● Rushing for bathroom breaks
● Not letting them sniff and explore
● Pulling on the leash too often
Follow the tips provided in this post and give your dog some space so they can take maximum benefits from walking.