Discussing The Holiday That Celebrates And Promotes Dog Walking
Dog walking is an essential part of any dog owners daily routine. Taking your dog for a walk is essential to their physical health, mental well-being, and overall socialization skills. That’s why January is celebrated as Walk Your Dog Month. A holiday dedicated to promoting dog walking and educating people on its importance. This article will discuss everything you need to know about Walk Your Dog Month including things like the physical benefits, the mental benefits, the owners benefits, and the history behind the holiday itself.
The History Behind The Holiday
While it’s unclear exactly who founded Walk Your Dog Month, it is clear why the holiday was created. Walking your dog provides many benefits to their overall health including physical, mental, and social well-being. A study done in 2017 by The Association for Pet Obesity Prevention found that 56% of dogs in the U.S. were considered obese. That equals out to be more than 50 million dogs in America that are obese. This is a huge problem as obesity often leads to other health complications. These health complications include kidney disease, arthritis, high blood pressure, and some forms of cancer. However, most of these health problems can be avoided by routine dog walking.
The Physical Benefits
The most obvious benefit of routine dog walking is the impact it has on your dog’s physical health. Walking is an excellent form of exercise for both you and your dog. Routine walks will help your dog lose excess weight and also keep them at a healthy weight. Being at a healthy weight will improve your dog’s quality of life and overall life expectancy. Walking your dog regularly will provide them regular exercise allowing them to both look good and feel good.
The Mental Benefits
Another, but less obvious, benefit of routine dog walking is the mental stimulation it provides your dog. Similar to people, dogs need mental stimulation in order to stay healthy and happy. Taking your dog for a walk outside subjects them to an array of smells, sights, and sounds that they can’t experience being indoors. Going for a walk is arguably the most exciting part of any dog’s day. Although we provide our dogs with food and water, it is instinctive for dogs to roam, walk, and forage for food and water. Therefore, walks provide dogs with a sense of accomplishment, fulfillment, and stimulation that is truly irreplaceable.
The Social Benefits
Aside from physical and mental benefits, dog walking also promotes good socialization. While walking your dog, you will most likely run into other people in your neighborhood. Having your dog meet new people during these walks is a great way for them to develop good social skills and good behavior. Similar to people, dogs need social interaction with others in order to learn how to behave around other people and pets. If you want your dog to be more sociable and approachable, then taking them for routine walks is essential. Your dog may even make some new people and dog friends along the way!
How Dog Walking Benefits The Owner
Routine dog walking not only benefits your dog, it benefits the owner (that’s you!). Taking your dog for walks will also provide you with physical exercise, mental stimulation, and social interactions with others. Dog walking is also an excellent way to bond with your furry friend as it provides an opportunity for some one-on-one time.
The Importance
Dog walks are essential to your dog’s physical health, mental well-being, and overall social skills. Your dog doesn’t just want to go on walks, they need to go on walks. If you feel you don’t have the spare time or energy to take your dog on routine walks, then consider hiring a professional dog walker. Check out the official My Dog Walker & Pet Sitting website for more information about who we are and what services we provide. We look forward to hearing from you soon!