One of the first things people associate with owning a dog is the daily chore of walking the dog. Why is it so important to walk a dog? What does the dog get from this activity and what exactly does the dog’s owner also get? Here we will examine why walking the dog is good for everyone.

  1. Exercise. All dogs need daily exercise, even the smallest breeds need daily paw training. The larger a dog is, generally the more exercise it will need. However, there are working breeds that are deceptively small but need plenty of exercise. When choosing a breed of dog, assess how much exercise he’ll need to make sure he has the time and inclination to do so. You may be lucky enough to have a few acres of fenced-in land at home that your dog can run on, but it’s still important to take your dog out for regular walks, as there are several other benefits of structured walking for dogs.
  2. Bonding. A regular walk together with your ‘best friend’ will build and strengthen the bonds between you. Your dog is always excited and appreciative of going for a walk and will really try to please you to make the activity as regular as possible.
  3. Training. Walking time is an ideal time to perform a number of basic obedience training tasks. First, he is reinforcing his role as leader of the pack. Second, when you are in a place where your dog can run freely, you have the opportunity to train your dog on some basic commands, such as ‘come’, ‘sit’ and of course ‘fetch’. This training will take the form of playing games for the dog and he will learn much more easily than at home.
  4. Get used to being on a leash or leash. All dogs must be controllable and therefore all dogs must be trained to behave on a leash or leash. This is valuable training even if you are lucky enough to live in an area where your dog can run free most of the time. The day will come when your dog needs to visit the vet or you need to take him to the city and if he does not behave well on the leash, you will have problems.
  5. Socializing. Being away from its home territory, a dog is forced to learn some social skills with other people and other dogs. This is an important factor in preventing excessive aggression in your dog later on.
  6. Avoid dog depression. Dogs that don’t experience changes in the environment often enough can become depressed. A depressed dog can become an anxious dog and that can lead to behavioral problems. Regular walks, even if they follow a predictable path, will cheer your dog up. He will use all of his senses to the best of his ability, thus exercising his mind and his muscles.

Lastly, it is important to realize the benefit to the dog owner. You yourself will get some gentle exercise, successfully strengthen bonds with your dog, teach him how to behave on the leash, how to obey commands and how to be a social animal. You will also establish yourself as the provider and therefore the leader of the pack. It’s also great to have a good excuse to ditch housework for an hour and get outside.