One-third of America's dogs are overweight or obese. While
this is less than the number of Americans themselves, it will probably continue
to climb. A few extra pounds on Fido
might look cute, but they put a strain on his body – causing problems like
heart disease, joint problems, diabetes, and arthritis. Together, owner and faithful dog can get some
exercise that's mutually beneficial in more ways than one.
As temperatures in upstate New York have reached highs of
40s and even 50s, I've been taking my pair of beagles for regular walks. Even at ages 8 and 14 they can both keep up a
brisk pace for 30 minutes (on average, we cover a mile). The biggest roadblock we usually run in to is
that being beagles, they want to stop and sniff everything!
Before You Go
It's helpful if your dog has manners while he's on the
leash. A basic understanding of simple
commands like "sit", "heel", "stay", "no", and "come" are essential before you
hit the trail or road. If your dog
respects these commands at home, he's more likely to respond to you when he
sees that squirrel, is thinking about taking on that rival dog, or wants to go
play in the water. When you're in
control, you don't get dragged from Point A to Point B and none of your fellow
walkers get jumped all over, either.
Remember to start a new walking program slowly. Just as an unfit person should adjust to an
exercise regimen, an unfit dog should also start gradually. I usually start my dogs with 15 minutes at a
slow pace and build from there.
Equipment
I prefer to outfit my dogs with harnesses rather than
regular collars. One of my dogs has disc
problems in her neck and a harness distributes the pressure more
evenly. Harnesses are also more
challenging to slip out of, and less likely to lead to an escape in the event
you need to tie up your dog for a second.
Leash type comes down to personal preference. I like a plain five or six foot leash, while
others like the retractable versions that extend up to 15 feet or so (be sure
to check your local laws about acceptable leash length). Since I still have the scars behind my knees
from a bad rope burn experience with a retractable leash, I'll stick with the
old standby for now! A gentle
leader can also be helpful for working with dogs that pull – if they'll
tolerate one.
While it may be tempting to let your dog off the leash, it's
usually safer to keep him on it. Even
when I lived in a rural area, my dogs were leashed when they were not on my
property. One time we came into an awkward
situation with another dog and my little beagles were accused of bothering an
old lady and her big black lab. I could
back up my story by saying they had been on the opposite side of the street on
short leashes – you never know.
Health Benefits
While the benefits of walking may seem obvious, some other
good things come from walking with your dog that you may not have thought about
before.
- Regular physical activity
and pet ownership both help improve chronic diseases – put them together,
and you could feel even better
- 25-40% of America's dogs
are overweight or obese… walking can help dogs shed pounds along with
their owners!
- According to a National Household Travel
Survey (numbers approximate):
- 80% of owners walk their
dogs once a day for 10 minutes
- 60% of owners walk their
dogs twice a day for 10 minutes
- 40% of owners walk their
dogs a total of 30 minutes a day
Resources:
http://www.petplace.com/dogs/lose-your-holiday-weight-walk-your-dog/page1.aspx
http://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2006/apr/05_0106.htm
http://www.reuters.com/article/lifestyleMolt/idUSN0739250820080207
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Re: Behind the Leash – Mutual Health Benefits
