Walk Your Dog Month is Every Month
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January is National Walk Your Dog Month. While we think that every month should be national walk your dog month, we’ll settle for getting into the habit through January. There are many advantages to walking dogs. Let’s take a look at a few of them here:
[heading style=”2″ color=”#996633″ style_color=”#996633″]Health Reasons[/heading]
When you take your pet outdoors, you’re introducing them to a new environment and distracting their focus from you. You are also allowing them to get mental and physical stimulation – which helps naturally increase endorphins and helps fight off depression. This is particularly important during wintertime when the wintertime blues come into play.
[heading style=”2″ color=”#996633″ style_color=”#996633″]Reducing Anxiety[/heading]
Nearly every behavior problem in a dog can be attributed to too much energy. It’s the same reason humans get into trouble. Walking your dog can help reduce behavior problems, can increase wellness in you and your pet, and is just a generally great habit.
[heading style=”2″ color=”#996633″ style_color=”#996633″]Make Training Easier[/heading]
Walking helps make training simple. Any trainer in the world will tell you that it’s important to work with a dog that is not already wound up. Walking helps dogs decrease energy which allows them to become more focused. This in turn helps them learn more quickly.
[heading style=”2″ color=”#996633″ style_color=”#996633″]Socialization[/heading]
Your dog will encounter new sights, smells, sounds, people and pets while walking. This helps them learn that they can cope with new things. It increases confidence and reduces social anxiety.
[heading style=”2″ color=”#996633″ style_color=”#996633″]Satisfy Their Curiosity[/heading]
Dogs have a natural curiosity and walking your pet allows them to satisfy that natural curiosity. Dogs naturally like to roam while on the hunt for food and it’s unnatural for them to sit or sleep for long periods of time. Allowing them to get outside and experience new sights and scents while burning off a little energy is the best thing you can do for your dog.
[heading style=”2″ color=”#996633″ style_color=”#996633″]Stop Destructive Behavior[/heading]
Most dogs don’t like being alone or staying in one place – they need activity in their daily schedule! By taking your pet out for a walk, you’ll eliminate all of that extra anxiety he has built up during the day, which ultimately can help eliminate destructive behavior, such as chewing or inappropriate elimination.
[heading style=”2″ color=”#996633″ style_color=”#996633″]Mental Stimulation[/heading]
Dogs need to think, just like people do. When you take them outside for a walk, you are introducing them to new stimuli and allowing them to return to their “dog” nature by giving them an outlet for all of that extra brain activity.
