We love our dogs, and that means giving them the best life: the best food, regular vet checkups for their shots, quality treats, new harnesses and leashes, and yes, regular exercise! How important is it for your dog to have a regular walking schedule? Something for them to look forward to. This consistency impacts their physical, mental, and emotional help. Walking isn’t just about exercise- it’s the key to your pup’s fit, healthy, and happy life!
Physical Benefits of a Walking Schedule
There are so multiple benefits to maintaining a regular walking schedule for your dog. Regular walks are great for their physical health, maintaining their healthy weight, and preventing obesity, an increasingly common issue among American dogs. Obesity can lead to a host of problems, including joint issues, heart disease, and even diabetes in dogs. These are mostly preventable, barring genetics, so let’s do our part!
Regular Dog Walks Maintain a Healthy Weight and Joints
Consistent dog walks reduce the risk of arthritis in dogs and keep joints mobile. This is especially important for our dogs as they age. Senior dogs need to continue their dog-walking schedule. While you may have to lessen the length of their walk, you should do your best to keep them moving to maintain happy joints! Consistent exercise reduces the risk of arthritis in our pups and keeps those joints mobile. However, always talk to your vet about your senior dog’s healthcare needs.
Better Digestion and Regular Potty Breaks
Walks are known to aid in digestion and help with constipation. A consistent walk schedule and feeding routine (we’re not big fans of free feeding) will keep those bowel movements regular. Constipation is no fun for anyone. Regular potty breaks can also help avoid urinary tract infections since your pup won’t have to hold their urine for long. Prolonged urine retention is unhealthy for all creatures. Having your dog wait twelve hours to urinate is not ideal. Lastly, regular potty breaks reduce the chance of accidents in the house, a win for you!
Mental and Emotional Benefits of a Regular Dog Walking Schedule
Regular Dog Walks Reduce Anxiety and Stress
Dogs thrive on routine, making them feel less secure and anxious. Dogs who have separation intolerance or even separation anxiety truly need exercise to help them. In general, a routine helps dogs feel secure and less anxious. But it’s a must for dogs prone to separation anxiety. Getting them tired from a walk full of good sniffing and a fast pace, with some practicing of behaviors thrown in, is often one of the ways a behaviorist will tell you to help your dogs. If your dog can’t be alone for long periods but you work, hiring a dog walker to come in at regular intervals can be a part of your journey to helping your dog overcome this anxiety. https://www.petmd.com/dog/training/how-help-dog-separation-anxiety
Dog Walks Bring Mental Stimulation
To dogs, the world comes alive through their sense of smell. What better way to stimulate their brains than a walk outside, allowing them to sniff, explore, and engage with the environment (and get all the good doggy gossip)? Walking is some of the finest stimulation for your dog when you let them sniff and explore responsibly, in addition to keeping them at a nice pace.
Regular Walks Enhance the Human-Canine Bond.
Walking is good for the body and the soul of everyone involved. When you walk your dog, you strengthen your relationship. Showing up for them routinely and consistently with quality time is a beautiful way to gain even more trust. Hiring a dog walker to get your dog walking is also beneficial for your pups as it teaches them how to socialize with other human beings.
Behavioral Benefits of Regular Dog Walks
Regular Dog Walks Can Reduce Problem Behaviors
Dogs with excess energy are likelier to develop destructive habits like chewing, barking, or digging, especially if they are puppies or working breeds who need to fulfill a job. A regular dog walking schedule can help tire out puppies and give energetic dogs the release they need. Of course, a working breed needs training, enrichment, and other outlets for their incredible energy, so please always choose wisely when bringing home a border collie or malinois. A regular dog walking schedule for a malinois is very different from walking a chihuahua (in a fun way!).
Socialization Opportunities
Getting your dog out of the house for regular walks is a great way to get them used to new environments, to work on their leash skills in a public setting, and to learn how to interact with other people and pets. Hiring a dog walker is a great way to socialize your pets, improving confidence and increasing happiness. Our dog walkers will not interact with strange dogs during our walks for their safety, but if you feel comfortable doing so with the known dogs in your neighborhood, you certainly can with plenty of supervision and insight into dog behavioral cues!
How to Create an Ideal Dog Walking Schedule
First, Determine the Right Frequency
The main factors we look at when creating the proper dog-walking schedule for our clients’ dogs are their age, health, and breed/energy levels.
- Puppies need short, frequent walks to accommodate their growing bodies.
- Adult Dogs: Generally need at least 30–60 minutes daily, depending on breed and energy levels.
- Seniors can also walk 30-60 minutes but can do best with gentle, shorter walks to maintain joint health without overexertion.
We always ask our clients about their dogs’ medical history. Senior dogs with osteoarthritis and heart conditions could need special considerations. Some dogs who have had surgery, knee issues, or even seizures need extra supervision and care when crafting their dog-walking schedules.
Adjust for Breed and Energy Levels
High-energy breeds (Border Collies, Huskies) may need 2–3 (or more) long walks per day. They could do well with runs, depending on their ages.
Smaller or low-energy breeds who prefer their couches (Chihuahuas, Basset Hounds) might thrive with shorter, less frequent walks, but then their parents need to take extra care with their meal portions.
Time of Day Can Matter
Ideally, you’d want to have your longer walks during the early mornings or late evenings in warmer months to avoid heatstroke, especially in Miami. However, dogs do need to potty at midday. Most of our clients hire us for midday dog walks, so we have become experts at keeping dogs safe from heat stroke during the hot months (pretty much year-round, here in Miami). That means hydrating well, staying under the shade, avoiding asphalt, and taking plenty of rest. Sometimes, it means enrichment indoors after a good potty break, which is just as mentally stimulating.
Incorporate Variety in Daily Dog Walks
Finally, the perfect dog walking schedule brings a sense of adventure for your pup! Our dog walkers take different routes and let our dog friends take as many sniffs as they like. We also practice tricks for treats and behaviors on their walk and give lots of cuddles! Variety is the spice of life across all species.
Overall, much like us humans, dogs benefit greatly from a regular exercise schedule. Take the time to evaluate your dog’s current daily routine and how much exercise they’re getting. Call a professional if you feel like you can’t provide consistent, regular exercise! We know life gets busy, so our dog walkers at Equipaws Pet Services are happy to help you keep your dog’s routine on track. Contact us today!
