Let’s think about this from the human perspective. Through scientific studies, it’s a known fact that humans spending time outdoors, whether it is walking, hiking, jogging, biking, or whatever, leads to improved mental health and physical well-being. Now think about a dog, whose ancestors were born in the wild (like us), running, hunting, jumping, fighting, all the things that animals in the wild do.
Now think about your dog - does it get a chance to run and jump and play? Or is your dog stuck inside a house, apartment, or backyard 24/7? Does it get a chance to walk around in the neighborhood and interact with other dogs?
Getting your dog outside of the house and backyard is about a lot more than taking a dump or a pee. Dogs need mental stimulation to help avoid depression and keep them healthy, just the same as humans do. Just like a human, if a dog spends all day inside the house with no outside interaction it will become lethargic and restless, which can lead to anxiety and even destructive behavior.
We have a dog that lives up the street from us who is very energetic (I think it's a Boxer?). I don't believe this dog is ever out of the fence and is never walked - the dog lives in the backyard or inside the house, like one big fishbowl. Every time we walk by their fence the dog races back and forth, barking furiously (I call it Hog Dog because it makes this funny snorting noise when it barks). One day this dog broke out of its yard and took off, through their backyard and into another where there was an elderly dog with its elderly owner. Needless to say, this dog full of pent up energy did some damage to everything and everyone (dogs, persons, fences), which may have been avoided if the poor thing had been walked and allowed to get rid of that excess energy.
A dog needs to get outside just like we do, which is one reason we make such great companions! Walking your dog can help with weight gain (for you both) and walking also helps to rid the dog of some of that pent-up energy. While walking, I’m sure you’ll notice that your pooch will make several sniffing and ‘pee stops’ along the way. Other dogs have left ‘markers’ too, and your dog is checking for its friends and learning about new dogs in the ‘hood.
Walking your pooch is also a great way to ‘socialize’ your dog. It’s best to teach your dog how to greet other dogs in a non-aggressive way and socialization also helps if you have a dog who is fearful or shy. If you can, taking your dog to an obedience class is a great idea. They will learn basic commands which will help in times of emergency and also learn how to cope with other humans and dogs. If you are unable to attend a class in person, there are some great courses online that can get you started.
When I write about 'times of emergency', I’m referring to the time (and it will come, no matter how well behaved your dog is) when your pooch will be off the leash and take off after a cat or some other shiny object. You need to be able to call the dog and have them obey immediately or run the risk of your dog running into the street and being hit by a car or disappearing and never seeing them again.
The breed of your dog is another thing to consider. Is a walk going to be enough? There are some breeds that require actual workouts to keep them healthy because they were bred for endurance and sport. Dogs such as the Spaniels, Retrievers, and Collies are bred to herd animals, and Terriers were bred to hunt vermin.
The bottom line is walking helps to keep both you AND your dog healthy and happy. Now throw that leash on Fido, lace up your walking shoes, and get outside. Outside is free!!
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