The joy of owning a pet dog can often be lost in the chores that is required to keep the dog healthy and happy.
And it's not just one thing: taking care of your pet dog in a humane fashion requires just as much effort as taking care of a newborn child. Apart from the usual dietary needs that is important for the health of your pet dog, dog walking is also a prominent chore.
Of course, this is to avoid the situation where your pet might free to relieve itself at home, much to the chagrin of its owners, unless they're not so particular about cleanliness.
But not only will dog walking ensure that you have a cleaner home but it's pretty good exercise too, for both the dog and its owner.
The Relationship between Dog Walking and Obesity
Most fitness experts consider brisk walking to be an excellent form of exercise.
If you have a pet dog of your own, such as a Rottie, Dobermann Pinscher or even a German Shepherd, you'll be the first to admit that it usually isn't walking the dog but actually "running the dog", if you will.
No matter how disturbing this might seem, it is still exercise, even if the owner is unwilling at first, to get moving.
Some owners might even find this chore a bit tiresome yet if you view it as exercise, then your perspective on this chore changes, and it becomes an activity that one looks forward to, especially if you're not much of an exercise freak.
Some studies have shown that when dogs and their owners were regular with their dog walking routine for seven miles a day for about six month, both of them lost weight.
One particular study showed that even if the dog and its owner was overweight, they did lose 5 and 3 pounds respectively when following this routine regularly.
Considering the fact that most of these owners weren't of the exercising type, their chances of losing with the help of a human partner was even less – as their motivation levels to exercise would barely match that of a dog's desire to keep going for six months.
Interestingly, with the recommended limit of 150 minutes of exercise per week, setting a dog walking routine would ensure that you can cross this item off your list.
Yet these are only the physical benefits that come with dog walking while there are several more…
Dog Walking Benefits – A List
Getting some fresh air with your dog every day seems not only to make sense from the fitness point-of-view but it also offers other benefits too.
So here is a list of other dog walking benefits that you can avail of if you engage in this activity (not chore) every day:
#1: In walking your dog everyday, you will get to meet several more people in your neighborhood, and if your dog is friendly, you'll stand a chance of making a few friends or even being popular as well.
#2: Not only will your physical health improve but your mental health also improves greatly, thanks to the time spent in the sun. (Healthy tan, anyone?)
#3: You won't fall sick and your fitness levels improve steadily until you are ready for strenuous exercise. Your dog can also get its own dog treadmill in the process too…
#4: Walking the dog means excellent exercise for the buttock, thighs and legs while also strengthening the cardiovascular system. That's a good start especially before you move on to an organized plan for a workout.
#5: Most of all, your endurance levels increase and you can kiss fatigue and running out of breath good-bye.
In Closing
Sometimes just viewing what you consider boring or painful in a different way can make all the difference, and dog walking is just of these things.
