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Dog Lovers and Walking
How to Stay Fit while Walking
your Dog
Dogs are great pets! They, like other animals
can be great stress relievers. They can improve your mood and can shave off
loneliness. They also give unconditional love and support. Apart from all these,
dogs give encouragement for you to stay out of your house and exercise. Walking
with your pet also adds security from potential attackers; it does not only
provides you enjoyment and companionship but also improve your health.
A study in Canada presented that dog lovers walk
for 500 hours a week compared to those without pets who only averaged 1 1/2
hours. If you’re a dog lover, spending time with your dog is very ideal. Here
are some useful tips before walking with your dog.
• Choose a dog that will match your
lifestyle and be sure that the dog is trained. Your dog should have a good level
of obedience for your walk to be fun. It would cause a lot of problem in your
part if your dog will be speeding faster than you can run! Use a dog collar to
control your dog and to avoid it to go away. Collars, embedded microchips or
tattoos are also useful identification when dogs get lost.
• Check on the places you plan to
walk. Some places would not allow dogs in the vicinity so it’s always safe to
check first. Parks, sidewalks and paths off the road are ideal places to walk
with the dog. There are available books you can explore to guide you on walking
to different places with your dog.
• The preparedness of your dog is also
essential. Ensure your pet’s health and desire to walk with you. Consulting a
veterinarian to make sure that the dog is in good condition without any medical
problems is a good move. Avoid walking in direct or extreme heat and stop to
rest once in a while. Keep in mind that dogs cannot sweat; it’s therefore
necessary to keep them in shady areas to let them to rest.
• Carry essential things such as water
and pooper scooper. You should bring fresh water which you and your pet can
drink and separate water for washing your hands.
With all these tips lies the main purpose of
your walk. It’s for your own sake for you to stay fit and healthy. The dog is
just an added salvo, a motivation to walk an extra distance. What then are the
benefits of dog walking to your health? Here are some which researchers pointed
out:
1. Dog lovers who walk their dog are
observed to be more friendly and approachable. Because socialization is apparent
while walking, the tendency for dog owners to mingle with other owners is
increased. Having a dog is a good starting point to open up a conversation about
pet caring, grooming, etc.
2. Because walking is a certified health
booster, having a dog as a companion will increase your enthusiasm about
exercising and thus will enhance your walking capability. Dog can keep you
walking extra miles and this will persuade you to walk for longer miles at a
longer time. Skipping walking will almost be impossible because of your duty to
your dog and with the dog’s commitment and faithfulness to the exercise program.
A certain study by R. Johnson revealed that owners are persuaded to walk with
their dogs to keep their pet healthy not being aware however that their health
is kept good as well.
3. Walking with the dogs can shave off
excess pounds on your body. A study in University of
Missouri revealed that approximately 14 lbs. per year are lost for dog walkers.
Disabled participants on the other hand who initially walks for 10 minutes a day
have increased their walks to 20 minutes. For 50 weeks they have lost a total of
14 pounds on the average.
Dog walking can really make you stay fit. It
almost matched the diet program prescribed by many dieticians. Those who started
with 20 minute walking added more activities into their lives. Some even adopted
dogs or volunteered to dog walking at various dog shelters.
Dog walking is basically hitting two birds with
one stone. Following certain guidelines in dog walking can be essential to
achieve a pleasurable time. A walk with your dog will not only improve your
bonding but can also reduce anxiety from every day’s stress. In the process, you
are not only keeping your dog healthy and fit but yourself as well.
>>> Table of
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Walking News:
MSN
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Google
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Yahoo!
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