Why do you take walks with your dog?

What a silly question ... or is it?

What is the first answer that popped into your mind?

For many dog caretakers it's that walking is just something you do if you have a dog. It is part of being a good caretaker. You walk the dog, right?

We agree with that general idea, but the question is a bit deeper than that. We can rephrase it as why do dogs need walks - what benefits do they provide? Furthermore, do all dogs always need walks and are they always beneficial? See, this is where it gets interesting!

Exercise

Many dog caretakers will say that dogs need walks for exercise. Dogs certainly need exercise, but we must be mindful about both quantity and quality. Overexercising your dog is just as harmful and underexercising her, and the type of movement your dog engages in may be both beneficial and harmful.

Street dogs live the most natural life among dogs, without too much human interference, so they are a good model for dogs' natural behaviours. Observing them has taught us that dogs move far less that we would expect, and when they do move, it is not to chase or run, but to walk slowly and engage with their surroundings. Types of movement that benefit our dogs are generally slower rather than faster, varied (soft, relaxed play or walking over interesting terrain) and choice-based. You can read more about movement here. We also plan to share some fascinating scientific findings about movement and exercise soon. Watch this space. ;)

Walking slowly across varied terrain with natural obstacles is good exercise

Exercise is one of the reasons we walk with our dogs, but it should not be the only reason. What else is there, some caretakers might ask. A world of possibilities!

Mental Stimulation

This term has become fashionable and it gets thrown around a lot, sometimes in very strange contexts. To put it simply, mental stimulation means the dog's brain is engaged, and that is achieved through the use of her senses. Mental stimulation is not only beneficial, it is crucial for a happy, mentally healthy dog.

In the context of walks, mental stimulation means that our dogs get to look, listen, touch, taste and - especially - sniff. If they are walked on a short lead, hurried along and made to heal, they are missing out on a key part of the walk. And so are their humans. Exploring with a dog and observing her natural curiosity is a beautiful and fulfilling thing. Walking slowly, stopping when our dog wants to sniff something, observe or otherwise engage with her surroundings, is a wonderful way to spend some time.

Stopping for a sniff

We were very sad to hear that some people use sniffing as a reward when a dog has fulfilled their expectations and followed their cues. Sniffing is not a bonus or reward for compliance, it is a natural behaviour and a dog's right. So is using their other senses. Of course safety is paramount and we cannot let our dogs use their taste to eat suspicious things off the ground, but we probably can let them have a taste of the water in a clear mountain stream.

Social Contact

Dogs are incredibly social animals. Walks are an opportunity for your dog to spend time with you, probably the most important person in her life. Take the time and enjoy the walk together. The phone can stay in your pocket, for emergencies and maybe a Smiling Leash picture or video.

If one person in your household usually walks with the dog, why not invite other members of your family to join in? We are sure it will mean a lot to your canine family member.

As important as her human family is, your dog also needs the company of other dogs. Even if she seems like she doesn't. Dogs that react to the presence of other dogs with barking and lunging sometimes need their company even more! A social walk - a walk with one or more other dogs, on or off leash, with distance or without - is one of the best ways of providing company as it can be adapted to suit the needs of most dogs. We suggest you take part in social walks with other dogs on a regular basis. More about them can be found in this post by our teacher Turid Rugaas.

A lovely social walk

Keeping tabs on health and wellbeing

A walk is also a great opportunity to check up on how your dog is doing these days. You can use the time to observe how she is moving, whether she is getting tired faster than usual and so on. You can also see how she is coping with things that happen around her: traffic, other dogs, sounds and so on. These observations can be shared with your veterinarian or dog instructor if problems arise. To make sure you do not forget what you notice, it is a good idea to jot things down in a dog diary.

A walk with a dog is truly much more that it seems.

It fulfills different needs and brings many benefits - or fails to do so. Most importantly, it’s a part of the day that truly belongs to our dogs. Let’s make it count.