Dana Gutkowski
Latest posts by Dana Gutkowski (see all)
- How can I be a good aunt? - May 19, 2021
- Aunt Quotes - March 19, 2021
- End Your Silence. Support Black Lives Matter - June 29, 2020
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Growing up, I always had dogs in my family. With the exception of vacations and college, I’ve never gone a day without having a dog by my side. My dogs are part of the family. I loved all of them unconditionally with no questions asked.
They all received lots of attention and play. They were kept clean with regular baths, and they always had warm beds to sleep in at night. I thought they were livin’ the life. As it turns out, I had been a terrible pet owner all along.
Like I said, my dogs wanted for nothing (or so I thought). We thought that with our big backyard, their mounds of toys to choose from and cuddle time on the couch with us was enough. However, it wasn’t until I was in my late 20’s that I realized that I was a terrible pet owner this whole time.
Up until I was 27, I was working hard, commuting four hours a day into the city and trying to have a social life on the weekends. It was rough, but it was the life I had chosen for myself.
At night, I’d come home to my furry friends who would greet me with tons of excitement and affection. I had thought that since they seemed so happy to see me, they weren’t missing out on anything. Turns, out they were missing out on a lot.
Right around December of 2010 I was laid off from my job. I wasn’t in despair. I had seen it coming and was prepared. However, since my days were previously packed with an agenda and responsibilities, I found myself quite bored. I was restless. There are only so many hours a day you can spend in front of a computer job searching before you want to tear out every last hair on your head.
I needed to move. The fresh air was calling my name. Since I canceled my gym membership, I decided it would be a good idea to start walking outside to fight my anxiety. It was winter time in New York, so I bundled up, threw on my sneakers and started to head out the door. Just as I was about to leave, I stopped and looked back at my dogs. “Why not?” I thought. So I took out their harnesses and leashes, grabbed a couple of poop bags, and took them with me.
Wow! They were elated! I had taken them on occasional walks before, but this time I saw their enjoyment with a different set of eyes. Just like me, they were bored and restless this entire time!
It then became our daily routine that as soon as my sneakers were on, they were at my feet wagging their tails because they knew it was time for a walk. After all these years together, I had never known that they were longing for anything more than what I’d been giving them.
As it turns out, there are a lot of benefits to walking your dog daily. It’s not just an occasional fun thing to do. It’s necessary for their health.
5 Reasons Why Your Dog Needs Daily Walks
1.) Obedience
My dog Newman has always been mischievous. Turns out he was bored the entire time. He’d bark a lot, get into things, and generally act-out, like a toddler.
If you want your dog to start behaving better, they should go on daily walks. The energy exerted on a walked helped Newman tremendously. The dog that never seemed to take a nap or settle down suddenly was calmer and got into a lot less trouble. His brain was stimulated from the walk and the chance to explore the parts unknown.
2.) Physical Health
Just like humans, exercise strengthens a dog’s muscles, including our hearts. Keeping your pet at a healthy weight can reduce their chance their chances of diseases. A daily walk can also help reduce the chances of hip and joint ailments that many dogs experience especially in their elder years.
Also, the walk will stimulate their bowels and help with any digestive issues. A sedentary dog can sometimes suffer from constipation which can lead to other health issues. A walk can solve that issue.
3.) Mental Health
Walking your dog can also improve their mental health. The stimulation from the outdoors and the chance to explore will allow your dog to be more confident and less fearful. They will get the chance to explore new surrounds, hear different noises, and smell different scents that aren’t in your backyard or home. The more exposed they are to different environments, the better their quality of life will be.
4.) Bonding
You’re the leader of the pack. It doesn’t matter if you only have one dog, they view you as one of them. The chance for you two to get out and explore together will increase your bond. If you encounter something a little scary to them, say another dog, or a loud trucks passing by, you’re the one that can sooth their anxiety and make them feel safe. This will bring you two closer together like never before.
5.) Socialization
If you have one dog, they may not get the opportunity to engage with other dogs or even other humans. While walking, you’ll likely encounter other dogs and humans. When they are on a leash and under your control, this is a good time for them to be introduced to others. Using verbal commands and the leash for safety, you can allow your dog to get a good sniff. This will help them when encountering new and unknown situations, even under your own roof.
Quick tips for walking your dog:
- Pick the leash right for the dog’s size
It’s my preference to have a retractable leash. My pups are small dogs, only weighting about 15 pounds, so a retractable leash is comfortable and safe for us. I can give them room to sniff around and find their place to poop, which still maintaining control because of it’s retractable features. However, they’re not always the best choice for larger dogs.
Larger dogs can pull and break the mechanisms inside the retractable leashes, leaving you in an unsafe predicament. I’ve also encountered plenty of larger dogs that like to eat their nylon leashes, so I try to avoid using those as well. The nylon will break down and it’ll only take one good tug for them to break free from my control.
For larger dogs, I prefer to use a cord leash. They’re durable, safe, and comfortable to hold. Also, your dog won’t be able to do the type of damage it would to a nylon leash so it will remain sturdy and durable.
Check them out on Amazon:
- Always use a harness.
I originally thought that harnesses were only for larger dogs, but I was wrong. My two Pekinese were “pullers”. Even though they weren’t hurting me by pulling on the leash, the constant pressure on their necks could lead to injury.
I’ve gone through many harnesses in my days with my pups. As a dog walker, I have also had experience with a lot of different types of harnesses for dogs. They’re not all created equal, and the type of walker that your dog is will depend on the harness that they should get. However, there is one that is universal, comfortable and affordable. That’s the Rabbitgoo Dog Harness No-Pull Pet Harness.
This harness has a secure design so the escape artists can’t weasel their ways out of it. It’s also quite easy to put on. Some harnesses are confusing to figure out how to put on when you first get them. And lastly, it has attachments for both the back and front, depending on which type of lead you walk your dog with.
It comes in all different sizes and easily adjusts to your dog’s dimensions.
Check in out on Amazon:
Rabbitgoo Dog Harness No-Pull Pet Harness.
- Poop Bags!
Even if your dog only goes to the bathroom in your backyard, it’s important to carry some poop bags with you at all times. There’s always the chance that the sheer excitement of a walk can induce a bowel movement.
If pooping isn’t the mission for your walk, forgetting to bring a bag with you a walk can be a regular occurrence. A good way to avoid that happening and ticking off neighbors and even getting a fine for leaving their poop is to get a bag dispenser that attaches to their leash.
This handy tool has saved me on many walks! I’ve run into many occasions when I needed more than one bag! Thankfully, I wasn’t without a second one because the bag dispenser holds an entire roll of bags inside it.
Check in out on Amazon:
Although it may be difficult for people to walk their dogs daily, there are services that can help you. Not only do I walk my dog daily, but I also help other families with their pet care needs.
Using companies like Wag and Rover. You’ll be able to schedule regular walks for your dog with trusted dog walkers. Using their services you can be paired with a dog walker in your area.
Now your dog will be getting the proper exercise it needs and you won’t have to worry about rushing home for one of their bathroom breaks. AND if you use my referral code, you can get $25 worth of FREE dog walking!
Check it out today! Come home to a well rest and better behaved dog all by giving them a simple walk every day!
