Dog Walking is a work out that almost anyone can do. What’s great about it is that you can do it alone or with a friend. If you do not have anybody, the dog provides great company. It’s simple to do, and requires no special equipment, apart from a dog, a lead and comfortable shoes. It is also free, in fact you can make money out of it. In addition it can be done anywhere, anytime, even in London dog walking is popular.
Dog walking has many benefits. It is the key element of dog care. It burns calories, it is a weight loss aid. An hour or so of dog walking (you as well) will use between 200 and 300 calories, depending on your mass. The heavier you are, the more calories you use. Walking does not stress your legs and ankles, unlike jogging, which can injure your joints and bones.
In fact it actually helps the knees. The action of dog walking stimulates cartilage growth and the flow of synovial fluid within the knee. It also builds the muscles that shield the knee.
Since dog walking is weight-bearing it also aids builds the muscles that shield the hips. At the same time it builds bones therefore minimising the possibility of fracture due to osteoporosis. By building the core muscles of the spine and abdomen, dog walking helps reduce the possibility of getting low back pain.
The increased exertion needed for dog walking helps the heart to pump more efficiently. This helps reduce blood pressure with the subsequent reduced risk for stroke and heart attack.
Dog walking increases the respiratory rate (breathing rate), promotes increased flow of oxygen to the rest of the body and also helps eliminate the build up of carbon dioxide. A major plus for you and the dog is improved energy.
There is some evidence that exercise such as dog walking raises endorphin levels which helps reduce pain, decreases serum cortisol levels which helps reduce anxiety (as does having animals around, so an additional), and may also reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.
So how do I start dog walking.
Pretty simple. The first thing is to make sure you have a good pair of walking shoes. If you suffer from flat feet, you should use orthotics.
Do not overdo it at the very beginning. Build up gradually increasing the amount you walk. A good goal is 10,000 steps per day, which is roughly 5 miles. Don’t worry it is not that far, note, most people already walk about 3,000 to 5,000 steps a day during the course of a routine day. Please note that many dogs, who evolved from wolves still have the same behaviours, require to walk over 5 miles a day. Most have the stamina for fifteen or more miles a day.
Depending on your fitness, you can start from low levels. Only one problem, No dog. Not a problem, ask around, there are many people who are time starved and don’t have ~sufficient time for walking their dog. Increasingly, during this credit crunch period, dogs are being given to into dog charities, so either volunteer to become a dog walker or why not take a dog home with you.
Strapped for cash, why not help out people who do not have time for dog walking and set up a business walking their dog.
How fast for your dog walking will depend on you and your dog. Start cautiously. A moderate pace, you can walk up to about 2-3 miles an hour. A good rule of thumb is that you should be breathing more rapidly and feel your heart rate going up but still be able to carry on a conversation. You need to ensure that the dog is not pulling you, its not good for the dog and it is more tiring for you.
Please note, it’s crucial to keep up your dog walking routine, for both you and the dog! Enjoy it.
