Walkies!!! There’s nothing better than a good walk with our dogs, when they aren’t pulling us like crazy that is.

We get fresh air, quality time together, and a low-impact way to work out any energy that our dogs may have pent up.

But did you know that there are so many more benefits to walking your dog than just exercise? Your dog’s physical, mental, and emotional well-being can all be improved by taking daily walks.

Today we’ll be talking about the reasons why you need to be walking your dog!

PHYSICAL HEALTH

While physical health is the most obvious benefit of walking your dog, we shouldn’t glance over it. Exercise is so important to your dog’s health!

Not enough exercise can quickly lead to your dog gaining weight, which can cause a number of health problems. Obesity in dogs can contribute to diabetes, cancer, heart disease, joint issues, bladder stones, and other diseases.

Even if your dog is active in the house through playing and training, it’s still important for them to walk. Those shorter sessions usually aren’t enough exercise to really benefit your dog’s health and help them expend the energy they need.

Bonus for you: You’ll be getting more movement in your day, too!

DECOMPRESSION

If you notice your dog has a hard time calming down, or is acting out a lot, walks may be the answer. We’ve talked before about how lack of exercise can lead to destructive behavior, but it can cause your dog to be more stressed too, especially if they aren’t spending time outdoors.

To put it simply, your dog needs time to be a dog. They need to sniff, explore, and discover the outside world. Walks are a great opportunity to do that, especially if you live in an area that allows your dog to be immersed in nature.

Walks provide the space and time to release energy in a non-stressful environment, especially on a trail or in nature (just be sure it’s dog-friendly and safe!). But any walk is better than no walk, so don’t discount your basic neighborhood walk for decompression.

Bonus for you: You’ll get some quiet time in your day to decompress! Put your phone on Do Not Disturb and just enjoy the moment.

SOCIALIZATION

When your dog’s in your home or yard, they’re only really interacting with the people who live there. Going for walks is a great way for dogs to see other dogs and people. Seeing other dogs and people from a distance at first will help build confidence for close-up meetings as your dog becomes more comfortable on their walks.

Socialization is so important for raising a happy and well-balanced dog. It’s so important that we put together a whole guide with tips and a checklist. View it here!

Bonus for you: You get to see more dogs. Need we say more?

NEW SIGHTS, SOUNDS, AND SMELLS

“I can show you the world…”

If you notice that every venture outdoors is a “magic carpet ride”-like experience for your dog — you’re right! Especially if your dog is young, each walk is an opportunity to sniff, hear, sniff, see, and sniff some more new stuff.

Not only is this a lot of fun for your dog, it’s an essential part of their development. Learning new things about their surroundings is a form of mental exercise that’s nearly impossible to recreate indoors. Engaging your dog mentally is just as important for their well-being as physical exercise, and can lead to a happier and better-behaved dog.

Bonus for you: While you might not be as excited about new sites, sounds, and smells as your dog, it’s still an opportunity for you to “stop and smell the roses.” You may get to notice new things too, but at the very least it’s a way to change up your scenery for the day and enjoy some fresh air.

BONDING THROUGH QUALITY TIME

Quality time can be spent in many forms — taking a walk together is a great option. By going on frequent walks, your dog will learn to associate the fun experience of a walk with spending time with you. For people who work or care for children all day, the daily walk may be your dog’s opportunity to spend uninterrupted time with you. That certainly doesn’t go unnoticed by your dog.

Bonus for you: This one’s pretty self-explanatory, don’t you think?

TRAINING

Walks place your dog in different environments and on a leash — the perfect opportunity for training. Teaching your dog proper leash behaviors is not only great for their disposition, it’s important for keeping them safe during a walk.

Leash training is so important that we’ve created an entire course on it for the Pupford Academy. The Leash Walkingcourse covers why dogs pull on their leash, what tools not to use (and what to use instead), heel vs. loose leash walking, and multiple methods to overcome bad leash behavior.

Learn more about the video-style course here.

Dogs of all breeds, sizes, and ages can benefit from more walks. It’s just important that pup parents know how to teach their dogs proper leash behavior for safe and happy walks.

Where are your favorite places to walk your dog? Let us know in the comments below!

This article used with permission from Pupford.com