How often should you walk a dog?
20th December 2011
One of the many duties and responsibilities a dog owner has is taking your pet out for a walk. But do you know how often and for how long you should walk your dog for?
According to dogtime.com most dogs need 30-60 minutes of exercise a day. A brisk 10 minute stroll will not do the job.
There are also other factors to consider when walking your four-legged friend. The amount of exercise your dog needs depends on the age, breed and health of your dog.
A 10 month old puppy will need more time to run around than a five-year-old dog. Sporting breeds such as a sight hound, for example, will need short bursts of exercise whereas guarding dogs will not need as much as overall sporting breeds who like to hunt all day. Whilst some smaller dogs can get exercise running around the home, small breeds like Pugs, need more exercise than usual because they are prone to obesity.
Active breeds need a minimum of 30 minutes of hard exercise every day.
Dog walking habits
Research from PetPlan has found that 80% of dogs have a regular walk everyday without fail. The majority of dog owners are aware of the importance of regular exercise.
A study from a Polish university found that the sex of the dog owner has a significant impact on the dog’s behaviour during a walk. Dogs walked by men are four times more likely to bite or threaten other dogs.
The research, which is to be published in the Applied Animal Behaviour Science Journal, also found that dogs on a leash are more likely to act aggressively than dogs off the leash.
Dogs need regular exercise to keep them in good health, whilst you may not be able to prevent any accidents or nasty surprises from occurring you can consider taking out pet insurance.
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