After a long day at work, you’d much rather spend your time snuggling with your dog on the couch. Though you love your pet and would do anything to make them happy, a 45-minute walk sounds miserable.
However, walking your dog is an essential part of pet care. Dogs need activity and stimulation, and exploring the outside world ensures they get the necessary engagement.
If you dread walking the dog every day, continue reading for some of the best tips to help you look forward to bonding with your pup!
Stay Safe
If you want to enjoy the walk to the fullest extent, dog safety is essential. You won’t have fun if you’re worried about your protection or the safety of your dog.
Ensuring that you’re aware of your surroundings, investing in the best dog harness, and keeping your dog leashed is essential.
Though you may trust your pup off-leash, other dogs may not be as friendly. A leash can also help keep your dog comfortable and help them feel more secure since they know you’re only feet away.
Sniff Away!
Though it may be boring for you to stop constantly, letting your dog sniff is a great way to stimulate and keep them engaged while walking.
Remember, you can always go on a walk whenever you want, but your dogs can’t walk themselves! Giving them the chance to use their instincts and explore their surroundings is crucial for their development.
Explore New Areas
If you find yourself walking your usual route on auto-pilot, it could be time to switch up where you walk!
Though you know your neighborhood like the back of your hand, finding new routes to explore can make the walk more exciting for you and your dog. Seeing new sights can help you look forward to the daily stroll.
You can also look into taking your dog to local parks or hiking trails. This is a great way to exercise while keeping your dog active and engaged!
Try Training
While walking, you can incorporate training into your walk. Whether you want to reinforce simple commands like “sit,” and “stay,” or work on recalling your dog, training can help break up the monotony of walks.
This is a great way to challenge your dog, as a walk can be overwhelming for dogs. With so many new sights, smells, and people, this is a great way to command your pup’s attention and help them focus on you.
Walking the Dog Doesn’t Have to Be a Chore
Though you may be tempted to hire a dog walker, you can save money, get healthy, and bond with your pup by walking the dog yourself!
You’ll also want to look into when to walk your dog, as going in the noon heat can be uncomfortable and unsafe for you and your dog. Mornings or evenings are typically best.
If this guide to making your daily dog walk more fun has you ready to get your pup on the leash and out the door, you’ll want to check out the rest of our website. You’ll find more great pet content.
