Most dog owners know that it’s important to walk their dog at least once a day, yet recent studies have found that 20% neglect to give their dogs a daily walk.
Keep in mind that daily walks are necessary to keep your dog in good shape, so here are some ways to make sure your canine pal gets the attention he or she needs while making your walks more enjoyable.
1. Let Your Dog Have a Good Sniff Around to Keep Them Stimulated
Dogs require much more than physical exercise when on their daily walks. They also need the mental exercise, which is accomplished through sniffing their surroundings.
It may be frustrating having your dogs continually sniff everything in their paths, especially if you’ve recently re-trained him or her, but you can avoid this by choosing designated areas where they’re free to use their noses.
At these locations, you can loosen your dogs’ leashes and let them walk around more freely to take in as many smells as possible within a brief window of time.
Letting your dog smell around enables them to take in their surroundings and keep track of what’s going on in the neighborhood.
2. Avoid Retractable Leashes
While retractable leashes may seem appealing to use for more control, these leashes come with certain hazards that you won’t find with traditional options.
One of the problems with retractable leashes is that their length makes it difficult to keep control over your dog, particularly in areas with high traffic.
They’re also difficult to reel in, which can be especially dangerous when dogs run into a street or other dangerous area. With enough pressure, locks can also disengage.
Grabbing retractable leashes beyond the handle also presents another hazard: severe burns. You can also fall over if your dog is strong enough and reaches the end of the leash, potentially injuring both you and your dog.
Retractable leashes are alright for areas where you don’t need to keep your dog too close, such as during bathroom breaks in the yard or on the beach, but don’t use them for normal walks.
3. Make Sure Your Dog Has Proper Identification
Whenever you leave the house with your dog, you should make sure your dog is wearing an ID tag or has a chip. There’s no guarantee your dog won’t get lost even if you’re right there to watch over him or her.
Tags should be up-to-date, with all of the most current information including the phone number to call and the home address. If you do have a microchip, make sure you register your information, or nobody will be able to get in touch with you if they find your friend.
With these tips in mind, you can make sure that you and your dog are free of stress and remain comfortable throughout your walks. You’ll keep your dog safe while helping further avoid any unwanted surprises on your journey throughout the neighborhood.
