How Walking Our Dog(s) Helps Us

Photo: Chris Reynolds

There are many benefits to walking your dog for dogs. Many people fail to realize how it will help them as well.

Here's what I've learned from walking three dogs continually:

1. It unites you with nature. Because walking brings you down to a certain speed, you get to hear the birds singing, flowers blooming and seeing the wildlife around you. Nature has an effect of calming and tends to lift our moods.
2. It gives you time to sort out your thoughts. Many times, we are on a solid routine of work, downtime, sleep. While this is ideal for most of us, being out with your dog gives you time to destress and organize your thoughts. You may rush through a walk sometimes, but even on days like those, you know it's going to help your dog.
3. It lowers the bad (ldl) cholesterol and raises the good (hdl). Continuous walking will keep your cholesterol levels steady.
4. It keeps your blood pressure down. High blood pressure is a key factor in accelerating heart disease. Walking will help to combat this.
5. It improves bone density. Postmenopausal women who walk about one mile each day have higher bone density than women who walk shorter distances. It also is effective in slowing the rate of bone loss from the legs.
6. It helps keep your brain sharp. Walking is known to increase brain function and keep cognitive thinking higher.
7. It helps people to live longer. In a 1998 study in the New England Journal of Medicinenon-smoking men between the ages of 45 and 68 who walked each day 1 mile or less, the mortality rate was 43.1 in 100. On the other hand, men who walked 2 miles or more, in the same period of time had a mortality rate of 21.5 per 100. That's quite a difference
8. It reduces your carbon footprint. Walking causes no pollution compared to driving in your car. Even with picking up after your dog, it will leave a much smaller footprint in comparison to driving frequently
9. Minimal equipment is required. When you're walking your dog, all that's needed is a good leash, a pooper scooper and a good pair of walking shoes. No special gadgets are needed (although pedometers are helpful).
10. It makes your pooch happy. When dogs are given something to do like walking, it eliminates their excess energy. They sleep better and have a more structured routine. It keeps them in shape and helps them to live a longer life.

Get Started!

It's simple to get started. Even if you can't do long walks, doing 3 10 minute walks a day is just as beneficial as walking 1 30 minute walk a day. A useful guide to how your neighborhood rates for walking is WalkScore.com.

Let's Discuss!

How does walking your dog benefit you?

It's All Related!

The Benefits Of Walking Your Dog, Part I
The Benefit Of Walking Your Dog, Part II
5 Tips For Walking Senior Dogs
4 Things I've Learned From Dog Walking

The Importance Of Good Shoes

Homer with my summer sandals.

Hello Everyone!

I know it's been awhile since my last post. This past semester was really demanding considering that I had classes that were extremely time-consuming. When you combine that with work, it makes it trickier to blog consistently. Anyhow, I'm glad to be back and have missed you much.

The Moment Of Realization

Many times, we take good shoes for granted. A few weeks ago, I had the opposite reaction when I had sharp pains after wearing the new shoes I recently bought a couple of weeks ago. They weren't anything fancy, just a decent pair of Nikes that I bought for everyday wear and walking the dogs that I do.

So what was wrong with them? They were made with no arch support. Usually, when I buy gym shoes, I've never ran into that problem, however since I was looking more at side support first, that totally evaded me.

What then happened is I found my left foot hurting, with sharp throbs of pain going through it. Since I hadn't kept the receipt long enough, I decided to pick up insoles from Target. After the first day, both my feet were sore. After a few days the pain subsided.

Facts About Foot Pain

When you're walking a dog, there's nothing like shoes with good support. Walking puts up to 1.5 times one's bodyweight on the foot. The average person will walk 1,000 miles (1,609 km)in a year's time.

What To Look For

Whenever buying shoes for lots of walking one should:

• Find a shoe built solidly with arch and side support. You can find one for a reasonable price but watch out for lower quality shoes.
• Make sure it fits your foot. Nothing should be squeezed or poked. Even in the same size, two pairs of shoes will fit differently on your foot.
• Can they be waterproofed? Some shoes are pre-treated and others will need a spray. There's nothing worse than getting wet because water soaks through your shoes.
• If you do lots of walking, look for a shoe that's lightweight. Running or walking shoes are ideal since they are made for that reason. The last thing a runner wants is a heavy shoe. Walking shoes are really popular because of walking's increased popularity as exercise.

With a little time and dedication, you're feet will stay in good condition and remain pain free.

Let's Discuss!

Do you have any stories of unfortunate shoes or what you look for in a great shoe?

It's All Related

The Benefits of Walking Your Dog Pt.1
The Benefits of Walking Your Dog Pt. 2
http://tookooldoggies.blogspot.com/2009/07/take-hike.html

Walking The Dog

Tonight, I took the girls and Homer for a walk. As I was walking up the street, Homer noticed a rabbit. Since he was only 10 feet away from it, I let him chase it for a bit with the girls following behind. After, the rabbit ran into a neighbor's yard, I stopped and congratulated the dogs on a good job.

I continued on the walk, minding my own business. When I turned the dogs around to go home, I had a neighbor yell at me "You really should do a better job of keeping your dogs off my lawn. This was not because of the rabbit, but because one of the dog's did their business (the type that an owner can't pick up) on their lawn.

This man then told me that I was breaking a rule by having my dogs walk on his lawn. Nevermind, that he didn't have any signs saying to keep dogs off the lawn. Nevermind that I told him that I try to keep my dogs on the parkway (which is city property). Then I said "Friendly Neighbor" in a sarcastic voice and continued on my way. He then yelled that I should use a backyard.

Most people who don't own dogs realize that some dogs require more exercise than staying in the backyard. Homer, has a very high energy level. He spends a huge chunk of the day in the backyard and still needs at least two walks a day.

I find myself stymied for a solution. I try to respect neighbors' wishes but it's very hard to keep the dogs on a certain path, especially when Homer fixates on a rabbit scent. I guess I will just have to rotate the routes I take the dogs on and try to avoid this neighbor's lawn in the future.

Let's Discuss!

How do you deal with difficult neighbors? What do you think is the best solution?

Related

Lawn Lovers vs. Dog Owners

Superbowl Funday

This year's superbowl was the largest event ever watched on television yielding 111 million viewers in this country alone. Part of my plan for the day was to take the dogs to the dog park. I found this dog park that was a half an hour away and took all three dogs there. I had done this as part of Subaru's Dog Walk Event.

A New Adventure

Going to the park, I was in for a treat. There were two fenced in areas for dogs. One area was for smaller dogs and the other was for larger dogs.

We first went to the smaller dog area and the dogs were having a great time. They were on their

own and could roam around at their leisure. At the large park next door, there were about 5 or 6 Siberian Huskies. Since Cookie and Homer could be better socialized, I took them from the smaller dog area to the larger area 10 minutes later.

Homer Investigating The Park

Gigi was thrilled to meet new friends. Homer was excited to have a new territory to sniff. Cookie however, wasn't coming in any time soon. I gave her time to come in on her own, but when one of the other dogs darted out, I realized that I would have to pick up Cookie and carry her in. Cookie didn't seem to mind and stayed by my side the entire time.

Big Vs. Little

Since Homer is very unpredictable in how he reacts with other dogs, I watched him very closely. Siberian Huskies are extremely playful dogs and they can be a little bit on the rough side. In Homer's case, this is ideal because he tends to be that way when he plays with Gigi and Cookie.

He was good for about 20 minutes and then he fear kicked in and he tried to start a fight with an older husky. I immediately told him that we are going home and put on his leash. As we were leaving there was a little Scottish Terrier mix coming in.

I held Homer back since he was in his mode. Sure enough Homer was barking to let that terrier know who was boss. I then let Gigi approach to say hello. Gigi is one of those dogs who loves everyone, so I knew there wouldn't be any issues with her. It turned out there wasn't.

Heading Home

Believe it or not, the hardest part of my dog park visit was getting the dogs ready to go back home. Once we got to the car, I noticed that both Cookie and Gigi had a bunch of snow caught in their fur. Since their hair is curly and long, it took me a while to get everything out.

Once we got home, the difference in the dogs was well worth it. Homer was much calmer and the girls seemed to be enjoying their quiet time as well.

Let's Discuss!

Do you take your dogs to the dog park in the winter time? How did your dog's partake in the Superbowl festivities?

Related Posts

Superbowl Fun For Dog Owners
Baby It's Cold Outside
A Day At The Dog Park
Winter Safety Tips

Superbowl Fun For Dog Owners

Photo: PR Newswire

Subaru, known for its "Dog Tested, Dog Approved" commercials is one of the most dog-friendly car companies out there. Their dogs, Olive (a black Shar Pei mix) and Zelda (a Golden Retriever Mix) are rescue dogs that have been featured in their car commercials. The commercials have been a huge hit.

Superbowl Game Day Dog Walk

Suburu is having a special event on February 6th for its pet owners. Since the average person consumes a total of 3,000 calories (3,500 net calories put on a pound) on Superbowl Sunday, it can only help to be active. You can sign up on their website to pledge to walk your dog on Superbowl Sunday. Participants will receive a special doggy package from Subaru while supplies last. So far, they have 2,333 pledges and counting. The website also has a dog park finder where you can take your dog for the day.

The company is also choosing to sponsor the Puppy Bowl VII and foregoing traditional game day advertising.

Wanna Pledge Too?

If you would like to more about this and join the thousands of people participating please visit their signup page at Subaru.com or their Facebook page.

Let's Discuss!

How do your dogs celebrate Superbowl Sunday?

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Truly Cool Ad Photography

My New Job

Hello Everyone!

Recently, I started a new job as a dog walker. Being that I'm crazy about dogs, I'm really enjoying the job. Being a dog walker may not be the most glamorous job in the world but for me, it is one of the most rewarding.

Dog walking has also helped me become more physically active and be more in tune with nature. I don't find myself needing to put on my iPod to pass the time, it's more fun to just listen to the noises of my surroundings. Probably the best thing is meeting new dogs and learning how to interact with them. All of them have different personalities that teach a lot.

It's only part-time and does require a bit of driving, yet the time I spend with the dogs is worth it. They also do petsitting but with Homer needing more of my time, I will probably just be doing the dogwalking part of it. I'm doing this to help while I go to school and launch my websites. Now, with the state of the current economy, it's important to enjoy the moment and not think too far ahead.

Let's Discuss!

What's the best job you had that wasn't planned but just happened?

Related Posts

The World Of Petsitting
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Oh No! How I Found A Dogwalker On Short Notice

Walking Your Dog In Winter

Winterize: Part II

This time of year, the winds pick up, snow comes down and ice forms everywhere. Taking your dog for a walk can become much more difficult especially if you live in a place where you can just let them outside into your back yard. Still, some of us don't have that luxury, so here are some tips to make those winter walks more bearable.

Winter Walks Safety Tips

• Use a reflective leash or collar. There is less visibility in winter and just like walking at night, drivers may have trouble seeing you if you walk near a street.


• Wear gloves. Gloves give you better ability to hold on to the leashes when you're out with the dogs. I love mittens and have worn them quite a bit when I walk Cookie and Gigi and as warm as they keep my hands, it's easy for one of the leashes to slip off my wrist.


• Don't let your dogs off the leash! Snow will cover up a dog's ability to track scents. As nice as it is to let them romp in the snow, it's much easier for them to get lost and not be able to find their way back.


• Wear boots with good traction. If you are big on walking your dogs this is a must.


• Carry a flashlight if you're walking them at night. Some flashlights are small enough to fit into the palm of your hand. I have a purse-size flashlight that is really tiny but provides a great source of light at night.


• Modify your schedule. Now that winter is here, I know that Gigi and Cookie need a minimum of two walks a day. In the summer, I was able to take them out more. Still, I don't want to lose the exercise benefits of that extra walk. So, I'm making a point to have a longer walk to keep their exercise level on target.


• Dress your dogs accordingly. Some dogs will be fine as is because their outer coat is warm enough for the winter. However, if your dog isn't, you may want to consider dog coats or even dog boots as a form of protection.

Well, these are my tips, what are yours? In case you missed part I, you can check it out here. Have a great day everybody!

The Benefits of Walking Your Dog-Part II

Previously, I had written about the benefits of dog walking in this post. After taking them on a long walk (45 minutes), I thought of additional benefits that I had not realized.

Here are some more reasons it's great to walk your dog:

1. Walking makes your dogs less irritable. Dogs are cooped up in a house or yard all day. Walking is an adventure for them and is a natural instinct for dogs. Dogs love to explore and they never know where they are going to end up on a walk. Only you do.
2. By letting dogs sniff the ground during the walk, they pick up all the scents of the neighborhood. Their sense of smell is so distinct, they remember exactly where they are because of these smells and it helps them find their way home.
3. They sleep better and so do you.
4. Walking is a low-impact exercise. It's great for increasing joint mobility and blood circulation.
5. It helps stave away heart disease. I had found this comment from Steve Freed, R.Ph., CDE of diabetesincontrol.com to be very insightful:

   For our newsletter www.diabetesincontrol.com we did a study with 5 patients with diabetes who would not exercise.
   We called their vets and had them tell the patient that they had to walk their dog 40 minutes twice a day to prevent heart disease and all 5 patients did for their pets what they would not do for themselves.

Weather.com has a great tool that helps you calculate how many calories you can burn on a walk. Check it out here!

I also found the neatest gadget to make walks more inviting. As you know, human pedometers have been around for quite some time, and now someone came up with this brilliant creation.
Pedometers Australia carries a pedometer made specifically for dogs. It slips onto their collar and measures the number of steps you take. It measures the steps they take and it can be used even when you're just playing a game of fetch.

With summer just around the corner, if you've been hesitant to get on the bandwagon, now is the time. As always, feel free to share your thoughts. I hope you all have a great night.

The Benefits of Walking Your Dog, Part I

Buster

About seven years ago, I was doing dog walking as a living. One of the dogs was named Buster. He was a reddish-brown Pit Bull who was about two years old. His owner had saved him the day before he was about to be euthanized. Buster was found from a place that did dog fighting. He was either a bait dog, or used in fighting, the owner wasn't sure. You could see little scars on his face. Still, he was a happy pooch.

Buster loved humans but as a result of the fighting, had a tendency to be aggressive towards other dogs. To combat that, I had to be very careful of where I took him for a walk. If I ran into another dog, I would make sure to take him the other way and be super careful that I had a good hold of the leash. Some people would give me disapproving looks but I never took that personally. He was very strong and pulled all time time, but you could tell he loved every minute of his walk. There were times I would run with him to help him get some of that energy out of him. He was so appreciative. Even with a dog as strong as Buster, I never had a major problem with him because I knew what to expect.

Dogs like Buster is why I wrote the Misunderstood Pit Bull. I may have not stayed in dogwalking for longer than a couple of months that year, but Buster was a dog who would never be forgotten. Hope you all have a great day.

The Benefits of Walking Your Dog Part-I

Taking your dog on walks is one of the best way to bond with this four-legged friend. I used to be one of those people who was lazy about walking Cookie before I got Gigi. If it wasn't for the cold weather, I would have done it more often. Some days, I would just be fried after getting home from work. All in all, I was lucky to have walked her two days a week.

Last year, Gigi the family. She was eleven months old when we got her. For some reason, if the yard was wet at all, she wouldn't go out. The only way I could get to get her outside was to take her on a walk. She couldn't get enough. Soon, it got to be a habit of taking both dogs out twice a day. On rainy days, I bought them raincoats to keep them drier and took them on shorter walks when the weather was miserable. When winter came, it went down to once a day. On snowy days or cold days, I'd bundle up and just do it. Still, there was very few days that I missed taking them out.


They say that it takes only twenty-one times to create a new habit. Ever since I've increased the number of walks I do with my dogs in a week, I've noticed many benefits of doing this activity.

One of the best things dog walking does is create a stronger bond with you and your dog(s). This is a time your dogs know it's for them. They can explore and get in touch with their desire to explore their surroundings.

Another benefit is the fact that you get in touch with the outdoors. You have nothing to listen to except the sound of your footsteps as well as those of your dogs. It forces you to slow down and notice the world around you instead of sitting inside or doing some chores that you have to do later anyway.

It increases your energy level. If you are more active, you are going to have more energy compared to when your being more sedentary. It's also a good way to keep your weight down and have your dogs lose weight, if need be. I know that I can't slack off like I used to because it doesn't just affect me.

Finally, it gives my dogs a chance to be social with other dogs. You see which neighbors have dogs which are good for your dogs to visit and which are not so good. The more your dogs interact with other dogs, the more of a chance they will socialize better in the future.

I feel that something I used to dread to do has become something to look forward to. This is just one of those activities I wrote about in my activities post.
See it here.

I would love to hear your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by.