January might be cold, wet, and grey, but it’s the perfect time to help you, and your canine companions, stay healthy and active. Walking with your dog is a great way to bond with your four-legged family member, and get your steps in for the day! Since it’s National Dog Walking Month you could pair it with a January step count challenge (there are loads to choose from) and work towards your own New Year’s resolution at the same time. After all, if you can commit to walking every day in January, you can do it the rest of the year too!
Health Benefits
Most dogs need to walk daily in order to keep their weight in a healthy range and prevent secondary ailments related to canine obesity, such as joint pain, urinary problems and digestive issues. It’s also good for us, it keeps our cardiovascular health in check, lower blood pressure, and stronger muscles and bones. Whether or not your dog needs daily walking will depend on its age, breed, and previous health. Some breeds, particularly working dog breeds, might need more than one vigorous walk per day, whereas a small, elderly dog will be happy with thirty minutes.
It can keep both us and our dog’s mental health positive too. Just like us, inactive dogs will get stressed, bored, and depressed, which can lead to them becoming dejected or destructive with your stuff. Walking is a great way for your companion to get socialised with other dogs, explore different terrains, and burn off some pent-up energy. For dog owners, it’s a great way to meet people, get some fresh air, and let go of the stresses of the day.
Dog Walking Safety
Make sure your dog is always safe by keeping them on a lead. Even if you trust your dog to come when you call, you might bump into a reactive dog who needs personal space to remain happy and calm. Another risk is when your dog’s instinct takes over and causes your dog to run into the road or off a cliff. Even if your dog is the most well-behaved and obedient, there is also the risk of dog thieves. If your dog needs to run around, there are some amazing dog parks in the area which you can book time slots for. These are a great way to get your dog running around in a safe environment so you can focus solely on having fun with your pooch.
With frost and snow comes gritting salt, which can be dangerous to dogs when ingested. Make sure they have clean paws when they come in from a walk to ensure they don’t lick their salt-covered paws clean and get sick. If they will allow it, in very cold weather you can also use booties to keep their paws off the icy/salty pavements. Remember at night or in low light to wear high-vis outerwear, and if your dog allows it, you can get high-vis jackets and light-up collars for your companion, so vehicles can always see you.
Places to Walk
Great places to walk your dog can be close to home, like the beach in Bridlington or your local park; you can also go further afield such as Fraisthorpe beach, Dalby Forest, or Danes Dyke Nature Reserve, perfect for a lovely family day out.
However and wherever you walk your dog, remember to stay safe and be respectful. If you are concerned about your pet or would like more information on the health benefits of walking your dog this January, get in touch with one of our vets.
