In addition to the standard walking tours in a day, it can also be very pleasant for your dog and you to take long walks. There are many different options here, but not all options need to be suitable for both of you immediately.
You will need to consider both your dog’s needs and limitations in your choice. For an average, healthy, adult dog, in general, in addition to walking several times a day, you can also take a longer, more extensive walk together. In this article, we’ll give you tips and advice on taking your dog for a long walk.
Walking your dog
A dog needs daily exercise. One dog more than the other, but of course they did not get the four dog paws for anything. For most dog breeds, making the standard walking rounds is therefore still far from sufficient to meet the daily requirement. This daily requirement not only differs per dog breed, but it also differs greatly per individual. The age, condition, and vitality of the dog in particular have a lot of influence on this. A young dog who is otherwise completely healthy will prefer to take you for a long walk every day. For an older dog, this is often no longer necessary. In some cases, it is no longer justified to do this because of the high physical strain. Always take the general condition of your dog into account and adjust the duration and length of the walks accordingly.
Attention during the walk
Even during the long walk, it remains important to take the needs of your dog into account. A dog that needs a little more to lose a lot of energy can be walked with you at a completely different pace than a dog that has to take it easy. During the walk, you can give your dog exactly the exercise it needs. In certain areas, it is allowed to let your dog walk freely with you. The more energetic and vital dogs that do not run away and are social towards others, you can safely let go of the leash a bit. In this way, the dog can determine the pace itself and thus perfectly adjust the amount of exercise to its own needs. Be careful with puppies and young dogs that they can quickly ask too much of themselves. They are still in full growth, which means that walking too much or too long can put too great a strain on the muscles and joints. If you really enjoy walking, you can also choose to bring a dog buggy with a puppy or a small older dog. A pet stroller is an ideal solution for taking sick, old, anxious dogs and puppies outside without having to strain them unnecessarily.
The benefits of a long dog walk
In addition to being able to lose energy, there are a number of reasons why a long walk with the dog can be important. For example, keeping the muscles healthy is one such reason. The mental aspect also plays a major role. A dog that is not sufficiently challenged in addition to physically but also mentally will soon be bored and thus become annoying. This allows the dog to show problem behavior, but also experience stress and therefore develop stress complaints. In addition to an outlet, dogs also regularly need new impressions. In addition to the necessary exercise that your dog gets during the long walk, your dog also ends up in new situations more often. For example, your dog now does not know the route of the walk and will therefore have to think more, use the nose, and pay more attention to your directions. There are also many new and unknown smells and sounds to be perceived during the walk that your dog has to deal with. All in all, a lot of possibilities to offer your dog both the physical and mental challenge it needs.
How long can the walk with my dog be?
So it mainly depends on the personal situation of your dog how long the walk maybe. Assuming an adult dog is in good health, a long walk of more than an hour is sufficient. The fit, athletic dogs can easily handle a walk of up to three hours, and sometimes even longer. During long walks, always make sure that your dog can rest and drink water at any time. Therefore, take a water bottle for dogs with you to always have fresh drinking water for your dog at hand. Walk at a leisurely pace, stopping from time to time on the route to rest and allow your dog to do so. For longer walks in areas with rough surfaces, it is wise to protect your dog’s vulnerable soles with appropriate dog shoes. Give your dog the opportunity to sleep well after the walk. Not only because your dog will be tired, but your dog also needs to process all new impressions and it will probably also be nice for yourself! You can also take your ‘best cigars’ while resting with your dog.