Dog Walking is an exercise that anybody can do. What’s superb about it is that you can do it single-handily or with a friend. If you do not have a friend, the dog provides great company. It’s pretty easy to do, and needs nothing, apart from a dog, a leash and comfy shoes. It also costs nothing, in fact you can make money out of it. In addition it can be done just about anywhere, even in London dog walking is common.
Dog walking has multiple benefits. Since it burns calories, it is a weight loss aid. Sixty minutes of dog walking (you as well) will burn between 200 and 300 calories, depending on your mass. The heavier you are, the more calories you use. Walking does not stress your limbs, unlike jogging, which can injure your joints and bones.
In fact it truly helps the knees. The act of dog walking encourages cartilage growth and the flow of synovial fluid inside the knee. It also strengthens the muscles that shield the knee.
Since dog walking is weight-bearing it also helps builds the muscles that protect the hips. At the same time it builds bones therefore reducing the likelihood of bone splintering due to osteoporosis. By strengthening the main muscles of the spine and abdomen, dog walking helps reduce the probability of getting low back pain.
The raised exertion needed for dog walking helps the heart to pump more efficiently. This helps reduce blood pressure with the subsequent reduced risk for stroke and heart attack.
Dog walking increases the respiratory rate (breathing rate), promotes increased flow of oxygen to the rest of the body and also helps eliminate the build up of carbon dioxide. A major plus for you and the dog is improved energy.
Studies show that exercise such as dog walking raises endorphin levels which helps reduce pain, reduces serum cortisol levels which helps relieve stress (as does having animals around, so an additional), and may also reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.
So how do I {kick off with} start dog walking.
Pretty easy. The first thing is to make sure you have a good pair of walking shoes. If you suffer from flat feet, you should use orthotics.
Do not try to do too much at the very beginning. Build up gradually increasing the amount you walk. A good goal is 10,000 steps per day, which is approximately 5 miles. If that seems like a lot, note, most people already walk about 3,000 to 5,000 steps a day during the course of a routine day. Please note that many dogs, who evolved from wolves still have the same behaviours, need to walk over 5 miles a day. Many have the stamina for ten or more miles a day.
Depending on your fitness, you can build up from low levels. Only one problem, No dog. Not a problem, ask around, there are many individuals who do not have ~sufficient time for walking their dog. Increasingly, during this credit crunch period, dogs are being handed into dog charities, so either volunteer for dog walking or why not take a dog home with you.
Strapped for cash, why not help out people who do not have time for dog walking and set up a business making money from walking their dog.
What speed for your dog walking will depend on you and your dog. Start slowly. A moderate pace, you can walk up to about 2-3 miles an hour. A good rule of thumb is that you should be breathing more rapidly and feel your heart rate going up but still be able talk comfortably. You need to ensure that the dog is not pulling you, its not good for him and it is more tiring for you.
Remember, it’s important to keep up your dog walking routine, for both you and the dog! Enjoy it.