People think that because I have small dogs they don't need outdoor exercise or daily walks. But the truth is, my dogs LOVE going for the evening walk. We may not go very far since of course Chihuahuas are so small that even a block can be a workout in warm weather but we still go on them and if I even get close to skipping a walk, my dogs let me know it's time!
Dogs don't just use walks for exercise you see, they actually get to exercise their brain as well. When dogs mark things like a tree, telephone pole, or fire hydrant they are leaving little messages for other dogs. Kind of like saying "hey, I was here, this is what's going on in the neighborhood while I was out!" so it's really important to let dogs sniff around and explore on walks.
Usually after a dog sniffs these little messages they leave their own. I used to think dogs were supposed to just obediently walk on the sidewalk but after researching I learned how important it is to let them smell everything and take in all the sights and sounds.
I can see a huge difference in my dogs on days they have a walk and days we skip it which is usually because of bad weather or freezing temperatures.
My dogs will get very hyper and antsy and sometimes even do naughty things like stealing a tissue and shredding it. They'll start getting playful but won't settle down even if I tell them too. Dogs are just like people. We can't expect them to sit around all day in one area. Even if it's just a five minute walk, it really does help them stretch their legs, get some physical activity, and use their brains to take in everything going on outside.
I even notice that when we haven't taken a walk for a day or we haven't been on a specific route for a bit, my dogs have a lot of catching up to do and they have even more things to stop and smell. It's like they can't reach the next tree fast enough to see what news they missed. I guess dogs can get FOMO too!
If you have a bigger breed or a more athletic breed that needs exercise it's even more important to take them on daily walks. If you can't go to far from home you can also just walk them in laps around your home or yard. Anything is better than staying inside cooped up.
My dogs also tend to race each other to get to the next thing to smell. It's quite entertaining. Daisy even does handstands to pee which makes it that much more hilarious when we go on our evening walks.
When it's super hot outside make sure you keep your dog off the blacktop since the temperatures can burn their paw pads. Try to go on walks when there's shade or in the early morning or late evening when the temperatures aren't so brutal. And don't make your dog walk too far when there's a heatwave. It's not a bad idea to bring a bowl and some water along too.
When it's really cold out consider putting a sweater on your pup and putting booties on their paws if they tend to get ice clumps stuck in their fur. These can be painful for dogs and you don't want to take away the enjoyment of their outdoor walking time.
To let my dogs stay active and support their joint health I also have them on Wuffes Joint Supplement. If you use that link, you can get 58% and a free gift (value of $45) if you purchase a double subscription!
So no matter what kind of dog you have, walks are important whether it's around your own property or in your neighborhood.
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