Dog Walking is an exercise that anybody can do. What’s wonderful about it is that you can do it unaccompanied or with a friend. If you do not have somebody, the dog provides great company. It’s simple to do, and requires nothing, apart from a dog, a lead and comfortable 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 well liked.
Dog walking has numerous benefits. It uses calories, it is a weight loss aid. One hour of dog walking (you as well) will burn between 200 and 300 calories, depending on your weight. The heavier you are, the more calories you burn. Walking does not stress your legs and ankles, unlike jogging, which can injure your joints and bones.
In fact it actually helps the knees. The dead of dog walking encourages cartilage growth and the flow of synovial fluid inside the knee. It also strengthens the muscles that protect the knee.
Because dog walking is weight-bearing it also helps builds the muscles that protect the hips. At the same time it strengthens bones therefore reducing the likelihood of fracture due to osteoporosis. By building the core muscles of the spine and abdomen, dog walking helps reduce the chance for getting low back pain.
The increased exertion required for dog walking helps the heart to pump more strongly. 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.
There is some evidence that exercise such as dog walking raises endorphin levels which helps reduce pain, reduces serum cortisol levels which helps relieve anxiety (as does having animals around, so a double benefit), and may also decrease the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.
So how do I {kick off with} start dog walking.
Pretty simple. Start with 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. You should gradually increase the amount you walk. A good objective is 10,000 steps per day, which is roughly 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 characteristics, require to walk over 5 miles a day. Most have the strength for ten or more miles a day.
Depending on your fitness, you can start from low levels. Only one issue, No dog. Not a problem, ask around, there are many individuals who are time starved and don’t have ~ enough time for walking their dog. More and more, during this credit crunch period, dogs are being given to into dog charities, so either volunteer for dog walking or why not re-house a dog.
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.
How fast for your dog walking will depend on you and your dog. Start cautiously. A moderate rate, you can walk up to about 2-3 miles an hour. You should be breathing faster 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 exhausting for you.
Please note, it’s crucial to keep up your dog walking routine, for both you and the dog! Enjoy it.
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