With that cold winter weather setting in finding motivation to get out and about with your four legged friends can be tough. The thought of staying tucked up in your PJ’s under a blanket can be tempting when faced with cold winds and heavy rains. So in this blog we thought we’d look at all the benefits walking has to offer for you and your dog as well as our top tips for making walks more enjoyable!
The World Health Organisation recommends that adults ‘should limit the amount of time spent being sedentary.’ And states that ‘Replacing sedentary time with physical activity of any intensity (including light intensity) provides health benefits’ so even if a 10 mile hike isn’t on the cards just a brisk walk around the block with your pup could help improve your overall health. If you’re unsure how much exercise your dog needs you can speak with your Vet or Veterinary Nurse to get a more tailored idea of the daily goal you should be setting yourself.
Keeping Fit - Daily walking is great for your health. Often overlooked when we speak about exercise, walking briskly can help you build stamina, burn excess calories and make your heart healthier. On top of that ensuring you stay fit and active with regular exercise like walking can help to prevent injury by maintaining muscle tone and improving stamina.
Joint Health - We looked at how the use of our 100% Natural supplement range can benefit your pets joints in our blog '3 Products To Help Improve Your Pets Joints’ but it’s important to remember that supplements are only part of the story when it comes to keeping mobile and active. Keeping weight off with regular walking can reduce the risk of joint problems for us and our dogs and ensuring ageing joints are kept mobile can improve their function preventing stiffness and pain.
Mental Health - There are studies that show just being around dogs can help to lower levels of a stress hormone known as ‘cortisol’. Dog walking can help to have a positive effect on the overall wellbeing of us and our pets, just getting out in to green spaces is a great way to deal with stress and anxiety. Regular exercise also provides mental stimulation for our dogs, which in turn can help prevent destructive behaviours and keep our pets happy and relaxed.
So you know the health benefits but how do you find motivation to get out and about in the face of colder days?
• Take a warm drink.
• Wrap up in suitable clothing, waterproof trousers and coats or cosy hats and gloves, dressing for the right weather will help make even the worst weather more bearable.
• Meet up with friends, making plans with other people is not only great for social reasons but also can help us be more accountable and stick to those walking goals.
• Go somewhere new, exploring new locations is a great way to keep your walks interesting for you and your pup, why not check our local social media groups or blogs to find a new area.
So where are you heading on your next adventure with your canine companion? We’d love to hear all about and of course don’t forget to take some of our delicious 100% Beef Bites to keep your pups energy up on those longer walks or to help work through recall or lead manners! Don’t forget to tag us when you’re out and about on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok - @PetsPurest.
