How Often Should I Walk My Dog?

Kael Laselva- Contributor for House of FurBaby
7.10.22

Has you and your family’s daily routine ever been interrupted by the menial task of walking your dog? Although it is often just a minor inconvenience for most people, it can be really hard on the pet owner’s consciousness as well as the pet's health, to consistently skip their daily walks. Because of this, it is very important to be aware of how much time a walk should take, as well as how frequently one’s dog requires exercise, in order to efficiently implement these walks into your schedule. The amount of walking that one’s dog needs is dependent on multiple factors including: the pet’s age, breed, size, and health. 

https://www.google.com/amp/s/theconversation.com/amp/walking-a-dog-wont-make-your-child-fitter-but-it-can-give-them-a-healthier-start-91800

Whether or not your pet has some mileage on its paws can determine how much walking per day it requires. Younger, more energetic dogs tend to develop destructive tendencies if their energy is not released in a healthy manner. For this reason, walking a younger dog (of average size and health) twice a day, although not realistic for some owners, is very beneficial for your pet’s health.

Bigger and medium sized dogs tend to require a lot more exercise, with breeds such as Shepherds, Retrievers, Weimaraners, and Dalmatians, having a lot more energy that they need to exert than smaller breeds. One reason that these dogs need more waking, is because of the amount of food that they ingest per day compared to other smaller breeds. Because of this, (according to the Shallowford Animal Hospital, as well as an article titled: How often should you walk your dog, by Tractive animal health researchers) walking a larger, well fed, and healthy dog 3-4 times a day, for 15-20 minutes, is a safe bet for keeping your fur baby healthy and happy. Usually, smaller dogs on the other hand, do not require much food or exercise. On average, 1-2, 15-20 minute walks will keep a smaller breed of dog in tip top shape, as long as they are fed correctly. Although, there are some exceptions to this “small dog tendency”. More hyperactive dogs, bred for hunting or sport, such as Terriers, may require just as much walking as a larger breed, which can be up to 4 times a day for 20-30 minutes. 

https://figopetinsurance.com/blog/how-often-should-different-sized-dogs-be-walked

At the end of the day, each furbaby has its own tendencies, and differentiating qualities that factor into the amount of exercise that they need, so the aforementioned statistics are merely recommendations to serve as a guideline for the average pet owner. If the dog in question partakes in other forms of exercise, the amount of walking that they need may vary. Check with your local veterinary expert for more recommendations regarding your specific furry friend.

Have you ever been victim to the feelings of overwhelming stress and anxiety? Have you ever had one of THOSE days where nothing can seem to cheer you up? Well, a common solution to all of those problems may come in a very fluffy and adorable package! Studies have shown that therapy dogs have many positive effects on their caretakers. These benefits not only include aid in relief of stress or anxiety, but overall emotional support and pure, unconditional love as well. If one has the means to support it, then a therapy dog may be a very plausible solution to a human needing emotional support, as well as a welcome addition to the family! 

What makes a good therapy dog?

Many breeds that lend themselves to being an excellent therapy dog, have very affectionate and loyal personalities, enjoy being cuddled, and are usually great with children and company. Some other aspects to look for in a therapy dog breed include patience and a very calm temperament. To each their own, therapy dogs should fit the needs and preferences of their owner.

Therapy dogs differ from service dogs, in that their training will be more based upon the owners needs, rather than a structured training and certification required for service dogs. Therapy animals have different restrictions than service dogs, and are not allowed in public spaces unless noted. Therapy pets are also known as ESA’s, or emotional support animals.

Now the question arises: what therapy dog breed fits  my lifestyle the best? Read on, to discover the traits of 3 popular breeds, including the Labrador Retriever, the Poodle, and the Newfoundland. 

The Labrador Retriever

The Labrador Retriever is the most common therapy dog breed across the United States. A very versatile companion, the Retriever is relatively easy to train. The main reason that this breed of canine is so popular among those who experience stress and anxiety, is because of their affectionate and focused personality. Labrador Retrievers are also well known for their acceptance towards visitors and friendliness with other pets and children. Although retrievers are adaptable, they often don’t fare well with small apartment living due to their energetic tendencies and medium-sized average. Male Labrador Retrievers can grow to be around 24 inches tall, weighing in between 65-80 pounds, while the weight of female Retrievers ranges from 50-70 pounds while standing around 22 inches in height.

https://commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/Labrador_Retriever

The Poodle

The Poodle is renowned across the globe for its excellent intelligence and perky attitude. This breed serves as superb therapy dogs because of their hypoallergenic coat, affectionate personality, and adaptability to different environments. Although, their intelligence does become an inconvenience at times, with the dog refusing to do repetitive tasks unless bribed by treats. Poodles regularly come in three sizes, Toy, which weigh 4-5 pounds while being 9-11 inches tall, Miniature, which weigh 10-15 pounds and stand from 11-14 inches in height, and Standard, which weigh in from 45-60 pounds while being 18-24 inches tall depending on the gender.

https://www.quora.com/Which-size-between-toy-miniature-and-standard-is-the-best-one-among-poodles

The Newfoundland Dog

The Newfoundland Dog (Newfie) is a welcome addition to any home that has the means to support it. Truly a gigantic teddy bear, this big dog is a gentle giant. Very friendly, affectionate, and protective, the Newfie is a great fit for those in large houses/areas who struggle with stress and anxiety. This breed of dog is not a good fit for anywhere with very limited space and play area. A big, patient softie, the Newfoundland Dog (depending on gender) ranges from 63-75 inches in height, and can weigh anywhere between 100-150 pounds. 

https://dinoanimals.com/animals/newfoundland-dog-gentle-giant/

Helpful Articles/Works Cited:

https://www.veterinarians.org/newfoundland-dog/

https://www.cheatsheet.com/culture/dog-breeds-that-make-the-best-therapy-dogs.html/

https://www.labradortraininghq.com/labrador-breed-information/best-therapy-dogs/

Written by blog contributor Kael Laselva

As COVID eases a bit, and the workers of America begin to report back more frequently to the office, how do all of us pet owners know how to care best for our new covid furbabies?

There are a couple of answers depending on your work scenario, and the pets ability to move around.

If your pet is crated, then 3-4 hours tops before they should be visited to stretch their legs with a walk and a potty break, according to the PDSA. If you own a puppy or a highly active breed (aka Boxers, Australian Shepherds, Jack Russells) they will need to be checked on in a more frequent time schedule, with not more than an hour passing for puppies, and two to three hours for active pups who may take to chewing or tearing up furniture in your absence

With that being said, what are some options if you can't get away from the office that frequently? Dog walkers are an excellent choice! Many pet lovers have started to take on the tasks of dog walking, pet sitting, and running errands for your furry friends.  There are many sites you can enlist help from, including Rover.com, fiverr.com, care.com, and wagwalking.com

Perhaps you have a trustworthy neighbor who is retired or homebound during the day? This would be an excellent opportunity to give them some purpose and a small task that may add fulfillment to their day, to check in on your little furbabies.

And if your dwelling permits, there are some great options in installing dog doors to give your pet access to the yard to relieve themselves when home alone. There are pet doors you can install into a sliding door, or into a sheetrocked wall.

A bit more planning in order to they have access to potty breaks and a bit of human interaction during the day, will help pets to avoid developing bad habits within the home, developing anxiety issues, and will allow them to adapt to time away from you as you work to bring home the bacon!