Welcome to 2023!
Are you already as exhausted as I am?
I used to love fireworks until I was owned by a dog who is terrified of them. It really changes the way you see celebrate the New Year for sure. (I promise there will be a blog post on helping dogs with fireworks fears later this year.)
But for now – let’s talk resolutions… for you and your pet.
I will be the first to admit I am terrible at keeping resolutions. Mostly, I am told, because I try to make such big, life-changing resolutions, and then when I falter in keeping them, I don’t get back up and continue trying but rather say, eh, there’s always next year.
So, this year, I am making a resolution for myself – and my dog! I’m gonna walk my dog regularly so we can both get back in shape. So, I invite anyone who is thinking about improving their health – and their dog’s – to consider joining me in this 2023 commitment to walking our dogs.
JANUARY IS WALK YOUR DOG MONTH
How convenient, right? Walk Your Dog Month falls right into my New Year’s resolution of getting back in shape. And I know my dog, Noelle, will love it – as will my doctor and her veterinarian. Let’s be honest: I am not at a fit weight or in terrific shape. (Noelle is doing much better than me on that front…) I could blame the Covid years, aging, a too-busy work schedule, and any multitude of excuses – but they are just that. Excuses. And my sweet little Havanese, Noelle, who I used to walk all the time, also suffers from my excuses.
Studies show that up to 70% of dog owners do not walk their dogs regularly. According to Psychology Today, the three top reasons given by dog owners for not regularly walking their dogs included laziness, stress, or other responsibilities. Living in a less walkable neighborhood is also a contributing factor.
But you don’t have to look very hard to find an enormous number of reasons – for you and your dog – to fight past inertia and start walking.
IF YOU NEEDED A REASON…
For you, the human, walking regularly improves your health is many ways. According to the American Heart Association (AHA), dog walkers are “significantly healthier” than those without dogs.
- Diabetes is 2 ½ times more common in those who don’t walk or own dogs.
- High blood pressure and high cholesterol is 70% more likely in non-dog walkers.
- Regular dog walkers are 54% more likely to get the recommended level of physical activity (150 minutes of moderate exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise).
- Longer life: the AHA says that studies indicate that for every hour of walking you do, life expectancy may increase by two hours.
And, in one of the largest studies performed on longevity and moderate exercise, it was concluded that just 30 minutes of physical activity a day, five days a week, can prevent one in 12 deaths, significantly lowering the risks of heart attacks, strokes and cardiovascular disease.
Did You Know? There are significantly fewer obese dog walkers (17%) than the general population, in which more than 60% of Americans are considered overweight, and 30% are obese.
BETTER FOR YOUR DOGGO, TOO
Your dog will benefit from regular walking, too – both physically and mentally.
- Weight: According to the Veterinary Centers of America (VCA) Animal Hospitals, roughly 25-30% of the general dog population is obese (20% or more than ideal body weight), with 40-45% of dogs aged 5-11 years old weighing in as overweight (10-20% above ideal body weight).
Overweight dogs put more stress on joints, increasing the risk for osteoarthritis. Heavier-than-normal dogs are also linked to cardiovascular disease, liver disease, insulin resistance, cancer and hypertension.
Excess weight can reduce your pet’s life expectancy by more than two years, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA).
Dogs with health or medical concerns, young puppies and seniors – light walks are beneficial but discuss with your veterinarian for your dog’s specific limitations.
Okay. Enough about weight – what about the other benefits of walking your dog regularly?
- Bonding – This is your dog’s chance to have your undivided attention for 30 minutes every day. American Humane states that quality time with your dog “can lead to greater trust and joy.”
- Social activity – walking can provide social activity for both dog and owner, meeting friendly dogs and humans along the way. If you have a reactive dog, that’s something to work on (of course), but you can choose locations and times of day to walk with less dog interactions.
- Training opportunity – every time out is a time to work on practicing basic commands. Short training intervals are fun for your dog and you can intersperse those with times to allow your dog to totally “dog,” and enjoy the sights, smells and sounds.
- Mental health – dogs that are mentally and physically stimulated in positive ways (i.e., through walking) are less likely to have behavioral issues, such as excessive chewing, digging, jumping, barking, etc. The adage of a tired dog is a good dog.
DO YOU NEED SOME ACCOUNTABILITY TO MAKE THIS WORK?
YOUR DOG…
Sometimes, we need something to keep our motivation from waning. Part of that, for me, will be Noelle herself. With Havanese, it’s typically do something ONCE and if it’s fun, it’s a habit. I am confident she will remind me of walk time every single day. But…
For the accountability part, I am going to participate in the American Kennel Club (AKC) Fit Dog Program.
AKC FIT DOG PROGRAM
I have a chart to fill out (see image) every day I walk with Noelle. When I successfully complete 60 30-minute walks in three months, I am eligible to receive the AKC Fit Dog Car Magnet.
Note: If you or your dog would benefit from a walk that is shorter – you are just starting up walking or you have a senior dog, a young puppy, etc. – the AKC Fit Dog Program also allows you to record 15-minute sessions, 10 times per week for at least three months.
TIP: I have a little senior dog (15 next month!) who can’t walk as far, so I walk her as far as she likes and then she rides the rest of the way in a dog stroller.
Turn in your walking log — a copy of the walking log and the application for the AKC FIT DOG car magnet — can be downloaded from the AKC’s page on the program: https://www.akc.org/sports/akc-family-dog-program/akc-fit-dog/
DOG WALKING CLUBS
Prefer the company of others? Studies do show that regular dog walkers are social creatures and are more likely to say hello to other people, exchange favors with neighbors, and meet others in their neighborhood. And they are seen by other people as friendly and approachable. Consider joining a Fit Dog Club with your pet or start your own!
FIT DOG CLUBS — NEW FOR 2023!
These clubs will offer at least four group dog and owner fitness walks a year or they can conduct regular scheduled fitness/conditioning classes. These clubs are so new, the AKC does not have a list YET but stay tuned and I will update this blog post with a link to local clubs in the Jacksonville, Florida Area as it becomes available.
In the meantime, if you are a member of a meetup group or a dog club and are interested in forming a Fit Dog Club, here’s the link to fill out an application: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfeLD8JAKu_C6OQSL0-AZ1Z35is9mvW1nkkvr8jdnpAN_ljMA/viewform
AND MORE GOALS
Need more than the accountability and goal setting of writing your walks down, or the group motivation of a dog walking club? Are you super award motivated?
Then, perhaps the brand, spanking new AKC Fit Dog Title program will provide the motivation and awards you seek. There are 3 levels of AKC fitness titles—Bronze, Silver, and Gold. Each title requires a specific number of activity points to be completed, which varies based on title level. More information can be found here: https://www.akc.org/sports/akc-family-dog-program/akc-fit-dog/akc-fit-dog-titles/
LET’S DO THIS!
So, are you on board with this resolution?
FUN PLACES TO WALK YOUR DOG
- Jacksonville Arboretum – dog friendly with a large, paved pathway around the main park and miles of well-cleared and marked trails.
- Neptune Beach – leashed pets are welcome, and it’s a beautiful stretch of beach with lots of dog-friendly people in the early morning hours.
- Riverfront Park – located in St Johns across from the RiverTown community, it has lots of paved pathways and lots of shade.
Do you have a great place you like to go to walk your dog? Please let us and other dog owners know in the comments!
FUN NEW PRODUCT FOR 2023
I just discovered this and ordered one for myself. Paws Pet Boutique Naples stocks ballcaps with different dog breeds on the front and – here’s the best part – a little zipper pocket for a house key/extra poop bag or another small item. To see if they have your dog, contact them at: 239-631-8122 or email: earsup@pawspetboutique.com. As soon as the boutique has a link up on the hat for online ordering, I will add it to this blog post.
- About the Author
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Author of more than 28 dog and dog training books, writer of hundreds of dogcentric magazine articles, and internationally awarded pet photographer of more than 1000 canines, Joan H. Walker relates that her life has literally gone to the dogs.
When she’s not photographing or writing about dogs, she is, you guessed it, spending time with her dogs. Walker is currently owned by four Havanese and is the chief pawtographer at Jacksonville, Florida’s The PAWtographers.
