Dog Walking is a great route to happiness. You have such a wonderful time, the most wonderful companion, who never has a go at you, always wants to go with you. It means you are more likely to go out and meet others. In addition it helps with weight loss through regular non impact work out and helping from a motivational / pleasurestand point. Nothing is betterthan spending time outdoors with man’s (or woman’s) best friend. Additionally you can also meet many new people and have something to talk to them about.
Dog Walking is work our that anyone can do. What’s great about it is that you can do it alone or with a friend. If you do not have someone, the dog provides great company. It’s simple to do, and requires no special equipment, apart from a dog, a lead and comfortable shoes. It is also free, in fact you can make money out of it. In addition it can be done just about anywhere, you could even become a dog walker in London where it is popular.
Dog walking has numerous benefits. It burns calories, it helps with weight control. An hour or so of dog walking ( that is you with the dog!) will use between 200 and 300 calories, depending on your weight. The heavier you are, the more calories you burn. Walking does not pressure your legs and ankles, unlike running, which can damage your joints and bones.
In fact it actually helps the knees. The act of dog walking encourages cartilage growth and the flow of synovial fluid inside the knee. It also strengthens the muscles that shield the knee.
Since dog walking is weight-bearing it also aids builds the muscles that shield the hips. At the same time it builds bones therefore minimising the likelihood of fracture due to osteoporosis. By strengthening the main muscles of the spine and abdomen, dog walking helps reduce the possibility of getting low back pain.
The increased exertion needed for dog walking helps the heart to pump more strongly. This helps reduce blood pressure with the resultant 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.
Studies show that exercise such as dog walking increases endorphin production which helps relieve pain, reduces serum cortisol levels which helps reduce stress (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 overdo it at the very beginning. Build up gradually increasing 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 individuals already walk about 3,000 to 5,000 steps a day during the course of a routine day. Do not forget that many dogs, who evolved from wolves still have the same behaviours, require to walk over 5 miles a day. Most have the stamina 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, enquire around, there are many individuals who do not have ~ enough time for walking their dog. More and more, during this credit crunch period, dogs are being given to into pet charities, so either volunteer for dog walking or why not take a dog home with you.
Strapped for cash, why not help out people who do not have time for dog walking and looking after their pets and become a pet sitter and cat sitter.
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. A good rule of thumb is that you should be breathing faster and feel your heart rate increasing but still be able talk comfortably. You need to ensure that the dog is not pulling you, its not good for the dog and it is more tiring for you.
Please note, it’s important to keep up your dog walking routine, for both your weight loss and the dog(s)! Enjoy yourself and if you need to, lose some weight!