The walks are essential for the physical and psychological health of the dog. But the owners, in addition, can take advantage of that moment to relax, strengthen ties of friendship, play with the dog, and exercise. To achieve this, it is important to teach the dog to walk on a leash, collect excrement, choose the best time for the walk, know the importance of educating the dog to walk, and fit the agenda with its needs. This article explains these five keys and also highlights the problems that can arise when walking with the dog.
Key 1: teach the dog to walk on a leash
A dog that knows how to leash on the street will turn walks with their owners into moments of relaxation and enjoyment, rather than a reason for stress. Therefore, it is important to educate and teach the dog from puppy to walk correctly with its owners on the street. Teaching the dog to leash helps avoid problems with other pedestrians.
For their part, the different regional and municipal laws oblige dog owners to carry them on a leash on public roads. Respecting this guideline is one of the keys to keeping in mind when enjoying outdoor walks with the dog. In addition, you must always be tolerant of those who are afraid of animals or do not like them.
Key 2: collect dog droppings
The bags to collect dog excrement should not be missing at the time of the walk. The opinion of other people about dogs and their owners depends on our citizenship. The public way must be clean after the passage of our animal. In this way, we will also avoid accidents to pedestrians, and we will not collaborate in making the street dirty and becoming a focus of bacteria.
City councils pass rules (ordinances) to keep their cities clean. These rules for street cleaning and waste management include penalties for owners who do not collect their dog litter from the street.
Key 3: choose the best time for the ride
Morning walks help the animal stretch its muscles
Dogs must walk three times a day. The ideal is to divide the departures between morning, afternoon, and night. However, there are more suitable times to walk with our friend: in the early morning and after the hours of rest, to stretch the muscles; after eating, to promote good digestion (with a margin of about 20 minutes after eating); as well as at the end of the day -before sleeping-, to go to bed relaxed.
The time of year when we meet is also important. In summer it is preferable to avoid walking during the hottest hours, while in winter you should do the opposite: take advantage of the sunniest hours.
In any case, and with the mentioned precautions, long walks will be a gift for the dog. It is in his nature to run around, sniff, and walk freely. Therefore, whenever possible, you should make an escape quiet and solitary area. The appropriate place is the field or the mountain, where you can let the dog play. Keep in mind that certain dog breeds need longer walks to stay in shape. A responsible owner must meet the needs of your dog in this regard.
Key 4: the importance of educating the dog to walk
The animal must be well educated so that it responds to the call of its owners, does not escape, and does not fight with other dogs. When a dog meets other animals, it is common for conflicts to occur, almost always due to their sense of territoriality.
These fights are dangerous because they can cause serious injury. Therefore, the dog must always be supervised during the walk by the owners. Although the dog is obedient and calm towards people, it can be aggressive towards other animals.
Key 5: fit the agenda with the needs of the dog
A fundamental aspect before adopting or fostering a dog is calculating the amount of time available. If you have a very tight schedule, it may be better not to have a dog at home. The walkers and professional animal handlers can also help. In any case, the welfare of the dog depends on the time that its owners have to take care of it and one of the activities that you have to spend more time on walks.