February 22nd, is National Walking the Dog Day. Now, you might walk your dog everyday, and you should! It’s great exercise for you and for your dog. Even if you don’t take your dog on regular walks, you should definitely make a point to walk your dog this weekend for National Walking the Dog Day.
The American Heart Association recommends at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity every day, and walking is a great way to get that exercise. Walking is very low impact, yet it has great health benefits. Plus, you don’t need special equipment or training to walk.
Research has shown that regular exercise can reduce the risk of coronary heart disease, help regulate blood pressure and blood sugar levels, help maintain a healthy weight, improve mental health, and the reduce the risk of diabetes and certain types of cancer. Walking has been shown to increase balance and coordination, as well as strengthen bones.
As important as it is to make healthy decisions and pay attention to our own health, dogs need exercise too! Sometimes it’s easy to forget about keeping our dogs healthy. We give them treats, and scraps from the table. We might even give them a second dinner when they stare up at us with those big pleading eyes. But they need good diet and exercise just like we do.
So be sure to get out this weekend and walk your dog. If you and your dog normally just loll around indoors, this can be a good time to start walking regularly. If you already take your dog on regular walks, make this Sunday’s walk extra special. If you normally walk 30 minutes, walk for an hour. Maybe you always walk around the neighborhood; this time go for a walk around the park, or visit a dog-friendly hiking trail.