Dog walking is a necessary and valuable part of an urban dog's daily routine. At Doggie Joggie, our goal is to make each dog walk as positive and productive as possible, because we know that the benefits of dog walking extend far beyond a simple potty break. Our dog walks emphasize physical exercise, mental stimulation, cultivating confidence and instilling a sense of purpose in the dogs we work with.
You might not be surprised that dogs who are left alone will spend 80% of their time resting and conserving energy, even if they have access to a yard. So when you come home at the end of the day, you become the outlet for all that pent-up energy. This means that while yard access is a wonderful option for potty breaks and fresh air, a yard is not a substitute for the exercise and mental stimulation of a walk with an experienced dog walker.
Dog walking with Doggie Joggie benefits dogs in the following ways:
- Physical exercise is extremely important for dogs to remain in optimum health. The cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, and endocrine systems, just to name a few, depend on regular, daily exercise. Dog walking is a simple but effective way to help our dogs live long, healthy lives.
- Proper mental stimulation for dogs can often be more exhausting than physical exercise alone. Have you ever felt really energized after a good workout? Well, dogs are the same. They need a lot of exercise alone to get worn out. Some dogs can run for hours, but after 10 or 15 minutes of focused concentration or obedience training, they will be ready to pass out. So our dog walkers like to incorporate mental stimulation as much as possible into our dog walking routine. This is achieved through obedience breaks, dynamic directional shifts, verbal and non-verbal direction, and lots of positive reinforcement to reward focus and concentration. These techniques require our furry clients of focus on us rather than spacing out in the sniff zone for the entire dog walk. It helps us maintain loose-leash manners and helps our dogs stay engaged. Our goal is for these walks to be as positive and productive as possible.
- Dogs feel a sense of duty, purpose, and accomplishment when they patrol their neighborhood. A dog walk satisfies their need to feel like they are making a contribution. And exposure to the sights and smells of their neighborhood give them a sense of what is going on beyond their front yard.
- Each dog walker at Doggie Joggie is an experienced pack leader, and we can't help but bond with the dogs we walk. Taking cues from, and practicing discipline with a trusted pack leader provides confidence and feeling of security within a pack hierarchy.