I’m not going to lie. Taking my dogs out in NYC during the winter could be painful. It was a solid 20 minutes of getting everyone ready between the booties, jackets, leashes, etc. before we could even walk out the door. Funny enough my Cali dogs weren’t overly phased be the cold so I myself had to be prepared to be outside for a bit. The plus side to having dogs force me outside in the cooler months was the fresh air. Never underestimate the benefit of stepping outside for some fresh air throughout the day regardless of the climate. For me the crisp winter air hitting my lungs felt both invigorating and refreshing. And now back in Cali I love stepping out in January where the “cooler” LA temps feel refreshing and yet there is still plenty of sun to soak up.

Now that we have entered into a New Year there are a lot of ways in which people are looking to change themselves, their routine, lifestyle, etc. for the better. That being said I have previously addressed running with your dog and strategically incorporating your own exercises into your dog walks, and think now would be a good time to strip things down and offer tips on a walk for anyone just starting out on their fitness looking to increase their physicality for the new year while simultaneously creating a more stimulating walk for their dog.

JUST A DOGGO WAITING TO EXPLORE!

Everyone needs a base so our jumping off point is that you routinely walk your dog every day. Below are 5 Ways to help you and your dog increasingly benefit from each walk:

1. SWITCH UP YOUR ROUTE

By changing your route you are first stimulating you dog’s mind with a new direction but also presenting the potential of a longer walk. Take your phone with you on walks. There are a wide selection of free apps that track your route via your phone GPS (i.e. Map My Run). This will help you track how far your new route(s) are and with that allow you to set your goals for increasing your walks by either time or miles. It’s also a good way to explore the neighborhood and other surroundings.

2. SWITCH UP YOUR PACE

Mentally establish what your average pace is. From time to time pick it up. If in a neighborhood you can count to mailboxes, houses, or lampposts to set markers/goals of how far to go before returning back to your normal walking pace. For example, you could start with the goal of walking briskly past 3 houses then back to your normal pace for 5 houses before again resuming a more intense pace. It’s a fun way to play around as you can change things up with each energy burst in regards to intensity and distance. Your dog will also appreciate the changes in the walk. This too is another mental exercise for your dog in addition to physical gain.

3. WALK FOR A CAUSE

I actually wrote an entire blog titled, “Walk for a Cause”, in which I address this very subject but in a bit more length. There are apps you can download that donate to charity relative to how many miles you have walked. Apps such as ResQWalk let you pick the charity of your choice to donate to. When knowing your time spent outside with your dog is for a good cause, it’s easier than ever to either grow your walk or sneak out for an extra session with your furbaby. Trust me they won’t tire of spending one on one time with you outdoors.

http://www.pawsandpinot.com/2018/03/19/stepping-up-for-a-cause-with-your-paws/

4. LET DOGGO TAKE THE LEAD

I actually do this a lot more often after having worked with a Behaviorist/Trainer a handful of months ago. This is again about mental stimulation during physical activity for your doggo. When coming to an intersection and your dog hesitates, don’t pick a direction. Instead hang out with him/her until they make a move and follow in whatever direction unfolds. Truthfully I find this exercise interesting as I’m constantly surprised by my dog and the direction he’ll take at times. This for us has lead to longer walks with continually varying routes.

5. SNIFFING AND SQUATING

It’s important to let your dog “be a dog” at times on the walk. This means some sniff time. This is how dogs take stock of what’s going on in the neighborhood. Kind of like reading the newspaper. During these moments, and if you’re ready for it, this is a good time to incorporate some squats or lunges. Something to get your heart rate up a little bit and keep you moving while giving your fur baby some time to explore.

So there is quite a lot of benefit for your pooch’s mental health in the above tips and that is a GREAT thing. They are going to gain significantly in your quest to increase your overall well being. Walking is constantly referenced in the fitness world as a great form of exercise to build a base as it gets you up and moving without taxing your joints and shocking the body by going to hard too fast. Ultimately this is your chance to take your every day dog walk and turn it into something that will lead to even bigger and better opportunities. Soon enough you’ll be ready to strap on a hands-free leash and pound the pavement with your pooch.

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