Celebrating National Walk Your Dog Week

Time to head outdoors with your canine pal in tow for National Walk Your Dog Week, which runs from October 1-7.

30 Sep 2015 By Leanne Philpott Comments

Founded in 2010 by US pet lifestyle expert and animal advocate Colleen Paige, the purpose of “National Walk Your Dog Week” is not simply to encourage pet owners to take their canine chums for a walk; it’s intended to raise awareness of doggy behaviour problems and canine obesity in America.

But hey, who doesn’t love a ‘national awareness day’, especially one that promotes responsible pet ownership and keeping our four-legged pals in good health?

So let’s join our US pet parents and make an extra special effort this October to get out and about and active with our pets.

By giving your dog a week of exercise that’s over and above your normally weekly doggy exercise routine, you’re likely to see some amazing changes to your dog’s behaviour.

Dog’s love exercise (providing of course they have no major health issues) so your furry friend is likely to show you more affection and appear generally happier. What’s more, you’ll benefit from the extra exercise too. Win-win, hey?!

How you can participate in Walk Your Dog Week

It’s easy, simply commit to walking your pooch every day for seven days straight. If you already walk your dog every day, well done! You can still take part by walking for longer, taking a new route or walking your fur baby twice a day.

Responsible pet parenting tips:

  • If you’ve been a bit lazy up until now, it might be a good idea to take a trip to the vet to get your dog a health check before embarking a week of daily walks.
  • If your dog is overweight or obese, check with your vet before increasing your pooch’s daily activity.
  • For puppies or older dogs, be aware of cues such as stopping, panting or slowing down.
  • If your dog has arthritis, back or muscle problems, you can still participate by doing an alternative low-impact exercise. Discuss the options with your vet.

According to the Australian Veterinarian Association (AVA) 45% of dogs in Australia are overweight or obese. Sadly most pet owners surveyed by the Pet Food Manufacturers Association (PFMA) and AVA do not believe their pet is actually fat! Participating in National Walk Your Dog Week is a great opportunity to see just how healthy your dog can look and how this additional exercise might positively affect their personality (and your own waistline!).

Leashes at the ready!

30 Sep 2015 By Leanne Philpott Comments

comments powered by Disqus