Dog owners urged to rethink their walking habits after sad truths emerge in new study
Come rain or shine, walking a dog is one of the many responsibilities that comes with pet ownership. In fact, The Kennel Club say that the average adult dog needs at least 30 minutes of exercise each day to stay fit and healthy.
But, in rather sad and shocking news, a new study has revealed that less than half of UK dog owners walk their dog on a daily basis, with the average weekday walk being under 20 minutes long.
The survey found that:
20% of owners said their dog didn't like the wet weather
4% explained they wanted to avoid getting dirty
Their reasons for not walking their dogs enough were cited as:
being too tired after work
not having enough time
wanting to stay warm in the dry
Here at CL, we celebrate the benefits that owning a dog brings to our lives – and the physical and mental health boosts of the increased exercise associated with dog walking is certainly one of them. If you need more convincing, read our full list of the health benefits of owning a dog.
Dog-walking expert Dr Carri Westgarth said to the Daily Mail, "We want to help people rediscover the joy in walking their dogs and appreciate those moments that are not only benefiting the dog and themselves physically, but also helping us de-stress and improving our mental health."
After the research came out, Devon-based pet food company Forthglade launched the 'Great British Dog Walk' campaign, to highlight the importance of daily exercise for your dog. They hope that this new initiative will encourage pet owners to step outside and spend time with their beloved pets in the fresh air.
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