How Long Is A Dog Walk?
“How long is a dog walk” is a very common question asked by prospective clients. Much like humans, dogs come in a variety of different shapes, sizes, and energy levels. Some are always ready to go for a run, while others are more inclined to snuggle up on the couch after a quick potty break outdoors. Therefore, the length of dog walks will usually vary based on several important factors.
Factors that Affect The Length of a Dog Walk:
1.) Fitness & Health
Think about it: would you ask your eighty year old grandmother to go out for an hour long jog when she usually spends all day lounging due to her bad knees? Of course not! Then why would you force the same on an elderly dog? When deciding how long to walk your dog, consider their fitness level, health, and age. Puppies typically have more energy to exert than older dogs, so it makes sense that they’d need a longer visit than a pooch ten times their age. Similarly, don’t expect that just because your dog leads a relatively healthy lifestyle, he can keep up with you on a 5K run. You’d never leap into vigorous exercising without training first; extend that same courtesy to your four-legged friend.
2.) Breed
Some breeds are meant to exercise more than others. Labs, shepherds, golden retrievers, huskies and border collies all love a good, long outing, and likely need the movement and mental stimulation to keep from turning to bad behaviors like tearing up your brand new sofa. Others, like bulldogs, basset hounds, pugs and shih tzus, are more suited to short walks and cuddling. It’s wise to note that brachycephalic dogs (your short-nosed, squishy faced types) are more susceptible to breathing issues and shouldn’t be overworked or overheated, leading us to our next point…
3.) Weather
When the temperatures move towards extremes, whether too hot, too cold, too windy or wet, it’s often safer to err on the side of caution when taking your dog out for a walk. Sadly, this usually means going back inside much sooner than you normally would, but it does open up possibilities of playing fun new games at home. Overheating is easy when you’re always wearing a fur coat, as is getting ice clumped and stuck on fuzzy tails, noses and paws. Know the signs of doggy discomfort, whatever the weather, and treat them before a trip to the vet becomes necessary.
Actual Length of Time
With all of that in mind, it’s up to you to decide what’s best for your dog in terms of how long they’ll be out. Trusty Tails offers a basic dog walk starting at thirty minutes, with additional increments of fifteen minutes available for those interested in a longer time. Your dog walker will always be sure to assess your pup’s needs at every visit of course, and their outing will be tailored to fit those needs each day.
Contact Us
Looking for someone to walk your dog when you can’t be there? We’d love to chat with you about our professional dog walkers, all our services and how we can help! Please give us a ring at 201-446-1559 or contact us through our website.
