Dog walking is one of the most pleasurable ways to enjoy nature and keep fit! Spending time with your dog helps you relax and unwind. Studies done on both humans and dogs have highlighted the positive mental and physical benefits, including cardiovascular health and the increase in happy hormones.
Challenges of Dog Walking
Sometimes, we resist taking our dogs for walks. Battling to stay afoot while your dog dashes from side to side, and launches at unsteady elderly folk, and snarls at other dogs, can be less than appealing. What is meant to be a quiet stroll can turn into the walk of terror, with neighbourhood dogs tearing down driveways and flinging themselves at gates, and cars speeding as if on the racetrack! All this can leave both human and dog feeling pumped with adrenaline.
Dreams of off-leash romps, filled with happy dogs and pleasant pathways, littered with golden leaves are sometimes shattered when lurking muggers pop out from behind the tree, and not-so-friendly dogs straining at what looks like a very flimsy leash. Hidden doggo “danger delights,” like chicken bones, and moldy bread, strewn along grassy sections, create more of a dodgems style game than a gentle walk.
Finding the Right Walk
In our pursuit of happy-walkness, we may need to drive a little out of our way, to find more secluded and relaxing spots, but this too, can lead to unwanted adventures. A muddy dog from unseen wallows, ticks and even wildlife may cause increased heart rates! Some dogs may delight in rolling in the contents of “bush toilets” or decaying remnants of unlucky toads and rodents that may have met their end.
Local Dog Parks and Trails
It can be hard to find the right walk, but we do have dog parks, beach strolls, and markets. One must simply watch out for unwanted attention from the untrained public wanting to say hi to your dog, or other, rowdy pooches. Keeping a keen eye open and avoiding any potential mishaps is key.
Making Walks Enjoyable
All is not lost, and walks can still be amazing, with a few tips and tricks, and some planning. If your pooch loves other dogs, then a busy dog park is for you! For those whose dogs prefer to show off their teeth, on-lead walks are often the safest, and picking a venue where folks stick to the rules is best. Hiking trails often allow dogs, and if yours has a reliable recall and enjoys the more intense kind of workout life – then this could be right for you! From the beachfront to the mountains, there are many venues that welcome dogs, some with more rules than others. Picking a fun change for weekends is probably what you will have most time for, so plan a list of ideal venues to visit.
You can include: Giba Gorge, Umhlanga beach front, Durban promenade, Westville Scouts Bowl, and Memorial Park in Kloof are all popular choices. Online searches reveal hidden gems and sites like AllTrails https://www.alltrails.com/south-africa/kwazulu-natal/dogs-leash and Holidawgs https://www.holidawgs.com/destination/south-africa/kwazulu-natal/mountains-kzn/ are great to start your search on, with details and directions to walking spots.
Training and Preparation
Ensuring that your dog walks well on a lead will take a little training. Modern methods of training suggest using a harness for walking and avoiding slip leads, chain collars, head collars and no-pull harnesses. The secret to comfy walking clothes for your doggo is finding the right fitting harness – you can ask a trainer or shop assistant to help you find the right size, freeing up shoulders for movement and spreading the weight of any pulling across the body and not just on the neck. Some dogs are absolutely genius at working out how to slip out of harnesses that are too big, so be warned and do invest in some training to ensure that your dog is able to walk, recall and behave with at least a little dignity, before embarking on your 10,000 steps. Spending a few months attending training classes will ensure that you and your dog are ideal walkers and fit for modern society. Find a fear-free trainer in your area and invest the time – you will be grateful!
Top tip – carry a slip lead with you for emergency use if your dog is not entirely safe in a harness.
Responsible Dog Ownership
It’s pointless to moan about dog poop in the parks if we don’t set a great example, so ensure that you have a handy holder for poop bags. It is not anyone’s favorite aspect of walking, but just do it! It encourages responsible ownership and keeps our parks, streets, and natural spots clean and healthy for everyone. Poop left to decompose in the grass spreads worms and may even be the target for someone poor soul’s sole!
Top tip – double up bags, when you scoop, as you may need to carry that cache for some distance before finding a bin!
Walk Essentials
Take along a water bottle and collapsible bowl (or one of the clever bowl-bottles available at most pet stores), and an extra lead for extending yours, saving loose dogs, or emergencies should yours break. NEVER walk when it’s very hot, as your dog can easily overheat.
Top tip – a clean poop bag can double up as an emergency water bowl.
Dog Walking Adventures
For dogs, running is great, but sniffing and exploring new things is even better! That means more leisure pleasure and less run fun. Let your dog read all the pee-mails along the way and leave their reply as they feel fit! Let them dig at the ground a little and get the deeper scents they seek. If you plan to include an off-lead scamper, be sure to pick a safe area, with no busy roads or wildlife/livestock to scare.
Top tip – before you head off into the bush, use tick protection for all the intrepid travellers, and check clothes and dog bodies carefully afterwards to remove any unwanted guests.
Health and Safety Precautions
Most of our streams and rivers are not as clean as they used to be and may have high loads of bacteria and other nasties, which can cause tummy upsets and be passed along to you and your family.
Top tip – Keep some blankets and extra water in the car for a quick wash off if needed.
Avoiding Hazards
One of the most annoying walking hazards is dogs eating unwanted “found on the ground” goodies! The humans in our world like to leave leftovers, scattered after eating, with or without bright red paper containers and napkins, and plastic containers, as if marking their eating territory! Dogs love this, not knowing that these tasty treats can be dangerous – causing choking, blockages, and gastro.
Top Tip – teaching your dog a solid “leave” is invaluable for safety here, as well as being equipped with your own supply of tasty snacks to offer as a reward for refusing litter.
Safety Measures
As we live in a country filled with those who enjoy uplifting our possessions and those who are unable to drive without swerving and speeding, be sure to keep safe. A strong pepper spray, loud whistle, or airhorn are useful additions to your carry bag.
Top tip – A walking buddy, or group is safer, and will be lots of fun for dogs who enjoy friends.
Conclusion
Regular walking is awesome, and even weekend-only duty will benefit you both. Responsible, safe walking, with a little training and respectful behaviours will encourage a kinder view of dogs overall, leading more venues to open awesome spots for fun and healthy outings with our dogs! Get walking!
References for studies:
Healthy effects in humans – (The Effect of Dog Walking on Human Health: A Systematic Review – Journal of Physical Activity and Health (2015) and The Relationship Between Dog Walking and Social Interaction in the Community – Journal of Community Psychology (2009)
Health implications for dogs – (The Effect of Regular Walking on the Body Condition Score of Obese Dogs – Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (2014)
Mandy Barrett
The Dog Guru Behaviorist and Trainer
