Many people take their pet dogs out for a stroll or a walk after work in the evening or on weekends to help the dogs exercise. During the walk, owners can also gain a lot of pleasure. Taking dogs out for a walk indeed has many benefits, but there are also some disadvantages. Dog lovers, let's learn about them together!

Golden Retriever (Detailed Introduction)

　　What are the benefits of taking dogs out for a walk?

　　1. Deepening the relationship with the owner: The outside world is different from the safe and comfortable home environment. Unexpected events often occur. Learning to overcome these difficulties helps dogs grow. This process can also increase the bond between owner and dog and improve the dog's confidence.

　　2. Beneficial to the dog's health: Taking walks outdoors allows for sunbathing (but not to be exposed to intense sunlight), receiving UV exposure, which meets the animal’s vitamin D needs; at the same time, vitamin D promotes the absorption of calcium and phosphorus in the small intestine, which is beneficial for the healthy development of bones and other organs.

　　3. Stress relief: The warmth brought by sunlight outdoors can make the dog's brain more active. Like their owners, dogs feel refreshed when exposed to outdoor air, meaning that walking plays a big role in changing moods and relieving stress.

　　4. Socialization learning: Socialization is an important way to cultivate dogs to avoid communication barriers in the future. Contact with other pets during walks can help dogs accumulate experience. Interaction also helps improve immunity, reduce stress, and stabilize temperament.

　　Are there disadvantages to taking dogs out for a walk?

　　Everything has two sides, and dog walks also face many risks. First, dogs have increased chances of contact with pathogens when outside; various mechanical, chemical, and biological stimuli in the environment can adversely affect dogs. Thus, it is necessary to set certain requirements regarding the time, place, and location for walking dogs.

German Shepherd (Detailed Introduction)

　　Therefore, pay attention to the following points when taking dogs out for a walk:

　　1. Walk dogs only when they reach a certain age (generally 4–5 months), after they have been vaccinated; and ensure dogs are healthy, eating and behaving normally before going out. This guarantees the dog has a certain immunity and resistance to external pathogens.

　　2. Control the walking time. For dogs walking outside for the first time, they will be very interested in the environment, sniffing this and that, running around, and may be startled by unknown things or even forget about the leash and want to roam freely. Therefore, the first walk should be short, about five minutes. The second walk can be extended to within ten minutes. After a week, the dog can walk for more than ten minutes and be accustomed to following its owner. For dogs six months old, walking time can be extended to about 15 minutes. For dogs between six and nine months, it can be extended to 30 minutes. For dogs 9–12 months old, 45 minutes of walking is enough.

　　3. Choose sunny weather with little temperature difference between indoors and outdoors, preferably in the morning or evening, to avoid catching colds or respiratory diseases like bronchitis. Also, control the dog's hunger and fullness before walking to avoid intestinal rupture, torsion, intussusception, and other internal medicine issues.

　　4. Avoid contact with sick dogs and places frequented by other dogs to prevent infectious disease transmission. Some pathogens can survive for days, months, or even years in outdoor media like soil, sick dog excrement, or sewage and retain infectivity.

　　5. After the walk, provide appropriate water and let the dog rest; at home, you can wash the dog's feet and give a bath if the dog is very dirty.

Chihuahua

　　Editor’s reminder: Remember to put a leash on your dog when taking them out

　　The main function of the leash is to allow the owner and beloved dog to “hold hands” while walking, and it is also a training tool and a safety measure to prevent accidents.

　　Training your dog to walk on a leash means walking by your side, following your pace without pulling. This is one of the basic educations the dog should receive and can prevent the dog from dragging the owner.

　　The leash also stabilizes the dog's psychology; outside of the territory (home), the leash is the only physical connection between dog and owner. It helps the dog understand the owner's mental state and prevents the dog from behaving arbitrarily.