Walking your dog is not bad for them, as long as it is done within the parameters that is appropriate for your dog and their breed. What this means is that each dog’s body is different and as a result they are going to need different amounts of daily exercise in the form of walking. This will allow them to socialize and spend time with you while interacting with the outside environment that they do not get to normally interact with. It is important for their well being to spend time outside their home, and taking them on walks achieves that purpose while also providing them with small amounts of exercise. Veterinarians will suggest somewhere between 30 minute to two hour walks with you for your dog every day. The number of miles and time spent walking will be different for each dog and breed, and should be provided by their veterinarian in order to avoid over or under walking them.
Is it possible to hurt your dog by walking them too much? The answer is yes, if you are walking them wrong. Most people when they are walking their dog will take the path that is most convenient and comfortable for them. This means walking on paved roads or sidewalks and on flat ground. When dogs are walking by your side instead of at the pace they would normally walk, we are forcing them to keep about 85% of their weight on their front paws. They steer with their back legs, but do not use the muscles for much more. This is not the same as running, which forces the dog to use their back legs to push off. Walking your dog for extended periods in this way will actually have a harmful effect on their joints over time, as they are not walking on a cushioned surface like grass. They are also not distributing their weight to their rear legs as they would when they are running, instead carrying their full body weight on their front paws. When this is done for long periods, or over the entire lifetime of the dog, they are actually harming their joints in their front legs.
What is better than walking on flat surfaces? It is better to run with your dog on grass, and uphill or over uneven surfaces in order to give them a good workout that is easy on their joints. Try to find as many hills or rocks to climb over as possible. This will give them a more distributed workout of different muscles while also using their brain to navigate their surroundings. Keep up a faster pace than normal, but always pay attention to your dog and any signs of distress They are probably not used to using those muscles, and may have never really exercised them in their entire lives. This is one of the benefits of slatmill and treadmill exercise, that we can elevate the front of the treadmill slightly. This simulates walking uphill, and pushes the weight to the dog’s back legs the same way that hiking or walking up hills would. While being easier on the joints and muscles due to springs in the slatmill, it also uses muscles that the dog typically does not use when walking on pavement or flat ground.
