One of my favorite ways to start the day is getting up and heading straight out the door with my dog, Savannah, for our morning walk around the block. Not only does this get out all the one’s and two’s for the first part of her day, but it also makes me feel good about beginning my day with productivity – especially when Monday rolls around (even on a day that is sharing the total solar eclipse *cue Bonnie Tyler*).
How Many Walks per Day?
I totally get it though – most people have full-time, 9-5 jobs that they need to attend to and can’t be spending a portion of their morning giving their dog a nice walk, especially if kids are involved. But let me tell you how beneficial it is to you and your pet. According to Cesar’s Way’s Dr. Christy Conn, a dog should be taken outside to relieve him/herself at least 3-5 times per day. Of course, the frequency of urination varies with each breed, especially taking into account age and size, but it’s best to give your pet an option to go if they need to. That’s why I love giving Savannah at least one big walk each day so that I know she has the opportunity to fully relieve herself.
Dog Walkers and Puppy Pads
As I’ve briefly mentioned before in my research blog post, if you are unable to give your pet the walk that they need in the morning (or at all, for that matter) make sure you invest in a dog walking company to swing by in the middle of the day to take your pup for a walk while you’re busy working (to earn that money for new toys for them, of course ;)). It will not only make your fur baby’s day, but it will also, most likely, prevent any accident from occurring in the house. Speaking of accidents, let’s be real, shit happens (pun possibly intended). Regardless of whether or not I am home to take Savannah out multiple times per day, I always have a puppy pad laying out just in case I lose track of time or if my girl just needs to go ASAP. If you’re interested in trying out the puppy pad technique, Amazon currently has an awesome deal on some pet training and puppy pads
Although this is a big time commitment, it’s just one of the important things that come with owning a dog. I find that there are way too many people out there who love the idea of owning a dog but aren’t realistic about what it takes to take care of one. It’s not an easy task, and it takes more than just a few days to get your dog trained the way you want them to. So, if you’re not up for the challenge of properly taking your dog for walks, short potty breaks, and even hiring a dog walker, maybe a cat is a better option for you. (Cats are pretty cool too, tbh.)
Leashes, Collars, & Harnesses
Enough about our feline friends, though. 🐱 Let’s get back to the dog walking basics. There are tons of options out there when it comes to leashes, collars, and harnesses. Would you rather give your dog more free-range or do you prefer to have more control? Is your dog a puller or is he very obedient on the leash? These are the questions you have to ask yourself in order to make the right choice for you and your pet. Overwhelmed? I’m here to help! First things first, let me describe my situation. Savannah is on the larger side of the Toy Poodle range (10-12 pounds). She is a great leash walker and doesn’t give me any issues (except when she sees the occasional squirrel or bird). 🙄 I love giving her more distance, but also like to protect her throat from the infrequent pull. With that being said, my personal preference is the retractable Flexi classic cord leash
But let’s say you aren’t able to say the same about your situation. You have a large dog who likes to drag you around the neighborhood like a ragdoll. While you might need to start working on your dog’s leash behavior, there are items out there that will help aid you in that task. I would definitely recommend opting out of the retractable leash and opting into a dual handled dog leash
And that concludes the first ever Savvy Paws’ “Life of a Pet Owner” segment! I hope you found some valuable information regarding walking your pet and fitting them (and yourself) with the best possible equipment to make it even more of a breeze. Comment below, or visit our contact page, to share your go-to arrangement for walking your pup – we’d love to hear from you! And don’t forget to subscribe! Until next time… 😉
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