Dog Walking is a great weight loss work out that can help tackle obesity due to it giving regular non impact work out and helping from a motivational / pleasurestand point. Nothing is betterthan passing time outdoors with man’s (or woman’s) best friend. Additionally you can also meet many new people and have something to talk to them about.
Dog Walking is an exercise that almost anyone can do. What’s great about it is that you can do it sole or with somebody. If you do not have somebody, the dog provides great company. It’s pretty easy to do, and needs no special equipment, apart from a dog, a lead and comfortable shoes. It is also free, in fact you can make money out of it. In addition it can be done anywhere, anytime, even in London dog walking is common.
Dog walking has multiple benefits. It uses calories, it helps with weight control. One hour of dog walking ( that is you with the dog!) will use between 200 and 300 calories, depending on your mass. The heavier you are, the more calories you use. Walking does not stress your legs and ankles, unlike running, which can injure your joints and bones.
In fact it truly helps the knees. The act of dog walking stimulates cartilage growth and the flow of synovial fluid within the knee. It also strengthens the muscles that shield the knee.
Since dog walking is weight-bearing it also helps strengthens the muscles that protect the hips. At the same time it strengthens bones therefore reducing the probability of fracture due to osteoporosis. By strengthening the core muscles of the spine and abdomen, dog walking helps reduce the probability of getting low back pain.
The raised exertion needed for dog walking helps the heart to pump more strongly. This aids blood pressure reduction with the resultant reduced risk for stroke and heart attack.
Dog walking increases the respiratory rate (breathing rate), promotes increased flow of oxygen to the rest of the body and also helps eliminate the build up of carbon dioxide. A major plus for you and the dog is improved energy.
There is some evidence that exercise such as dog walking raises endorphin levels which helps relieve pain, reduces serum cortisol levels which helps reduce stress (as does having animals around, so an additional), and may also reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.
So how do I {kick off with} start dog walking.
Pretty simple. Start with a good pair of walking shoes. If you suffer from flat feet, you should use orthotics.
Do not overdo it at the very beginning. Build up gradually increasing the amount you walk. A great target is 10,000 steps per day, which is approximately 5 miles. Don’t worry it is not that far, remember, most individuals already walk about 3,000 to 5,000 steps a day during the course of a normal day. Do not forget that many dogs, who evolved from wolves still have the same characteristics, need to walk over 5 miles a day. Many have the strength for fifteen or more miles a day.
Depending on your fitness, you can build up from low levels. Only one problem, No dog. Not a problem, ask around, there are many individuals who are time starved and don’t have ~sufficient time for walking their dog. More and more, during this credit crunch period, dogs are being given to into dog charities, so either volunteer for dog walking or why not re-house a dog.
Strapped for cash, why not earn money by helping out people who do not have time for dog walking and looking after their pets such as London Pet Sitting and London Cat Sitting.
What speed for your dog walking will depend on you and your dog. Start slowly. A moderate rate, you can walk up to about 2-3 miles an hour. You should be breathing faster and feel your heart rate going up but still be able talk comfortably. You need to ensure that the dog is not pulling you, its not good for him and it is more tiring for you.
Please note, it’s important to keep up your dog walking routine, for both your weight loss and the dog(s)! Enjoy it and lose some weight!
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