Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Dogs

Why you should change up your dog’s walking routine

Debbie Clason
By

Besides mealtime, going for a walk is probably the highlight of your dog’s day. And whether it’s the position of the sun in the sky or the shoes you put on, your dog probably knows when you’re planning to head out the door before you even pick up the leash.

For a variety of reasons, a daily walking routine is a good thing for both of you. But what happens when it becomes … routine? Does your dog get bored with the same sights and smells he encounters along the way? And if so, is there a benefit to changing things up every once in a while? Short answer: yes, experts say — and here are a few reasons why.

black and white dog with red leash
Rhiannon Elliott/Unsplash

The benefits of having a walking routine

First of all, if you aren’t in the habit of taking your dog on a daily walk, it’s time to reconsider. Walking is healthy for both you and your dog for a variety of reasons:

  • It’s good exercise. Just like you, your dog needs to burn more calories than he consumes. Obesity is one of the most common health risks for dogs (and humans!), and walking helps maintain a healthy weight.
  • It aids digestion. Walking promotes good blood flow, which helps move food more easily through your dog’s digestive tract.
  • It promotes good joint health. Not only does walking help maintain a healthy weight, which lowers stress on your pup’s joints, but it also strengthens the muscles and tendons that support those joints.
  • It’s mentally stimulating. Your dog’s sense of smell is a big way he learns about his environment. Exposing him to the ever-changing scents outdoors provides mental enrichment he doesn’t get at home.
  • It’s good for emotional health. Walking with you just makes your dog happy. Need we say more?
brown dog with nose in the air
Caleb Stokes/Unsplash

Why a change of pace is good for you and your dog

It may take a little effort to change your daily walking habit, but the rewards are well worth it. Anything new or challenging stimulates your dog’s cognitive abilities. And in addition to good nutrition, mental stimulation is as important for your dog’s brain health as it is for yours.

Related

A dog’s sense of smell tells him a lot about the world around him, so anytime he’s exposed to new surroundings, he learns something new. Experts say a dog’s sense of smell is 10,000 times more acute than humans’; a dog’s nose contains 300 million olfactory receptors, compared with our measly 6 million. And just as we use our eyes to form 3D images, our dogs use their noses. Incredibly, the part of the brain they use to interpret those images is 40 times larger than ours. That means that any time you introduce your dog to a new environment, a big part of his brain engages to help him make sense of all the new things he is smelling.

Recommended Videos

Now that you understand why a change of pace is healthy for your dog, here are a few ways to add variety to your daily walking routine:

  • Let your dog sniff his way around the neighborhood. Wherever his nose leads him is where you follow (with respect to others’ privacy and mindful of your safety, of course).
  • Find a new location. Look online for dog-friendly places and neighborhood parks nearby to explore together.
  • If it isn’t possible to walk anywhere else, change direction and walk the old route in reverse so you can at least experience the other side of the street.
  • Meet up with friends, especially other dog owners who also are looking for a little variety. Not only is this a great way to break the monotony of your regular walking routine, but it’s also a good way to improve your dog’s socialization skills.

To keep your dog’s overall health a top priority, always consult your veterinarian before beginning a new exercise routine. If your pup’s older, walking in a different neighborhood on paved roads might be enough of a change rather than introducing him to a local hiking trail.

Regardless of how you do it, remember, your dog loves spending time with you. When you explore new things together, it strengthens the already strong bond between you. Plus, playing with your dog increases serotonin and dopamine in your brain; exercising with him releases endorphins, which make you feel better. And that just might be the best reason to lace up your shoes, grab the leash, and head out on a new adventure.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Debbie Clason
Debbie Clason
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Debbie Clason's work has appeared in Family Life Magazine, Sports Illustrated, The Lutheran Witness, Massage Magazine…
Science says dogs cry tears of happiness when reunited with their humans
New study shows dogs cry happy tears when reunited with pet parents
A man hugs a Golden Retriever, facing away from the camera

There are so many ways to tell whether a dog is happy. We all know to look for a wagging tail, but there are countless clues hidden in a dog's body language to let you know how they feel. But for the first time ever, Japanese researchers have confirmed that dogs show emotion in another way: by crying.
While the image of a crying dog can be enough to bring a person to tears themselves, empathetic people can rest assured--there are no sad dogs here. In fact, scientists recently discovered that dogs cry happy tears when reunited with their pet parents. Now that is a sign of true love!

Scientists wanted to explore whether tear reactions are similar in dogs and people
Azabu University professor Takefumi Kikusui was first inspired to discover the role of tear production in dogs while watching one of his Standard Poodles nursing her puppies. He noticed that she appeared to tear up while nursing, and the professor hypothesized that dogs can experience happy tears, too. After a bit of research, this pet parent and the professor found zero studies focusing on emotional tear production in animals.

Read more
Video: Dog befriends bike thief (or why golden retrievers shouldn’t be guard dogs)
This is all the proof we need that golden retrievers make bad guard dogs
A sweet golden retriever puppy lies on the grass

The golden retrievers are at it again. Well known for being playful and goofy, these beasties lack one dog-defining characteristic: a healthy dose of stranger danger. In the mind of a golden, there's no such thing — only a new friend waiting to happen. This viral video takes that flaw to its natural conclusion when a beautiful goldie proudly invites a bike thief into his garage.

The video is a snippet from a broadcast and is entitled "Guard dog or accomplice?" on TikTok. The newscasters explain that a $1,000 e-bike was stolen out of a garage, and we all get to witness the scene. A sweet pup goes right up to the presumed thief and demands pets and belly rubs. The bike thief happily obliges and looks a little confused, perhaps unsure if he should stick to his original plan after meeting such a delightful pooch.

Read more
Video: Adorable dog thinks the TV wants to play fetch
This is why dogs love the game fetch so much
Beautiful couple watching television at home with their dog on sofa

Some pups just can't ever get enough playtime and will take every opportunity to chase a ball, even a virtual one. Videos of cats and dogs watching TV frequently catch our attention because they remind us how much more advanced our animals are than we really understand. Unlike us, though, this doggo doesn't quite get that he can't jump into the action on the screen, sadly for him. Watch this video of a dog playing fetch, or at least attempting to.

The video opens with a shot of a person throwing a football in a yard on the TV. The player tosses the ball, and it goes offscreen as we pan to a beloved dog watching it excitedly. He tries to follow the football, not realizing that it exists in a completely separate time and place. He looks back and forth, seeming to question his pet parent about the laws of physics, not understanding where the chaseable football went. It ends with the sound of his delighted person laughing in the background. The caption sums it up perfectly with: Huh? Mom, where’d it go?

Read more