1. Weight Loss

Adding 30 minutes brisk walking to your daily routine could burn about 150 or more calories. Physical activity, such as walking, is important for weight control because it helps burn calories.

2. Reduced Blood Pressure

Those with a blood pressure reading of over 135/85 are twice as likely to have a heart attack or stroke as someone with a normal blood pressure reading. Going for a daily walk has shown to decrease blood pressure readings and therefore reduce the likelihood of a stroke or heart attack.

3. Lowers risk from Diabetes

The most common form of diabetes is Type 2, which is when blood glucose levels rise higher than normal. It has been shown that going for gentle walk an hour after a meal reduces the levels of glucose in the blood.

4. Improves digestion

Go for a daily walk an hour after eating or an hour before eating. Your overall digestion is improved when taking a daily walk because walking strengthens your abdominal muscles, which then encourages better movements in the Gastrointestinal tract and will improve digestion

5. Prevent Varicose Veins

Varicose veins mainly occur in the lower legs and behind the knee. Valves in the veins are worked by movement to move the blood up the legs. Varicose veins are caused by a lack of movement (too much sitting or standing still) which causes the blood to ‘pool’ in the veins eventually making the vein take on a ‘baggy’ appearance. Walking reduces the incident of pooling of the blood and so reduces the incidence of varicose veins.

6. Your Dog will obey you better

Dogs love to catch up with the world around them. In the same manner as we humans socialise, pick up text messages and emails to keep in touch, dogs examine who has been in their vicinity by smells and scent marking. Just as you feel happier once you have connected with your friends, so your dog will too. Walking your dog equals a happier dog, which means a more obedient dog.

7. Reduces anxiety and poor behaviour in your dog

Poor behaviour in dogs is because something is wrong. The wrong can be from illness, adopting an owner’s bad habits (dogs quickly learn) to being bored. A dog’s remit is to please their owner. Get your dog checked by your Vet to rule out any illness. However your dog maybe anxious because it is bored from being left alone for too long or from lack of activity. Dogs need just as much exercise and activity as we humans love to enjoy.

8. Walking your dogs saves you money at the Vets

Keeping your dog healthy is not only best for your pooch but also keeps the medical bills down. Taking your dog for a daily walk is the most highly recommended activity you can do as it reduces obesity and heart disease among others.

9. Decreases loneliness

A dog feels lonely and isolated when sitting in the backyard. People get lonely too. Loneliness is a thing of the past when you take your dog for a walk, because those who walk their dogs are seen as friendly and approachable. When you meet other dog walkers this encourages a more social lifestyle.

10. Improves happiness in you and your dog

The human body, as well as the animals, must have fresh air, natural daylight and sunshine (as well as food and water) to be healthy. Oxygen, Vitamin D and endorphins are freely supplied when we walk in the fresh air and these nutrients improves the mood and increases happiness. What a natural beautiful way to get all these necessary nutrients by walking with your dog.

Dog walking tips

– Aim for 30 minute walks, five times per week
– Keep your dog on its leash in public areas
– Supervise your dog around young children
– Make sure your dog is properly tagged with name and your tel number