What a great idea! And for such a wonderful cause, too!
This week in October has been officially declared National Walk Your Dog Week, to help fight canine behavior issues and canine obesity in the USA!
The holiday is sponsored by Animal Miracle Network, and the founder, Pet Lifestyle Expert Colleen Paige explains:
“With more and more people becoming sedentary and gaining weight due to a lack of exercise, dogs don’t get the necessary outlet they need to stay physically and mentally healthy. I feel that part of the overpopulation of dogs in this country is hugely associated with our growing waistlines. Generally, the less a person exercises, the less a dog exercises. Having trained thousands of dogs in the last twenty years, it’s my estimation that at least 75% of dogs in shelters are there due to a lack of exercise, which has thus resulted in serious behavior issues such as aggression, destruction and separation anxiety issues. Often, dogs run away from home because they’re kept sequestered all day long in a crate or a small yard, which only exacerbates a dog’s destructive, aggressive or anxious tendencies. This, coupled with too much fatty food, leads to obesity, as well as medical issues like pancreatitis, diabetes, heart disease and the number one killer of dogs ├óΓé¼ΓÇ£ cancer. October is a beautiful time of year everywhere to get outside. Walking your dog on a daily basis not only increases the endorphins in both human and canine brains but it improves the bond between the two. If you walk your dog just 30 minutes a day, you will meet national recommendations for heart health. Asking your children to accompany you by walking the dog themselves while you supervise, will set them up for a better chance that they will continue to not only crave physical exercise, but that they will be responsible dog stewards when they’re adults.”
Amazing! You would never think that simply keeping your animal active would help alleviate so many behavioral problems!
Get out there and walk your furry dog friends, folks!
CLICK HERE for more information on National Walk Your Dog Week!
[Image via WENN.]
