One of my favorite things to do is take my dog Sally for walks. She is always excited to go, and of course the fact that I bring some treats along never hurts. While this is bonding time for us, I always try to remember that this is a special time for her, a time for her to explore.
Maybe you, as an existing or potential dog owner, have been thinking about ways to become closer with your dog beyond indoor petting and belly rubs. These things are great, but we all know that Fido needs exercise as well as encouragement to do “business”, so many of us take our pup for walks. But what KIND of walks??
I am writing this because I see too many dog owners who make their walks about themselves, not their dogs. The human is jogging or talking on the phone, never slowing down unless the dog needs to pee or poop. You can see that the animal wants to stop and sniff, to experience their surroundings in doggie style. This was something that was apparent from my interaction with Sally on our initial walks, but I wanted to find an article that laid out the reasons dogs should be allowed to stop and sniff beyond my own experience. My research led to an article from the Humane Society, laying out 4 reasons your furry friend should be taken on sniff walks. Do your favorite furry friend a big favor. Click here for article