It's National Walk Your Dog Week

National Walk Your Dog Week, the first week of October, was founded by Celebrity Pet Lifestyle Expert and Animal Behaviorist Colleen Paige, to bring awareness to the ever increasing problem of canine behavior issues and canine obesity in America. Sponsored by Animal Miracle Network, it aims to improve the health and well being of America’s dogs and sends the message to unchain your dogs!

Paige says, “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 – 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 {happy chemicals} but it improves the bond between the two.”

Speaking for myself, every day in my dog’s life is Walk your Dog Day. I take pride that Sanchez gets at least one off-leash run and an on-leash walk every single day, rain or shine. Sanchez is seven years old and is in excellent physical condition. And all the walks inspire me to take breaks from long hours at both of my keyboards – the grand piano with 88 keys as well as the computer keyboard.

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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Snow K.

10:31AM PDT on Oct 18, 2010

I have 2 large dogs that get walked, on average, 4 hours a day. While on the morning walk, there is usually the opportunity to swim. Plus we compete in herding, tracking, agility, obedience and rally obedience. I have had numerous compliments on how quiet and well-behaved my dogs are. They're too tired to misbehave! Exercise, both physical and mental, is a necessity with any breed of dog to help keep them healthy and happy.

October 18
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nora b.

10:17AM PDT on Oct 12, 2010

Every week is National Walk Your Dog Week as far as my Boomer is concerned.

October 12
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DORIS L.

9:46AM PDT on Oct 11, 2010

I walk my dog several times throughout the day---it's good for both of us.

October 11
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Lori E.

2:15PM PDT on Oct 7, 2010

We walk our dog 4x a day. I tell people that have dogs who misbehave that they need to walk their dogs more often and the bad behavior should be curbed. Their response is "Well we have a fenced in backyard that they in all the time" There is a difference people!

October 7
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Mike M.

7:41AM PDT on Oct 7, 2010

National walk your dog week? As if dog owners don't do this everyday?

Anita R.

9:59PM PDT on Oct 6, 2010

My dog Harley and I walk every day two or three times, and one of the walks is usually over 5 kms with a lot of hills. He is almost two and a half years old and up until now he has never caused any damage to the house and/or yard. I think that this due to all that walking, and he loves the walks.