As we enter the dog days of summer, the love of dog-walking enters its golden season.
The health benefits of daily walking are well-documented. And it’s even better to do it with a friend.
Mario and Carmen Muto, of Barrie, recently took up the activity of dog-walking with their young five-month-old pooches, the brothers Carlo and Marlo.
The pair recently had their first excursion walking them along Barrie’s waterfront.
“It gets us out into the fresh air and walking and more physical, which is why we got dogs. It’s beautiful down here and the dogs can be social with other dogs, which we are just starting to get them used to," Carmen tells BarrieToday.
According to research done in the U.K., regular walking eliminates well over 3,000 cancer cases each year, and if you walk every day, the numbers are reduced even more.
So why not get motivated and clock those miles with a dog?
With the myriad of parks, trails and one of the best waterfronts in the province, Barrie is the perfect place for dog-walking.
Shane Morgan, of Pickering, enjoys the sights around the waterfront as he has been tasked with babysitting his grandmother’s dog while she is in the Galapagos Islands.
Stepping out with Maple, his own dog, and Boo, his grandmother’s pup, is always enjoyable.
“I love what the dogs get out of it with socializing with other dogs and people. And they both love swimming, even though they aren’t the breed for that. They sink because they are too heavy, but they love the water," Morgan says.
Michigan State University reports that dog owners are 34 per cent more likely to record 150 minutes of walking per week compared to non-dog owners, and on average dog owners walked 22 more minutes per day compared to non-owners.
Daily walking is also beneficial for the dogs as well. It’s estimated that half of all dogs in North America are overweight or obese, which undoubtedly shortens their lives.
Regular daily walking can log up to a surprising 1,000 kilometres per year for both you and your dog.
But what if you don’t own a dog?
Get outside and go for a walk anyway. A daily walk along the city’s waterfront will bring you into contact with dozens of dogs of all shapes and sizes, with many of them more than happy to meet you and receive a pat on the head and a hello.
It’s a well-known fact that interacting with pets lowers stress and boosts the chemicals that improve our moods, such as dopamine and serotonin.
Most dogs love the attention along with the daily exercise that they get while out on a leash, so a happy dog means a happy and healthier owner.
Another option for people without dogs of their own is to volunteer with the Ontario SPCA Barrie Animal Centre on Patterson Road, where they offer opportunities to walk the shelter dogs so that they can enjoy the outdoors and get much needed exercise.
To volunteer, click here.
