WALK YOUR DOG TO SAVE THE PLANET!
By Karen Gray-Kilfoil (Cape)
Karen has a B.A. degree in Social Sciences and Humanities, with special emphasis on social, developmental and educational psychology, including one year of biology. She has an Advanced Certificate in Companion Animal Behaviour and a Certificate in Animal Assisted Activities from the Ethology Academy, Pretoria,
So how does walking your dog help us to be more “green”? Here are some concepts to consider:
Get in shape!
The saying goes: “If your dog is fat, you aren’t getting enough exercise.” Obviously regular walks can help you and your canine stay in shape and healthy. Most dogs only need a 10 minute walk a day to improve their lifestyle dramatically, but 20 minutes is better. (Puppies under a year old should not be over-exercised – 5 to 10 minutes at a time is plenty.) If you or your dog is unfit, start with 2 minutes a day and increase it each week. Obesity is a worldwide problem and costs governments millions. Shouldn’t that money be spent on something more useful?
Prevent crime!
If people walk regularly in their neighbourhoods, with or without their dogs, it has been proven that crime decreases, especially if they are observant and confident. Becoming a member of your local neighbourhood watch means you could combine your parols with your dog walks. If there isn’t one, help start one. Taking your dog along provides company and your dog may alert you to something you didn’t notice. Big or vicious-looking dogs are a deterrent to crime as well. You may be able to prevent a crime by simply alerting a neighbour to an open car window or a bicycle left outside.
Improve neighbour relations!
Regular walks around the neighbourhood with your dog should improve relationships in the neighbourhood and you may even make a new friend or two while out walking. Of course you should try to observe some good manners and pick up after your dog. Also respect people’s privacy and stop your dog from barking too much or causing other dogs to bark, as much as possible. It is a well-known fact that close-knit communities help each other out when crisis strikes, so knowing your neighbour has its advantages, apart from the odd cup of tea.
Improve mental health!
Positive contact with animals, even fleeting, can change people’s lives for the better, so letting your dog socialise with children and other dogs is a good idea, providing your dog is sociable and controllable. Your dog’s mental health will also improve if he has regular walks and positive interactions with others. He will probably be less hyperactive and “naughty” at home if he has daily walks. It is a fact of life that we all suffer from stressful lives in some way or another. Walking the dog helps to relieve stress by forcing you to spend time outside (rain or shine), to exercise and to just think and be quiet as you walk along. It’s a great way to de-stress after a hard day’s work, or to prepare for one early in the morning. If your dog’s walking behaviour causes even more stress, then make a plan to train him. There are dog trainers and behaviourists who will come to your home and help you sort out the problems. However, often the first few walks are dreadful and they gradually improve as the dog learns the routine and realises this isn’t the last walk he’s ever getting. Concentrate on keeping calm and your dog should also calm down.
Save electricity, petrol and money!
If you walk more, you’ll spend less time watching TV, on the computer, driving to the shops (How about walking?), and even shopping. If you say you have no time to walk the dog, consider making time, by doing only one shop a week. Or you can record your favourite TV show and watch it later, without the 20 minutes of adverts! People who exercise regularly also sleep better, which means you can go to bed earlier, turn off the TV and lights and help save the world!
Save time by spending time!
If you and your dog are both as healthy as they can be, you will save time and money at the vet and doctor, which means you’ll have more time to walk!
Get off the couch and WALK THE TALK!
By Karen Gray-Kilfoil
Animal Behaviourist & Humane Educator (2009)
Get in shape!
The saying goes: “If your dog is fat, you aren’t getting enough exercise.” Obviously regular walks can help you and your canine stay in shape and healthy. Most dogs only need a 10 minute walk a day to improve their lifestyle dramatically, but 20 minutes is better. (Puppies under a year old should not be over-exercised – 5 to 10 minutes at a time is plenty.) If you or your dog is unfit, start with 2 minutes a day and increase it each week. Obesity is a worldwide problem and costs governments millions. Shouldn’t that money be spent on something more useful?
Prevent crime!
If people walk regularly in their neighbourhoods, with or without their dogs, it has been proven that crime decreases, especially if they are observant and confident. Becoming a member of your local neighbourhood watch means you could combine your parols with your dog walks. If there isn’t one, help start one. Taking your dog along provides company and your dog may alert you to something you didn’t notice. Big or vicious-looking dogs are a deterrent to crime as well. You may be able to prevent a crime by simply alerting a neighbour to an open car window or a bicycle left outside.
Improve neighbour relations!
Regular walks around the neighbourhood with your dog should improve relationships in the neighbourhood and you may even make a new friend or two while out walking. Of course you should try to observe some good manners and pick up after your dog. Also respect people’s privacy and stop your dog from barking too much or causing other dogs to bark, as much as possible. It is a well-known fact that close-knit communities help each other out when crisis strikes, so knowing your neighbour has its advantages, apart from the odd cup of tea.
Improve mental health!
Positive contact with animals, even fleeting, can change people’s lives for the better, so letting your dog socialise with children and other dogs is a good idea, providing your dog is sociable and controllable. Your dog’s mental health will also improve if he has regular walks and positive interactions with others. He will probably be less hyperactive and “naughty” at home if he has daily walks. It is a fact of life that we all suffer from stressful lives in some way or another. Walking the dog helps to relieve stress by forcing you to spend time outside (rain or shine), to exercise and to just think and be quiet as you walk along. It’s a great way to de-stress after a hard day’s work, or to prepare for one early in the morning. If your dog’s walking behaviour causes even more stress, then make a plan to train him. There are dog trainers and behaviourists who will come to your home and help you sort out the problems. However, often the first few walks are dreadful and they gradually improve as the dog learns the routine and realises this isn’t the last walk he’s ever getting. Concentrate on keeping calm and your dog should also calm down.
Save electricity, petrol and money!
If you walk more, you’ll spend less time watching TV, on the computer, driving to the shops (How about walking?), and even shopping. If you say you have no time to walk the dog, consider making time, by doing only one shop a week. Or you can record your favourite TV show and watch it later, without the 20 minutes of adverts! People who exercise regularly also sleep better, which means you can go to bed earlier, turn off the TV and lights and help save the world!
Save time by spending time!
If you and your dog are both as healthy as they can be, you will save time and money at the vet and doctor, which means you’ll have more time to walk!
Get off the couch and WALK THE TALK!
By Karen Gray-Kilfoil
Animal Behaviourist & Humane Educator (2009)
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