Dog walking for the elderly is a great way to get exercise

Dog walking for the elderly is great exercise

A fact of life, is that you need to keep fit and active to maintain good health. And as you get older, this is still very important. Dog walking for the elderly is a great way for you to keep fit and active. And exercise your dog and have some fun at the same time.

You might not want to do a daily exercise routine as it can be boring to do it everyday to keep fit. If doing the same walk without a dog, it can seem like a chore and boring. It will be surprising, the distance you will cover and the time will fly, when in the company of a dog.

Health benefits with dog walking

Physical activity is shown to reduce the risk of heart disease, strokes, depression, and other conditions. Studies have shown that on average people with dogs are generally more active than people without dogs. A problem that can happen with a lot of adults is becoming less active and leading a sedentary lifestyle.

Not only is it good exercise, but it will get you out of the house, get some fresh air, visiting local parks and meeting people. On average, dog owners spend 22 more minutes a day walking than non dog owners others against the recommended 150 minutes exercise a week.

A dog is a great companion

Another advantage of owning a dog, is that they make excellent companions. If you are a widow, then owning a dog can be just the ticket to get some companionship back into your life. Some people can suffer with loneliness later on in life and a dog can go a long way to help with this.

What if I do not own a dog?

Owning a dog requires a lot of your time and can be quite costly. Food, accessories, vet bills and so on can soon add up. Also, owning a dog will require a lot of your time to look after it. Some apartments or retirement homes do not allow pets, so this would need checking if you live in such a place. So owning a dog might not be possible for some elderly people.

However, this is not a problem. There are many places, charities, etc that will welcome dog walkers to help them out. You might have friends or family that have a busy lifestyle and you could take some of the pressure off of them, by walking their dog. So you could be a godsend for them.

Or you could take on a dog for a week or two, while the owners go on holiday. You can even earn some money walking and looking after peoples dogs for them.

How often should I walk my dog?

A dog really needs walking twice a day in the morning and evening. And if the breed is more active, then another walk during the day. You can vary the times, but it is important to make sure the dog gets enough exercise spread out over the day. Different breeds will need different amounts of exercise.

Conclusion

So there you have it. Dog walking for the elderly is a great way to get lots of regular exercise whilst being fun and offering lots of companionship.

And not owning a dog, need not be a problem with so many places that can let you walk their dogs, or helping out friends or family. With the benefit that you might even be able to earn some money as well offering your services.