Way back before Sampson tore his ACL I walked the dogs once a day for about 35 minutes or so. On the weekends we’d often walk twice that amount of time. For us, it’s not about the distance, it’s about the time.

Once he tore his ACL that all went out the window. Recovery from the surgery required three smaller walks per day. Initially they were only for five minutes each, but eventually we worked our way back up. Of course, five minutes wasn’t enough for the D-Dog, so it took some juggling on my part, but we managed.

The dogs liked having two walks per day and they got used to going out, so now we walk twice per day, every day.

When I heard about Walk Your Dog week, I knew it would be something we could easily do because we are already doing it.

I work full-time (as I’m sure many of you do as well) and squeezing in almost an hour of walks a day can be hard. Because of time limitations, we sometimes have to be creative. I don’t have the time to load the dogs in the car and drive some where to give them a different place to walk. But walking the same path, day in and day out can get boring.

I thought I’d share a couple of ways to spice up your dog’s walk to help change things up.

I mean, you wouldn’t want to travel the same path, twice a day every day for your entire life would you?

If your walking area is limited, you can try leaving a few minutes earlier or later, or even walking at a different time of day. First thing in the morning gives your dogs all the smells of the night animals, while later in the day will give them the smells of other dogs and people.

If route options are limited, try going in the opposite direction of where you usually start. We always walk on the side of the street facing oncoming traffic, so when I switch direction, we are on the opposite side of the street, which means there are different things to investigate.

Bring some treats with you and throw them ahead of you when your dog is not looking and let them use their nose to find something yummy. If your dog is not motivated by treats, bring their favorite toy along and stop along the way for a quick game of tug, or if room allows a bit of fetch.

Work on your obedience commands while out on your walk. When you stop to pick up poo, have your dog sit, stay or down, or as you’re walking along ask your dog to touch your hand, heel or watch you. Keep switching things up, keep it interesting.

Those are some of our tips to spice up your dog’s walk and here are some of our favorite reasons to get out and walk.

• Get the weight off.  If you’ve got a pup that’s getting a little thick around the middle, you’ll be doing them a favor by helping get that weight off. Extra weight puts stress on joints and organs and can really shorten your dog’s life.
• Mobility. Keeping your dog active keeps their joints and muscles active as well. Active muscles and joints will help your dogs stay mobile as they age.
• Bonding. The time we spend walking (and training) together, helps strengthen our bond.
• Stimulation. Most dogs spend a portion of their day alone. Getting them out of the house where they have an opportunity to smell other dogs, encounter new people and experiences helps keep their mind active.

A physically and mentally stimulated dog is usually a pretty well-rounded, happy dog (and tired too). And a tired dog is a good dog. And a good dog makes for a happy owner.

Do you walk your dogs every day? Tell me what kinds of things you enjoy with walking your dog.

We’re joining our friends at Wag ‘N Woof Pets, Cascadian Nomads, and Dolly the Doxie for Dog Walking Week. Stop over and see what our hosts are up to.