Imagine if you were required to read the exact same magazine article every single day — in fact, several times a day, for your entire life. That’s what it feels like to a dog who is always taken on the exact same walk.
Consider that dogs read their worlds with their noses as well as their eyes, and so much of what makes life interesting for them is being able to stop and smell new scents while they look around. It’s all the more important for dogs to have variety during their walks than for you because you’ve got all kinds of things to keep life interesting throughout the day — your chores, the television, conversations with other people, interesting things you find on your phone. But many dogs just lie around bored, waiting for that next walk so they can check out their environment while having some together time with you.
Try to come up with as many routes as possible. You may even want to drive to some of your starting points to keep things interesting.
Consider your dog’s likes and dislikes
Does your dog enjoy being around other dogs — and other people? If so, she might like at least some of her daily jaunts to be in bustling public spaces with lots of action, and interaction. But if she’s a nervous sort who becomes shy or aggressive around other dogs or people, consider walking routes that are on the quiet side — perhaps trails in parks that are off the beaten path, or at least quiet streets in the neighborhood. Some dogs enjoy a mix of the two.
Keep in mind that two walks a day won’t cut it. We recommend three at a minimum (or at least two with some backyard time playing games together). Leave enough time for your dog to stop and smell the roses — or whatever else she would like to sniff. The aim is not to cover a certain amount of ground. It’s to fulfill her need to employ her senses both for enrichment and emotional stability.
