Sixty-seven minutes, 16 stops to sniff, the chance to meet other dogs and, if possible, a dip or at least a splash in the water. According to dog owners, that could be the recipe for the perfect walk. The findings come from a survey of 1,800 pet owners commissioned by British pet insurer Animal Friends Pet Insurance.
According to those surveyed, the ideal route should take place mainly in open fields, woods or parks, where dogs can move freely and explore their surroundings. Plenty of opportunities to sniff are essential, as are finding sticks and, ideally, meeting at least three friendly dogs along the way. Rolling around in grass or mud also makes the list of ingredients for a perfect outing.
The survey suggests that owners place a high value on their pets’ well-being. Thirty-eight percent say they put their dog’s happiness ahead of their own, while almost 80% admit to feeling guilty about falling into the habit of taking the same route every day.
But there is no single perfect walk for every dog. “Walks are one of the best parts of life with a dog, but every dog is different in terms of age, breed, health and temperament,” says Jen Hipwell, the company’s head of veterinary services. When choosing a route, safety ranks as the top priority, even ahead of a quiet setting and plenty of open space.
That focus on safety, however, comes with a potential contradiction: more than half of owners admit they would not know how to identify some of the hazards they might encounter along a route, from steep terrain to dangers in coastal areas.
The findings are part of a broader discussion about dogs’ daily exercise and outdoor needs. Recommendations from the Center for Canine Behavior Studies suggest that dogs may need to go outside as many as five times a day, combining short outings for toileting with longer walks for physical exercise. The frequency should always be adapted to the individual animal, taking into account its breed, age, health and energy levels. Ultimately, rather than a perfect number of minutes or sniffing stops, what matters most is the quality of the experience and whether the walk suits the dog in question.
