Blog 2016

Benefits of Taking Your Pet to a Dog Park

You love your dog. He's like a member of your family. But there are many places that you can't take your four-legged companion. He's often left cooped up at home. Dog parks offer you a designated place that you can go with your dog, and there are many benefits of taking him.

Doggy Socializing

Often, when dogs are brought into a closed environment, they become fearful of anything outside, including other dogs. Taking your dog to a dog park allows him to meet other dogs, as well as other humans, allowing him to learn to interact with others and lessening his fear response. You can even arrange future play dates with your dog’s new friends!

Physical and Mental Stimulation

When left cooped up, especially in small areas, dogs have a tendency to become bored. Bored dogs are often destructive dogs. You may come home to find pillows, cushions or carpets chewed up. Your dog may also bark and howl, which can be disturbing to your neighbors.

Dog parks offer a large open space for your dog to run freely. It is a safe environment, free of cars, bicyclists and other things that may be harmful to your pup. You can bring some of his favorite toys to play with him. At the end of a good romp in the park, you get to go home with a tired but satisfied dog, and your home is as you left it.

Human Benefits

Dog parks don't just benefit dogs, they also benefit their humans. Taking your dog to the park gets you out into the sunshine and fresh air. It encourages you to interact with him, giving you a chance to get some exercise as well. It also gives you an opportunity to meet other dog owners and socialize. Not only does your dog get to make new friends, but so do you!

Keeping your dog at home, indoors, all day makes both you and your dog sad. Dog parks offer a great way for the two of you to get out, make new friends and get some exercise, all in a safe, enclosed environment.

Food Versus Affection - Which is the Better Training Reward

Rewards are an excellent way to get the desired responses you want from your dog.  They greatly helps in the training process.  There are a couple of ways you can reward your furry friend: food or affection.  Both are effective, but which is better?

Food Rewards

Dogs love to eat, so food is a very enticing reward.  Most dogs, upon seeing a treat, will respond very quickly in order to get it.  There are a couple of arguments that say using food can actually be detrimental to training, but their effectiveness depends upon your approach.

Some say that dogs come to expect treats and will only obey commands when they get treats.  Taking away a treat is removed when the command is learned means the dog will no longer listen.  Dogs, however, are eager to please.  While they may enjoy the treats, slowly phasing out their use decreases the likelihood the dog will always come to expect it.

There are some who say using treats will result in overweight and unhealthy pets.  This can be the case if you use too many treats in conjunction with their regular diet.  Rather than using a bunch of treats, you may consider breaking up treats into smaller pieces and using only a portion of the whole treat as a reward.  Or, you can use some of the food in their regular feeding, so you don't risk overfeeding your pup.

Affection Rewards

Dogs also love affection.  They will do almost anything to please their people.  This makes affection an excellent reward as well.  Affection also has many benefits.

First of all, the affection should be calm.  Becoming overly excited and loud could actually incite your dog to get overly excited and may cause him to jump around and defeat the purpose of training.  A simple smile, scratch behind the ear and pat on the calm "good dog" is all some dogs need to encourage repeat behavior.

Affection is also easy to give.  It doesn't require you to remember to bring treats everywhere you go.  You can never give too much of it, and it won't potentially make your companion a little chubby.

When it comes to food versus affection, both have their merits.  Some dogs respond extremely well to affection, such as working dogs, while others may need a little more enticing.  For those that need a little extra push, food is an excellent motivator.  Every dog is different.  Which reward is best is the one that works for you and your pet.

The actual act of walking a dog is a relatively simple process. Attach leash...start walking. Not very complicated. So why would anyone need a professional dog walker?  Simply put - it's all about the benefits. At Bark & Walk, we are focused on making sure our service is providing benefits for our dogs and their owners. In this blog we will be focusing on the benefits for your puppy or mature dog. Feel free to view our blog where we discuss the benefits for our owners.

While most dog owners take their pet for a walk so they can relieve themselves, the exercise they receive is beneficial and should become a part of your normal routine. Your dog should be taken for walks even for non-bathroom reasons. The most obvious benefit is that it keeps your pet healthy. A consistent walking schedule will keep your pet healthy, agile and limber. Your dog can’t tell you how their feeling, so keeping them as healthy as possible is paramount to a dog’s lifespan. Most dogs relieve themselves on walks and this is no coincidence. Regular walks greatly aid your pet’s digestive system and can help with constipation.

Regular walks can also be beneficial in breaking your dog’s bad house habits that include chewing, digging and scratching. Pets want to be kept busy and allowing your dog to explore the outside for even an hour a day will greatly help their temperament, especially in puppies. Dogs, especially ones who are at home alone all day, have oodles of pent up energy and it needs to be released. Just letting them out in the backyard isn’t enough, they need to explore the sites they stare at through the window all day. Keeping with this narrative, excessive barking and whining could be a direct cause of not enough attention. Walking your dog shows him/her or both that you care and want to spend time with them.

Two huge benefits of walking your pet is the bond and trust it builds between the two of you. Some pets are innately timid or fearful and constant walks out in the big, scary world can help tame your pet’s anxiety. With you by your pet’s side, it will be easier for them to open up and interact with other humans and animals.

Pets may only seem like an animal to some, but to most pet owners they are an extension of their family and are viewed as such. You should be taking care of your dog and any other pet just as you would a human. Now, you may not have the necessary time in a day to do all of this for your dog, but we at Bark & Walk are here to help! Our friendly and experienced experts will keep your pets safe and healthy.

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Hello humans!   My name is Lady Vi.  I don't pronounce the 'i' in Vi. I don't know why it's even in my name. It just leads to confusion sometimes when others try to say my name.  Most of my friends, both human and furry just call me 'V'.  They say I get into too much trouble and mischief to always be called  'Lady'.  I'm not sure why they feel that way. I'm just living my life and doing the normal things that us dogs like to do. Like playing with my toys, eating treats, going for walks in the park and taking naps. Especially taking naps.

I think naps are my most favorite thing to do... and if you ever speak to my human family please ask them to stop waking me up from my naps.  And please stop it with the kisses while I'm trying to sleep. It can be very annoying. Just yesterday I was enjoying a peacful nap and my human sister Katy started hugging and kissing me. I just looked at her and then put my head back down. I did give her a little wag of my tail though - after all she is very cute.  I think she is about 49 years old, but that's only 7 in human years. After she woke me up we played catch with one of my squeeky toys and then went outside. Katy is not allowed to take me outside by herself so her brother Justin came along. We had a great time. Well I have to go now... time for another nap. talk to you soon.

Since some dog owners simply do not have the necessary time to start a regimented walking schedule, Bark & Walk is here to lend a helping hand. Our experts are caring and experienced and will help bridge the bond between you and your dog without you being there. However, it is good to note that there are many benefits in walking your dog, so try and make time whenever you can to take your dog for a walk. The benefits are essentially endless, but there are several that hold much more weight than others. We have already covered the benefits of consistent walks for your dog, now it's time to discuss the benfits it will have on you!

It’s hard enough to find 20 minutes to gather yourself these days, let alone getting up and exercising. However, walking your dog can do exactly that. It is a double-sided benefit and accomplishes several things. Not only are you getting up and exercising, but your dog is getting exercise as well. Your dog needs exercise just as much as you do and while it may be easiest for you to just let them out in the yard, taking them for a walk is beneficial for both parties.

Life is stressful and can become overwhelming and draining rather quickly. It is not a complete fix, but being a dog lover is huge to managing your stress. Extensive studies have shown that being around dogs can lower stress levels exponentially. They are also able to limit other physiological stress responses. You see service dogs all over that help with war veterans who are suffering from PTSD. Why not take this stress release a step further and go for a walk? Walking your dog is one of the best stress remedies you can partake in.

What you may not know is that walking your dog poses a direct benefit to your circulatory system. In 2013, the American Heart Association made a scientific statement that said “pet ownership, particularly dog ownership, is probably associated with decreased cardiovascular disease risk.” What that also means is a lower risk of having a stroke, which protects your brain.

Connecting with nature is an undervalued concept in today’s world and people take for granted the very life-forms that keep us alive. Studies have shown that getting out into nature, especially with a pet, can help restore your attention span. It increases your sense of well-being as well, especially if you are someone who appreciates the natural beauty around you.

You would be hard-pressed to find a dog who does not like to go on walks. The minute you grab that leash their tails perk up and they’re ready to explore the outside world. Walking your pet can help with loneliness if human relationships are not going well for you. Even thinking about your pet has shown to increase happiness levels, walking your dog will not only brighten your day, but theirs as well.

If you are someone who likes to be engaged in your community, the best opportunity to get your foot in the door, especially if you are new to the area, is by walking your dog. In a study of more than 800 people over the age of 50, those who walked their dog at least four times per week were more likely to report feeling a stronger sense of community.

Take your dog for a walk whenever you can, it is healthy for the both of you, but when you are unable to, Bark & Walk is here to help!

There may not be enough time in the day for you to focus on yourself and your pet(s). However, your pets need just as much attention as you do. Therefore, hiring a professional dog walker is not only beneficial to you, but your pet as well. Hiring a professional dog walker gives you complete peace of mind while you are not at home, or even if you are, you'll know that your dog is in safe and reliable hands. With a daily dog walker, you don't have to worry as much when you have to stay late at work, or if your dog doesn't have a complete bathroom trip when you let them out or walk them in the morning before you leave for the day. Just knowing that your dog will get quality time outdoors during the day, especially in the warmer months where they want to engage with the outside world, will help relieve the stress and guilt you feel about leaving them alone. You may not be able to give them all of the attention they need, but you aren't forgetting about them and you should feel proud of that.

Taking your dog for lengthy walks are also hard when you are in a time crunch. Many owners will take their dog for a walk, have them do their business, then go back home and that is not what a dog needs. With a regular dog walker, your pet will be taken on much longer walks even if they do not have to go to the bathroom. It is important for dogs to be walked even when they do not have to go to the bathroom. Professional dog walkers do more than just walk your dog-they spend quality time with your pet, provide ample exercise outside of going for a walk and can tell if there are any health issues that may be ailing your beloved dog.

Our dog walkers have a keen eye for details and aren't there to just let your dog out. Our professionals can take notes of your dog's daily activities, how they're acting, the amount of times they went to the bathroom and keep you updated on how they are feeling throughout the day. The ease of having a dog walker can't be understated either. You don't have to drop them off in a strange place or take them to a dog park with other pets they may or may not get along with. It is just your pet and dog walker, one-on-one, so they can receive the attention they need and deserve.

It is tough to leave your dog at home all day and depending on your schedule as well as the people you may have in your home, your pet could be left alone for up to eight hours and that is not fair to you and especially not your pet. Call Bark & Walk and put your worries of leaving your dog alone to the side. Our dog walking experts can walk, play, feed and give care to your dog until you return home.