What sort of equipment do I need?
Forget the leash and collar if you want to burn some serious calories with your dog. Collars can compress the trachea (windpipe) when pulled, causing difficulty breathing or even a neck injury. Choke chains or any other collars that work by applying a constrictive pressure around the neck are especially dangerous. Your safest choice is a head halter (Gentle Leader®, etc.) or walking harness (Ultra Paws® Harness, Gentle Leader® Easy Walk, etc.). Look for wide, soft, padded straps and breathable materials.
A leash of a relatively short length is preferable. Retractable leashes are not preferred as they pose a danger to the dog walker and the dog. You will be keeping your canine companion close to keep up a steady pace. Save the long leash for casual strolls around the neighborhood or explorations at the park.
For long winter walks in cold climates, protective booties and dog coats may be required. If you will be walking in hot weather (above 80-85°F or 26-29°C for most dogs), or if you will be walking longer than 30 minutes, do not forget to carry water for both you and your dog. If you want your dog to be fashionably equipped, there are many different styles of portable water bottles available for dogs on the move.
Few dogs will naturally walk at a pace that generates the elevated heart rates needed for sustained aerobic activity and weight loss. Based on observations, the average pace of people walking with their dogs is 25 minutes per mile (15 minutes per kilometer), which is actually a slow stroll. They make frequent pauses (on average every one to two minutes) for the dog to smell an interesting object or mark territory.
Walking for weight loss is very different than walking for pleasure. Make your objective to walk briskly from the beginning of the walk. Too often, if you start slowly, allowing the dog to sniff and smell everything, you may have a challenging time getting them to speed up. It is not necessary to warm up before a walk or a slow jog; as hunters, dogs have adapted to be able to accelerate rapidly with very little risk of injury.
Draw your leash close – generally within two to four feet (about 0.5-1 meter) of your body – and set off at a pace you feel comfortable sustaining. This should be about a 12-15 minute per mile pace (7-9 minute per kilometer). It should feel like a brisk walk and you should break into a light sweat. The key is to keep it up!
Do not look down at your dog when they inevitably want to stop and smell something or mark a fire hydrant. Continue moving straight ahead, tighten the leash (but do not jerk it) and give a command such as “No stop”, “Come”, or “Here.” Head halters are a great method for training dogs to heel during a brisk walk. If your dog sits or refuses to walk, you may have to return home. If this happens, you should crate him or put him in a quiet space without your attention and try again another time. However, this is rare, since most dogs take readily to this new form of exercise.
For most overweight or obese dogs, providing they have normal heart and lung function and no other pre-existing medical conditions, we recommend starting with 30-minute walks at least five times a week. Ideally, you should do the walking for exercise seven days a week. A sample schedule follows:
How Many Calories Can You Burn Dog Walking?
While it ultimately depends on the pace and general temperament of the dog, a person of average weight can burn around 205 calories per hour of walking a dog at a leisurely pace of 2-mph, including potty and idle sniffing breaks. However, if the dog likes to walk fast and pull their leash, dog walkers actually burn more calories trying to keep up with them and pulling back on their leash trying to keep them in line.
While 205 calories may sound like a negligible amount, it adds up over time. If you walk a dog for an hour each day of the week, you have burned 1,435 calories during that time you could have spent sitting behind a desk and not burning anything. It only takes 3,500 burned calories to lose one pound, so after a week, dog walkers are nearly half way there.
However, it is also worth noting that heavier people will be burning more calories and there are ways to increase the calories burned such as walking uphill or moving at a faster pace. Unfortunately, you have to make sure that this pace and the length of the walk is also appropriate for the breed of dog. Active breeds like Labradors, German Shepherds, and Golden Retrievers will always be up for long, fast walks until they get to an advanced age.
However, less active breeds like Pugs with their squished noses that makes it harder to breathe, Basset Hounds and Dachshunds with their short legs, and dogs with a lazy temperament will not want to go for overly long or fast walks. They will get tired eventually, start to slow down, and even whine when they want to go home. With these dogs, it is best to do shorter walks at more intervals instead of one long walk per day.
Pay attention to your dog’s breathing.
If your overweight dog is having difficulty breathing while on a walk, it’s important to slow down or take a break and assess the situation.
“Overweight dogs are at risk for respiratory trouble, especially when exercising,” says Dr. Ryan. “This is because extra fat in the chest prevents the lungs from fully expanding. Plus, extra fat in the abdomen pushes up against the diaphragm. The lungs have to work harder to supply oxygen.”
This is true with brachycephalic breeds also. They tend to overheat quickly, even in temperatures you would not expect, so it is pertinent to monitor their breathing during walks.
Symptoms such as coughing, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, says Dr. Ryan, can make a walk uncomfortable or even dangerous for your dog.
If you have an overweight dog, using and bringing the right equipment while out on walks will keep your dog safe. “For walking an overweight dog on leash, use a walking harness or a head halter,” says Dr. Ryan. “Regular collars can put too much pressure on your dog’s trachea, causing additional breathing problems or injury if your dog pulls too much.”
The PetSafe Gentle Leader Dog headcollar and leash is a safe and effective option for overweight dogs. Dr. Ryan says to consult a veterinarian when using a head collar so that you know how to fit it and use it correctly.
“You will also want to bring water and a portable water bowl on walks to prevent your dog from overheating and from becoming dehydrated,” says Dr. Ryan.
Dogs 101: Lose Weight Fast While Walking Your Dog – Animal Facts
Obesity in dogs is a big problem for pet owners. According to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP), the number of overweight dogs continues to rise. In 2017, obesity affected 56 percent of dogs in the US.
And while you might think that fur-covered rolls and big bellies look cute, having an overweight dog can lead to serious health problems.
“Pet parents should talk to their veterinarians at the first sign of their dogs gaining weight,” says Dr. Kelly Ryan, director of veterinary services at the Humane Society of Missouri’s Animal Medical Center of Mid-America. “Serious health issues may be managed or even prevented if a good diet and exercise plan are implemented right away.”