One of the most important moments in a dog’s day is the walk. Taking a walk outside is a great source of relief for our furry friend, giving Fido time to play, make friends with his fellow kind and of course, do his business. Dog-owners will often wonder when is best time to take their dog out – morning, afternoon or evening?
In deciding how much your dog should be taken out, you should take into account a variety of factors, such as the breed, age, lifestyle and health. There is thus no single correct answer, but at least two walks a day are necessary to prevent the pooch from getting too plump and, above all, ensure it is prior to feeding Fido, because a very active walk on a full belly can cause stomach problems.
Morning
Taking your dog out in the morning before breakfast is a good habit to have, especially during the summer, as temperatures at that time are still mild and there being no need to worry about sunstroke. The morning walk should last half-an-hour to an hour and should be the longest of the day. This is beneficial to both the dog and the dog owner… a burst of energy before going to work!
Afternoon
Afternoons are certainly not the best time to take out Fido, especially if you live in the city, due to the excessive crowding and traffic at this point of the day. At this time, you could still go out for a short walk lasting a maximum of 15 minutes, just enough time to allow Fido to stretch his legs and have a regenerating (but not very relaxing!) mini-run. If, on the other hand, you are lucky enough to live in the countryside or in hilly areas, afternoon walks can be a good excuse to take our best friend out of the house and play together. Take heed! This would be highly discouraged during summer, preferable rather during mid-seasons, when the sun is milder.
Evening
The evening is usually fairly quiet, being a good time to take your dog out. At the end of the day, a walk should be calm and relaxed, a little treat to tire your pet so as to be able to doze off upon returning home. However, if this is the first real walk of the day for your dog, stay out longer with Fido, allowing him to run, let off steam, play, sniff and use up all that energy that will have built up during the day spent at home, so that he won’t be restless during the night. Remember to put a reflective and flashing collar on your pooch, one like Ferplast’s Solar Night Collar or Night Over-Collar, so your dog is always clearly visible in the dark.
What is important, however, is to try to ensure your pet enjoys a good hour in complete freedom in a green space, because this is worth much more than four 20-minute trips around the block, amongst the traffic with cars, people rushing past, other dogs behind gates that only agitate your dog!