7 Simple Ways To Make Dog Walking More Fun

It's no secret that our dogs make excellent exercise partners. They're great at keeping us motivated, and they never complain. Even when we're sticking to the same old path every day my dog is excited and ready to go.

Unfortunately we humans aren't always so optimistic. I know I find taking the same old route every day a bit dull. Luckily there are a few simple ways to change up our daily dog walking routine and turn it into something more exciting and enjoyable.

1. Explore a new trail

Once or twice a week find a nearby park or new neighborhood to explore and enjoy the change of scenery. The new sights, sounds, and smells will make your walk more exciting for both you and your dog.

2. Encourage sniffing

For our dogs, a walk is more than just exercise. For many, it's their only opportunity to explore the outside world. Take a few minutes on your walk to stop and let them sniff around. This is their way of exploring, and enjoying, the world around them. Taking a few sniff breaks will add a lot of mental and sensory stimulation to their walk. Not to mention, it will help you slow down and take in nature as well.

3. Bring a friend

When was the last time you took a stroll with a good friend? Instead of catching up via text, invite a friend over for a nice leisurely walk. Enjoy the simplicity of some nice face-to-face conversation, and if your friend has a dog invite them over for a double dog walk.

4. Change the pace

Do you normally walk at a leisurely pace or fairly quick? Switch gears and take more time to enjoy the scenery, or pick up the pace to add some intensity to the walk. You can even incorporate both during the same walk to keep things interesting for your dog.

5. Raise money for your favorite rescue

Apps like Wooftrax & ResQWalk have made it easy to raise money for your favorite rescue organization while you walk. They act as pedometers that track your distance and provide donations based on both performance and distance.

6. Socialize

Stop for a couple of minutes to catch up with your neighbors as you're walking by. Most dogs love a bit of extra attention, and it's an easy way to stay up to date with what's going on in your neighborhood.

7. Do a citizen science project

If you're a science nerd like me, you'll be happy to know there are a lot of simple citizen science projects you can do while you're out walking. From observing butterflies to snapping photos of local plants, there are plenty of projects out there to choose from. You don't have to be a scientist to help contribute meaningful data to the scientific community.