My brother has had two small dogs (not fat, not even overweight) for a number of years and informed my mother that if she got a small dog, she wouldn’t have to walk it.
His exact words were: Small dogs don’t have to be walked.
Are you with him on this? And if so, is there a size cut-off? What if a small canine is part Chihuahua, part Golden Retriever? Hmmm.
It can get very confusing, trying to determine how small a dog needs to be to be exempt from being walked, and whether or not it’s a little overweight or moderately overweight, and taking into consideration its breed or mix of breeds — in order to require regimented walking for exercise. What a conundrum!
Whether or not your pet is overweight isn’t the issue; there are many other benefits to walking a small dog, says Dr. Liz Hanson, a doctor of veterinary medicine at Corona del Mar [small] Animal Hospital in Newport Beach, CA.
Dr. Hanson points out that smaller breeds like the Maltese, Chihuahua and Pomeranian may be able to burn enough calories with normal activity inside the house to maintain a lean body.
But this doesn’t mean these small furry friends don’t need to be walked or given some form of outside exercise.
“Exercising your dog will help keep your small dog agile, limber and maintains good muscle tone which helps reduce arthritic pain as they get older,” explains Dr. Hanson.
“In addition, regular walks help keep your pet’s digestive system healthy and are beneficial to those with constipation issues.”
Does your small dog, that never gets walked because it’s trim, have unresolved constipation issues? Maybe it’s time to start taking Muffin for daily walks.
Or does little Princess bark too much? “Many small breed dogs have behavioral issues such as excessive barking, chewing, scratching and digging,” says Dr. Hanson.
“Walking your dog daily will help reduce and even eliminate many of these behavioral problems that often stem from boredom.”
Another reason to walk a small dog regardless of its weight is to help socialize it, says Dr. Hanson. “Smaller dogs kept mainly at home are often fearful of other dogs and people due to lack of exposure.”
Dr. Hanson notes that small breeds can be hyperactive; if your little pet has too much energy, chews furniture or jumps excessively, a regular walking program is just what the doctor ordered. This will help calm your pet down in the evening.
Do not let the absence of obesity or the presence of trimness guide you in whether or not to walk your small dog.
As you can see, taking a Pomeranian, Maltese or other tiny breed on regular walks can provide multiple benefits very unrelated to obesity or excess weight.
Dr. Hanson’s
