But I have a yard!

I hear it over and over:  "I don't need a dog walker, I have a yard my dog can run in."  It seems logical.  Heck, even my partner had this ideology when we first got together.  If you have a good sized yard (comparable to the size of your dog) then the dog should be able to get all the exercise (s)he needs, right?

The truth is, no matter how much acreage you have, most dogs won't take the opportunity to exercise on their own until they have so much energy pent up that they are doing zoomies in the yard.  Or they expel that energy by digging or hunting anything and everything that steps foot into "their territory."  Max use to be this way.  He had 2 acres to roam, mostly wooded.  He spent all of his time (okay, when he wasn't sunning himself in the driveway) patrolling the line looking for groundhogs.  We had a fresh carcass in the yard several times a week, at least.  Fun. 
Maggie, though she had the same 2 acres to roam, would lay on the back porch until someone came out to play ball with her. 
Stella will run circles like a crazy if she doesn't get her daily walk - which is cute, because she's little, but I know that it is a sign that she has way more energy than she can handle, and we didn't walk long enough today. 

Then there are those dogs who only get let out in the yard, and so they bark at everything.  Constant yapping and snapping, because it is their only outlet.  Then they get yelled at and ill spoken of from the neighbors, when it is not their fault!  They are just trying to release the built up energy any way they can!

Try it!  Take your dog for a nice long walk.  If they are coming home and running circles you did not walk far enough.  See the difference in their behavior and willingness to listen.  It is mind blowing!

A walk isn't just about exercising the body, you are allowing your dog to experience new things, and actually learn.  By walking your dog (properly) you are actually making him/her smarter!  New experiences cause new brain wrinkles, which allows more neurons to fire and brings the whole body to a new level of existence! 

It is truly amazing what an hour a day will do!

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