James Wellbeloved challenged us to talk about our favourite walk as part of National Walking Month. My dog loves her walks, she is a border collie mix so likes to be active. The chance to explore her surroundings and have a good sniff around are her main priorities! She enjoys all the sensory stimulation a new environment brings. Her favourite is a woodland walk. But she is just as happy at the beach digging in the sand.

We like to take our dog Summer on adventures with us. It’s important to keep dogs active both physically and mentally. We try and offer our dog plenty of variety, so she doesn’t get bored. But we have found a woodland walk is a good option for us. The different terrain keeps things interesting. She also likes it when she finds a stream to cool off in. Personally, I think it’s beneficial to go on nature walks with your dog as it mimics a dog’s natural environment.

Here are some things you need to think about when walking your dog.

New Smells

It might seem frustrating at times when your dog keeps stopping on a walk to sniff things. But they are processing information with each new smell. For your dog it’s the ideal mental workout and very enriching. Don’t rush your dog on their walk, let them sniff! Ideally at times let them pick the route too, led by their nose on a sensory adventure. Dogs can smell so much better than humans, for them it’s a huge part of their walk. Don’t drag them along from A to B without taking time to let them sniff all those incredible smells.

The Right Food

You need a food that will give your pet energy for their walks. James Wellbeloved makes sure your dog has a balanced diet with lots of vitamins and minerals. Their grain free dog food is a more natural diet for your dog. Dogs sometimes find it tricky breaking down grains. Sticking to meat and vegetables is easier for their digestive systems to manage. Turkey and chicken are highly digestive animal proteins. The pouches we were sent included seaweed too, an ingredient that aids digestion and boosts your dog’s immune system.

Also, if you have a dog with allergies going grain free might help resolve those issues. But remember to make gradual changes to your dogs’ food if you want to introduce something new. I like the idea of a dog food inspired by nature not one that is using grains as a cheaper filler.

Be Aware of Ticks

Spring and summer are the peak times for ticks so it’s important to protect your dog. Ticks can often be found in leaf litter or long grass in woodland, so you need to take precautions if like us it’s your favourite type of walk. We use an oral medication tick treatment and always check our dog is tick free when we return home.

Go Prepared

Stock up on poo bags and bring a water bottle to keep your dog hydrated. It can help to bring some James Wellbeloved dog treats too to work on training your dog. You need to have good control of your dog if you plan to let them off the lead when out walking. Use those treats to work on your commands.

What outdoor destination does your dog prefer?

This post is collaboration with James Wellbeloved, but all thoughts are my own.