7 tips for Walking Your Dog featured on Pets Best Insurance

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7 Tips for Walking Your Dog

Posted on: February 22nd, 2013 by Carrie Tiemann

At Pets Best Insurance we want your dog to live a long, happy and healthy life. Part of a healthy dog is ensuring they get good exercise, which we know walks give them. But did you also know it helps maintain the bond between you, and establishes you as the leader?

Professional dog walker, Kelley Goad, of BallWalkPark.com in Seattle shares her top tips/reasons for walking your dog.

1. Have the right gear for your dog

Some dogs do best with a front clip harness (reduces pulling and is very safe), or a head halter, a prong collar or just a flat collar. I find that almost any dog can adapt to the front clip harness very easily and it makes walking much more enjoyable for both of you.

2. Keep a short leash

I like to hold the majority of the leash with my right hand, cross my body and have the dog walking on my left side, and left hand just holds the leash closer to the collar. This gives you a good Plan B should the leash get out of your hand.

3. Carry treats

Carry treats and practice the “leave it” command. It can be very useful when it comes to squirrels, birds, or passing dogs if the sniffing gets a little too invasive.

4. Ditch your Phone

Try to stay off your phone and enjoy this time with your pup. It makes me so happy to spend this time with my dog and see how happy she is trotting along with a big smile on her face. I come home in a better mood every single time we go on a walk. Try it!

5. Exercise, Stimulation and Satisfaction

Walks are great because they provide exercise and mental stimulation. Your pup isn’t only tired from the walk, but is mentally satisfied after tracking down all those scents, observing the sights and sniffing the smells. This combination leads to a more balanced and calmer pup.

6. Dogs thrive on routine

Something as simple as a 20 minute walk in the morning and/or after work can be just what your dog needs to feel like all is OK in their world.

7. Bonding and Pack Hierarchy

Walking your dog is important for creating or maintaining the bond between you two, it also helps establish you as the pack leader.

It's a must...

A lot of people laugh when I ask if they have pet insurance, but I bet they aren't laughing when their pup chews apart its favorite rubber toy and swallows who knows what and needs hundreds of dollars in X-rays. It's one of those things you always think is a good idea in theory, but never find the right time to actually sign up, and then when you need it you wish you had taken that minute to sign up. Well, here is your minute! Go to Healthy Paws Pet Insurance using this link - http://healthypaws.extole.com/a/clk/VRzj5 - and sign up now! You will get 10% off your pet's coverage for life. You can choose your own deductible/coverage amount and they cover up to 90% of your vet bills, including genetic diseases, accidents, illness, all that good stuff. Here are some of my favorite things about Healthy Paws:

• They are a small enough company that when you call, you talk to an actual person, every time. They actually care to talk to you and help you. Genuinely.
• I told them that I prefer to use naturopathic treatments on my dogs and their plan doesn't mention covering them - they said that if something like that comes up, give them a call and they will see what they can work out. They want to help do what is best for my pet.
• They sent me this super nice letter explaining the 70% increase in vet costs over the past couple years and their need to increase monthly premiums - by less than $2/month! *Bailey is with a different company (pre-Healthy Paws) and they increased her premium by 25% this year and 15% next.... I can't switch her b/c she has a ton of pre-existing conditions.
• When I submitted my first claim for Bambi, I had to submit her health record. The woman who processed my claim emailed me back to say she would reimburse me for the claim, and that she noticed there were a couple other office visits on Bambi's record and she would be happy to reimburse those as well. Who does that?!?!? I was thrilled!
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Now for the best part, why you have read this far, there is something in this for you too! Whether you sign up for insurance or not, whether you even have a pet or not! If you also sign up for Healthy Paws' Refer A Friend program, you get $25 for each and every one of your friends who signs their pet up too! You can get that $25 in cash or gift cards - OR you can donate it right back to pet adoption groups through their Foundation.