There is a widespread idea that suggests that having a large garden, or a large patio, is necessary and sufficient for the dog to exercise. Unfortunately for many dogs that live in gardens, this is a myth.
In fact, most dogs that live in apartments are generally more active and in better physical condition than those that live in homes. This happens simply because the former are forced to go out for a walk two or three times a day. On our site we explain why a dog that has a garden needs to go for a walk
Physical, mental and social needs
Dogs, like any living being, need motivation to exercise. We can talk about hunting wild animals, the need to walk to urinate on city dogs or the fact of socializing with other dogs. All these activities motivate the dog and stimulate him
On the contrary, dogs that live in houses with gardens tend to spend more time lying down than playing, walking or running. The one exception, of course, is puppies, who play much of the time. On the other hand, it is true that dogs that live with other dogs have more opportunities and motivation to play and exercise, but even so, it is often insufficient.
Since our beloved canine companions don't need to "earn their daily bread by the sweat of their brows" they don't need to exercise. The comfort with which they live is also a risk to their he alth and there is already a large proportion of obese dogs in developed countries. Exactly as it happens with humans, dogs also suffer from a sedentary lifestyle.
Why does this false myth exist?
When a dog discovers a new garden he acts with great enthusiasm: he checks every corner, sniffs everywhere and marks his territory. It is usual then to consider that the dog has enough with it. However, after a short time, the dog stops feeling stimulated by this environment, which leads to boredom and low motivation.
If we add to this that the dog does not have access to the interior and is alone, we will be favoring the appearance of some behavior problem. If you want to know more about this detail visit our article: Should the dog be indoors or outdoors?
This fact, moreover, can confuse us: when people go out to the garden, or when the dog is allowed to enter, it reacts again with a lot of enthusiasm for the company (jumps on his human relatives, runs around, barks and does all kinds of acrobatics) which suggests that he is happy and fit. What we don't see, however, is what the dog does the rest of the time. Once the initial excitement of getting out in the garden wears off, most dogs lie down to rest. Many of them even spend most of the day sleeping.
Benefits of combining the garden and daily walks
So even if you have a big garden, make sure your dog gets enough exercise. Daily walks are very important, since in addition to exercising the dog, we keep his cardiopulmonary system in good condition, we socialize him with other dogs and with people, we stimulate him and avoid boredom.
The ideal is to take between one and two walks a day if you have a garden, but it can vary if the dog is especially active, as is the case of the border collie, for example.
Don't forget about training. It doesn't provide as much physical exercise as walks or games, but the mental exercise it provides is essential for any dog and helps burn excess energy.
Sometimes it is true that the garden may be necessary if you have a very large or very active dog, but still a garden is not sufficient. You can complement walks with some intense play time in the garden, but always remember that this does not replace the walks that dogs need.
If your dog lives in a house with a garden, we encourage you to stimulate him daily and, whenever possible, take him with you to new and surprising places that will make him enjoy himself like never before.
