As reported by Cesar’s Way, via The Guardian, Germany has introduced a new law that asks owners walk their dogs not once, but twice a day.

‘“The country’s agriculture minister, Julia Klöckner, has said she is introducing the new law based on evidence that many of the nation’s 9.4 million dogs are not getting the exercise or stimuli they need.”’

In today’s article, we’re going to explain why this move makes sense, and what we can learn from the ruling.

Dogs are social animals

Our four-legged friends crave social interactions with other people and other dogs. Keeping them at home all day is tantamount to cruelty. This is especially true of breeds like Golden Retrievers, Labradors, Poodles, Border Collies, Beagles and Boxers, who rely on social interactions more than the likes of the Bloodhound, Chow Chow, Basenji and Alaskan Malamute.

But no matter which breed you own, you should make socializing a key component of their upbringing. It helps personality, focus and temperament.

Dogs need exercise

As we’ve stressed in many articles before, dogs love to go for a walk. The exercise keeps them calm, it puts them in a good mood, and it makes them work for their food.

With this in mind, schedule walk-times before a meal, so that when your animal returns home, they can tuck into a meal safe in the knowledge they’ve earned the reward.

We’re not saying you need to stick to Germany’s two-a-day rule, but it wouldn’t hurt to walk your animal in the morning before breakfast and in the evening before supper.

Dogs are especially needy when they’re young

When our dogs are young, they need our love and affection the most. They need a lot of exercising to keep them well-behaved. They need socialization and training. Try not to neglect these needs in the first two years of their life, as it’ll stand you in good stead as they get older.

An older dog is wiser and perfectly happy to be left to its own devices a bit more.

Dogs need a routine

If the story in The Guardian demonstrates anything, it’s that our lovable pups absolutely love a bit of structure.

That’s why we suggest scheduling walks at specific times of the day (for instance, before breakfast and supper, as in the example above) and sticking to this routine.

You’ll notice your dog is happier – and better-behaved – if it knows what it’s doing when.

Dogs require a pack leader

Historically, dogs are pack animals who grew up in the wild with a pack leader.

The responsibility of pack leader now falls on you, and it’s our job – as owners – to discipline our four-legged friends.

Discipline doesn’t mean raising our voice and shouting: that signals a loss of control. Discipline means staying calm, staying principled, and not backing down in the face of bad behavior.

What do you think about the ruling in Germany? And how often do you walk your dogs? Let us know on all the usual social channels and stay tuned to our blog – and newsletter – for more action-packed doggy content!