Let’ m Loose – The Importance of Off-Leash Walks for Pet Dogs

Abstract

The approximate figure of pet dogs reported in Europe 2020 is 87.5 million. These dogs live mainly either in enclosed properties or their exercise takes place in form of a daily round of walks with their owner, frequently on a leash. The importance of regular exercise for dogs is well known and benefits to physiological and psychological well-being through off leash explorative behavior has been documented. Off leash walks benefit health and welfare because the dog’s individual natural gait, social transaction ability and exploration behavior are thereby supported. In this study the behavior of free-ranging (off-leash) pet dogs was assessed whilst walking in familiar and unfamiliar areas with their owner and not being signaled or called to. Data were collected to measure distance travelled and duration dogs spent away from their owner during the walks to determine and compare speed and movement patterns of dog and owner respectively. The roaming behavior of the dogs was measured via GPS. All dogs displayed individual speed and exploration patterns and covered significantly longer distances at significantly higher speed compared to their owners. The majority of dogs, however, remained within a radius of 150 m of their owner all the time. Therefore, while it is inevitable for dogs to be on a leash in some situations whilst sharing our urban environment, safe and enriched areas for off leash activities are strongly recommend to ensure pet dogs’ physiological and psychological welfare by being able to explore in their own speed and employing their individual movement patterns.