Taking place on Wednesday 22nd February, join us for International Walking the Dog Day and experience the incredible health benefits of a refreshing stroll with your furry friend!
From exercise buddies to life-long friends, what’s not to love about our furry four-legged buddies?! While providing years of loyal companionship, dogs have become one of our closest friends who stay by our side through thick and thin and let’s be honest, who doesn’t love curling up on the sofa with your pet’s head resting in your lap and those adoring eyes watching you as you knit. With that in mind, let’s celebrate International Walking the Dog Day together!
Meet Arlo!
Here at The Fibre Co. dogs play a big part in our day-to-day life too, with 2/3rds of staff owning one. Many of you will have seen Daphne and Iain’s dog Arlo, who holds the official title of Chief Joy Officer, a role he takes very seriously. He is constantly checking in with every staff member in the office, making sure they know he’s available for belly rubs if anyone is feeling a bit down, he loves getting involved in our photo shoots and has been modelling alongside our knitwear since he was a puppy. He is also our welcoming community for all delivery drivers and visitors.
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As well as guarding the front door, dogs are also exceptional at helping us keep fit. While we’re all for the health benefits of knitting and crochet, in this post, we also look at some of the incredible health benefits both you and your faithful friend will receive on your daily walkies!
How do I get involved?
So if you have a furry friend or know someone who does, be sure to put on your favourite woolly sweater or cosy up in your perfect beanie and prepare to adventure on February 22nd! We’d love to see you out in your community wearing your favourite knitwear – or your pet’s favourite knitwear!
International Walking the Dog Day is not just limited to dog owners. People who don’t have dogs are also encouraged to participate in this day by volunteering at animal shelters or offering to walk their friend’s dog. The day is also a great opportunity to raise awareness about pet adoption and responsible pet ownership.
Why is it important to take your dog for a walk?
Let’s be honest, dogs are a great way to help get us out of bed in the morning! These daily routines of running around fields or simply walking through the streets is a fantastic way for both dog and owner to enjoy some special time together in the great outdoors.
Walking your dog not only provides physical exercise but also mental stimulation and social opportunities for both dogs and their owners.
Does walking the dog count as exercise?
It certainly does! Those routine walks throughout the day have some incredible health benefits, even if it doesn’t seem like it at the time. Let’s take a look at some of the key benefits you’ll receive from enjoying a lovely walk with your dog.
- Walking wards off heart disease, brings up the heart rate, lowers blood pressure and strengthens the heart
- A brisk 30-minute walk burns 200 calories
- Walking releases natural painkilling endorphins to the body
- Women who walk 30 minutes a day can reduce their risk of stroke by 20%
- Walking tones your leg and abdominal muscles
Photo credit: Lotta H Löthgren
Photo credit: Silmukoitapuikoilla
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Photo credit: All Strung Out Yarn Shop
How long should I walk my dog?
According to PetMD, different breeds have different exercise needs. Sporting or working breeds, such as Collies or Australian Shepherds, may have higher exercise requirements than those bred to be lap dogs, such as Yorkshire Terriers and Papillons.
The Fibre Co. founder Daphne owns a beautiful Collie that loves long walks in the countryside and often walks 30,000 steps a day! Not all dogs can achieve this amount of walking in a day, so researching your breed is essential.
When both dog and owner enjoy a long walk together, what better way to recover than to cosy up and enjoy some well earned knitting!
Photo credit: Rachel Offerdah
Photo credit: Rebecca
Photo credit: Kyle
Photo credit: Stitched in Silk
Photo credit: Little Purl
No dog? No problem!
Daily walks by ourselves, with friends or family are a great way to remain active and enjoy the outdoors, and show off our favourite knitwear projects of course! Although long summer walks in the hills may be slightly out of reach right now, long walks through your local woods or park are a great way to reconnect with nature.
If you’re wearing a special garment made with The Fibre Co. yarns, remember to use the #MadeWithTheFibreCo, tag us (@thefibrecompany), or send us your photos to contact@thefibreco.com so we can share them with our community.