With the clocks changing this weekend, Pets at Home is launching a new campaign ‘Five Minutes More’, to encourage pet owners across the UK to avoid cutting short the dog walk this winter to help reduce the number of overweight dogs in the UK.
It comes as new research by Pets at Home reveals at least one million1 dogs in the UK are overweight, with 10% of owners saying they know their dog is overweight 3. But the number could be even higher with a further 9% saying they don’t know or would prefer not to say.
According to the research3, the main factors owners believe are contributing to the problem of weight gain in dogs are overfeeding (59%) and lack of exercise / not walking for long enough (34%).
The research reveals in the winter months3:
- Almost a third (29%) of dog owners surveyed reduce the amount of time they spend walking their pet
- Almost a third (28%) take their dog for a walk on the pavement rather than let it run around a park or field
- A fifth (22%) take their dog on fewer walks
- 13% put their dog in the garden instead of taking it for a walk
- 11% use the weather as an excuse to not take their dog for a walk
Unsurprisingly the cold weather was cited as the main reason people walk their dogs less – with 47% worrying it’s too cold for their dog to be outside. The second most popular cause was the owner doesn’t like walking in the dark (30%), followed by not liking walking their dog when it’s wet and muddy (29%), icy weather making it hard for owners to handle their dog on a lead (27%) and people finding the weather too cold for them to walk in (24%) completes the top five.
TABLE ONE: REASONS DOG OWNERS SURVEYED REDUCE DOG WALKING TIMES IN THE WINTER
| Reason | % |
| Owners think the weather is too cold for their dog | 47% |
| Owners don’t like walking their dog in the dark | 30% |
| Owners don’t like walking their dog when it is wet and muddy | 29% |
| The icy weather makes it too hard to handle their dog on a lead | 27% |
| Owners find the weather too cold to walk in | 24% |
| Owners find it hard to get motivated to walk their dog in the cold weather | 21% |
| Owners think the cold weather makes it too hard to hold the lead and pick up poop while wearing gloves | 19% |
| Owners don’t think reducing the time they walk their dog will have a negative impact on its health | 12% |
Source: Pets at Home 2023
Clare Balding, broadcaster and author, said: “Shorter days and wetter weather may make the daily dog walk less appealing, but no less important. As a dog owner you will do anything and everything to look after their welfare and that includes helping them stay a healthy weight. That’s why this winter we are calling on dog owners to get out there come rain or shine to keep their dog active.”
Dr. Leigh-Anne Brown, Practice Owner and Veterinary Surgeon at Vets for Pets said: “The problem of overweight dogs in the UK continues to rise. Latest research from our veterinary practices2 shows in the last 12 months, 30% of dogs seen were classified as overweight and that number could be significantly more, as not all dogs are seen regularly by their vet.
“People may not realise, but if a dog is overweight it can contribute to serious health conditions such as diabetes, arthritis and heart problems. However, you cannot underestimate the benefits of the daily walk. It’s the simplest yet most important thing you can do to safeguard your dog’s health which is why we want to remind people this winter to keep walking, whatever the weather, to help keep their dog active. It may seem a small thing, but if every dog owner increased their dog walk by just five minutes that will have a huge impact on your dog’s overall activity levels over the course of the winter months.”
Dr. Leigh-Anne Brown, Practice Owner and Veterinary Surgeon at Vets for Pets shares her advice on how to keep your dog a healthy weight.
- Weigh your dog regularly so you know if they are the correct weight for their breed, size and age – Pets at Home stores have free weighing scales
- Measure out your dog’s food at every mealtime so you know you aren’t overfeeding – adding a few extra kibbles to each meal soon adds up
- Use treats to reward good behaviour, not as an act of affection. You can show affection in other ways that doesn’t involve food such as stroking, patting or grooming. It is also good to count treats within a dog’s daily food allowance to eliminate the possibility of overfeeding
- Resist sharing food from your own plate which can be more calorific for your dog than you realise
- Add five minutes to every dog walk to increase the total amount you are walking your dog each day
