Dog owners trek more than 1,000 miles, play 2,080 rounds of fetch – and call their pet’s name 3,120 times while walking them each year, a study has found.
Exercising their dog will also result in owners having 1,040 conversations with other animal lovers a year with the average pooch spending 17 minutes of each walk off the lead.
But owners will also have to untangle their dog’s lead more than 1,000 times and put up with 1,040 arguments – two every week – with their partner or children about whose turn it is to take their pet out for a walk.
It also emerged 24 per cent reckon the daily dog walk is an ideal opportunity to talk to children away from the distractions of home while 64 per cent use it as a time to bond with their pet.
The survey was commissioned by Harringtons, who have teamed up with Ben Fogle and eight dog experts to create a series of dogventures to make sure owners and their dogs are getting the most out of their walks.
A spokesman for Harringtons, said: “For dog owners, going out for a walk is one of the main perks of owning a pet.
“It’s staggering to think just how far you walk, and how many times you will play fetch over the course of a year.
“While a walk is necessary to keep your pet fit and healthy, it’s also a great opportunity to bond with your dog, away from the chores and your busy day-to-day lives.”
Ben Fogle added: “For me, a dog walk isn’t a dog walk if you can’t take the dog off the lead – it means they can fully stretch their legs and let off steam.
“There are plenty of places that are geared up for lead-free dogs, so it’s worth taking the time to find one close to your home.
“That’s why teaming up with Harringtons to create these dogventures has been great – I really hope we can inspire owners to be more adventurous with their walks and encourage them to do something they wouldn’t normally feel comfortable doing.”
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