dog walking.

MiikaS, Flickr Meet Mary Burch, American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen director and Paw Nation's expert columnist addressing your questions on animal behavior. Dr. Burch has more than 25 years of experience working with dogs, and she is one of fewer than 50 Certified Applied Animal Behaviorists based in the United States. She is the author of 10 books, including the new official book on the AKC Canine Good Citizen Program, "Citizen Canine: 10 Essential Skills Every Well-Mannered Dog Should Know." Q: We have a Lab/Chow mix who we got from the Humane Society when she was 6 years old. She is 9 years old now. We don'’t know anything about her history before we got her. She is very sweet ...

Corbis Looking for a workout plan that you can really stick to? Perhaps you should consider investing in an exercise machine that loves you back -- i.e., a dog! According to the New York Times, some of the world's best personal trainers aren't persons at all, but canines. A recent study found that dogs are top-notch motivators when it comes to taking regular walks. In fact, research suggests that dog owners are not just more likely to take walks, but they've been found to be more physically active than non-dog owners overall. According to research conducted by Michigan State University, 60 percent of dog owners exercised an average of 30 minutes a day -- meeting or exceeding federal ...

Anna Westhoff Each week, Ben Westhoff shares the ups and downs of owning Pippi, the dalmatian mix he and his wife Anna adopted as a puppy in late 2009. Anna wrote this week's column. Ben and I may live in the suburbs, but we don't have our own enclosed yard for Pippi to do her business. Instead, we give her plenty of walks around the neighborhood, to give her the opportunity for what I like to call her "daily constitutionals." Ben is pretty disciplined about keeping Pippi on the sidewalk, but I often let her sniff around front lawns, under hedges and along tree-trunks. She just seems to love being outside so much; her tail whips to and fro when she finds a scent she likes! Sometimes, ...

kerfern, Flickr Meet Mary Burch, American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen Director and Paw Nation's expert columnist addressing your questions on animal behavior. Dr. Burch has over 25 years of experience working with dogs, and she is one of fewer than 50 Certified Applied Animal Behaviorists based in the United States. She is the author of 10 books, including the new official book on the AKC Canine Good Citizen Program, "Citizen Canine: 10 Essential Skills Every Well-Mannered Dog Should Know." I have a 2-year-old Lab mix named Carlos. He has a lot of energy and still acts like a puppy. That's OK with me for the most part, but I'm concerned about how hard he pulls on his leash. ...

Yuri Gripas, AFP / Getty Images "I just knew I'd end up doing this every day. The girls promised me that if I got them a dog that they would be responsible and take care of it, but just like every parent ever, here I am. Getting dragged by the dog. But that's OK; it's not like I don't have more important things to do. It's not like I'm the President of the United States." Well, at least that's what we imagine he's thinking as Bo pulls him down the path. What we do know is that the President is not alone in having a dog take charge of the walk. Check out our video, Pet On The Street, where dog owners answer the question: Do you walk your dog or does your dog walk you? ...

Kurgo Wander Pack Walking your dog doesn't have to be a complicated process. You grab a leash, some water, something to scoop poop, and you're out the door. But if you're trying to turn a simple dog walk into a serious workout, the right equipment will help you and your dog make the most of your time. Keep Both of You Well Hydrated Hands-free hydration is a cinch with a CamelBak hydration pack. We love that it holds enough water for a long walk or run. Not only is it handy for a quick sip, but it's easy to squeeze some water into your dog's mouth too. The zippered pockets have room for keys, a phone, a snack and even a collapsible bowl. Track Your Workout While You Walk Your Dog The ...