Your dog doesn’t want a quick walk. It wants a ritual.
A study that surveyed 1.800 dog owners in the United Kingdom, commissioned by Animal Friends Pet Insurance and conducted by OnePoll, set out to calculate mathematically the perfect walk based on what dogs seem to enjoy most. The result: exactly 1 hour and 7 minutes, with 16 stops to sniff posts, logs and flowers, a dip in a puddle or stream, and the chance to socialize with around 3 new dogs along the way.
Owners also confessed their own sins: 46% admit they get bored taking the same route every time, and 79% feel guilty for not being more adventurous with their pet. Even so, 38% say they prioritize their dog’s fun over their own — something anyone who has waited 5 minutes in front of a post while their dog sniffed around before peeing already knew.