According to a 2011 study from Michigan State University, only two-thirds of the subjects surveyed routinely walked their dogs. Experts say that skipping your dog's walk can significantly affect your dog's emotional and physical well-being. “First of all, dogs don’t exercise by themselves, for the most part,” says Stephanie Borns-Weil, an assistant clinical professor at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University. The amount of exercise a dog needs depends on the dog. Some of the dog's needs vary from age, breed and health. According to Borns-Weil, the typical yard doesn't offer enough stimulation for your dog to have an adequate amount of movement. Unless you're spending time playing with your dog,  “they’re just going to sit there,” she says, “because the space is familiar.” She compared it to reading the same book over and over again or seeking enrichment by hanging out in your bathroom.

Dogs may or may not be getting exercise in your yard, “but they’re not getting companionship [from their human], and they’re not getting the mental stimulation that comes from seeing new things, or, from the point of view of a dog, sniffing new things," said Borns-Weil. Dogs whose needs are not met “are subjected to some of the same effects of long-term chronic stress on their health that people are,” she says, ranging from depression and anxiety to problems with the immune system. According to  Valli Fraser-Celin, a humane dog training advocate, the best way to help your dog get the most out of their walk is to let them explore. "Sniffing is the way that dogs experience the world.” Research shows that dogs sniffing is how they acquire information about their environment and communicate. Some people refer to dogs sniffing as "checking their email."

Studies have shown that creating a companionship with your dog and taking them for walks can greatly reduce stress, benefit overall health, lower medical costs, and decrease depression and anxiety. So, next time you want to skip your dog's walk, think twice!