January Is Walk Your Dog Month – And Honestly, It’s a Good Excuse to Get Out the Door
January is Walk Your Dog Month, and honestly, it feels like a good excuse to get outside more.
January can be a funny one. After the craziness of December, everything slows right down. It’s darker, colder, and motivation can dip - for us and our dogs. But having a simple reason to get outside, even on the days you really don’t fancy it, can make such a difference.
Not in a “new year, new you” kind of way.
More in a fresh air, clear your head, move a little way.
What Is Walk Your Dog Month?
Walk Your Dog Month runs throughout January and is exactly what it sounds like – a gentle reminder to prioritise regular walks and time outdoors with your dog.
There’s no pressure to walk miles, hit targets or suddenly overhaul your life. It’s just about:
- getting outside
- building a bit of routine
- and making time for those daily walks we know are good for both of us
Some days it’s a long wander, some days it’s a quick loop round the block. It all counts.
Why Getting Out in January Actually Helps
I won’t pretend winter walks are always appealing. They’re often muddy, cold, wet and feel like effort at the time.
But they also:
- help clear your head
- lift your mood more than you expect
- give dogs mental stimulation as well as exercise
- break up long days indoors
Some of my favourite walks with the dogs are over the winter - wrapped up warm, quiet paths, cold air and muddy paws. I love it most on a frosty day, when the ground’s crunchy underfoot and the air feels properly fresh.
Ways to Make It Feel Easier (and Less Like a Chore)
🚶Track Your Steps & Set Small Goals
You don’t need to go all in. Tracking your steps or setting a small goal can help keep you motivated without pressure.
It might be:
- getting out every day
- aiming for a longer walk once or twice a week
- or simply being more consistent
Nothing fancy – just something that works around real life.
🌲 Explore Somewhere New
This is one of my favourite things to do with the dogs.
I love a new adventure with them. Finding a new woodland, coastal path or quiet trail instantly makes walking feel more exciting. Even a small change of scenery can lift your mood and make the walk feel like more than just a routine.
It doesn’t have to be far – sometimes it’s just a footpath you’ve never taken before. My favourite thing is getting them in the car and heading off to find somewhere new to explore.
Walking With a Purpose: Charity Walks & Challenges
If you’re someone who likes a bit of motivation, being part of a challenge can really help – especially when it also supports a charity.
There are lots of walking challenges where dog walks can count towards your activity, and many of them are flexible enough to fit around real life. Examples include:
- Doddie Aid – a January fitness challenge where dog walks count towards your active minutes
- Macmillan walking challenges – where you set your own distance and timescale
- Age UK sponsored walks – where you create your own walking goal and fundraise
And if you’re happy to carry that January momentum into the next month, there are dog-specific challenges too, like 9K for Canine Concern, which takes place in February and can be completed in one go or spread out over time.
Most of these can be done at your own pace, which makes them much easier to fit around dogs, work and day-to-day life.
Or Try a Virtual Challenge for a Longer-Term Goal
If fundraising or organised challenges aren’t really your thing, virtual challenges are another great option.
These let you log miles over time, wherever and whenever you walk. You choose:
- the distance
- the timeframe
- and the pace
They’re ideal if you prefer slow, steady consistency rather than one big push.
Some virtual challenges are longer-term and more adventurous – for example, working your way from John O’Groats to Land’s End by logging miles over weeks or even months. You and your dog aren’t doing it in one go, but gradually ticking off the distance together.
It can be a great personal goal, something to keep you motivated through winter, or a challenge that runs well beyond January – no pressure, no crowds, just a reason to keep moving.
A Little Reality Check
This isn’t about pushing yourself or your dog beyond what’s comfortable.
Every dog is different, and age, health and weather all matter. If your dog has joint issues, health conditions or is recovering from injury, it’s always worth checking with your vet about what’s appropriate.
Walk Your Dog Month isn’t about doing more – it’s about doing what works for you and your dog.
Final Thoughts
January doesn’t need to be full of plans or pressure.
A walk, some fresh air and time with your dog is sometimes more than enough.
If Walk Your Dog Month gives you a gentle nudge to do that a bit more often, I think that’s a good thing.
Cold air, muddy boots and dogs that sleep very well afterwards – I’ll take that.