The comment under "other" is also interesting because it cites the owner walking or carrying their dog twice a day. That would separate the subject to exercise outdoors and merely being outdoors without exercise.
| Extremely important | 56.67% |
| Important | 20.00% |
| Somewhat important | 20.00% |
| Not important | 0.00% |
| I don't know | 0.00% |
| Other | 3.33% |
What lifestyles did the world's longest-living dogs lead?
When looking at longest-living dogs and their diets, you'll find that their diets ranged anywhere from raw, leftovers, kibble and even vegan.
So while everybody agrees diet is important to longevity, the answer which diet is best is less than clear. Perhaps it's an individual matter, maybe it's more of an issue of the amount than the type of food ... nobody really knows. What seems to be clear is that there is more to it than meets the eye.
What about lifestyles, though?
The two longest-living dogs spent their lives on a farm; getting plenty of time outdoors.
Dogs love the outdoors.
Dogs are animals, and the outdoors is what resonates with them. There is an opportunity to exercise, and loads of mental stimulation. Even when she couldn't walk, Jasmine was happiest outside. When I was sitting there with her, I could see why. The breeze brushing over her fur. The grass and branches moving with the breeze, birds in the sky, and most importantly all the smells. When Cookie walks outside and lifts her nose to take in the air, I bet she can smell everything that goes on miles away. When a person is sick, they read or watch tv. For a dog, taking in all the air ought to be equal to that.
Being outdoors stimulates the body and all the senses. The different textures and challenges of the ground, the smells, and the sounds. I tell you that Cookie can hear mice under the snow or ground. There is nothing one can do at home that comes anywhere close to what the outdoors has to offer just by being there.
The risks versus benefits
Some risks increase by being outside; infections, insects, snakes, mushrooms. However, a dog can contract a dangerous infection just by going to pee in their own yard.
The average home is more toxic than the average outdoors. Air quality indoors is poorer unless you're using air purifiers. There are toxins in our cleaning products, washing products, furniture, paints, printers ...
A while back I actually wrote a post on the healing power of the outdoors; simply observing much difference, it made for Jasmine. It was like a miracle cure. Since I already laid out all the arguments for the benefits of time outdoors there, I'm not going to repeat them. I believe that the benefits outweigh the risks by far. Plus, outdoors is the most natural environment for dogs.
Between the physiological and emotional benefits, I believe that sufficient time outside might be one of the most important aspects of long, happy life for our dogs.
What do you think?
Related articles:
Dog Longevity Survey Part I
Dog Longevity Survey Part II
Dog Longevity Survey Part I Results
How Important Is Weight Management for Longevity?
How Important Is Diet for Longevity?
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