"When I think of England, I think of the queen taking her dogs for walk in the countryside," says Carsten Haferkamp, a dog-owning German working in London. Data from Tractive, a firm that provides GPS tracking for pets, show that Britons walk their dogs more than their European neighbors do.
The British love for dog-walking may have more to do with the walking than the dogs. Britons are big walkers – they came fifth in the world in a study in 2017, the highest in Europe. Dogs provide walkers with company and a purpose, so it may be that walking encourages dog-ownership.
But Julien Dugnoille, an expert at Exeter University, suspects dog-walking has a deeper significance. Dogs, he suggests, are a useful aid to a socially awkward nation. "Britons tend to have a chat with strangers and exchange a few jokes and comments about the weather without putting themselves in danger."
A tradition among the British nobles of owning and training dogs also leads Dr Dugnoille to assume that dog-walking is a way to keep ancient honor. "When people in the park say Max is very well-behaved," says Dr Dugnoille, "that is a way to show their authority in the art of dog training compared to those dog owners who are not in control of their own dog."
But it's not just about showing off, in his view. He believes walking with one's best friend creates a time and space where dogs and humans meet as species and connect as individuals.
Still, Britons should not congratulate themselves too much on their behavior towards their dog companions. According to Dr Carri Westgarth of Liverpool University, "People say that a dog needs a walk every day, but they will find reasons why their dog doesn't need a walk. They'll say: he's got company indoors, he's nervous or he doesn't like the rain."
