Let your dog do thewalking

Sign up for the Discovery 702 Walk the Talk, and bring your dog along on the 5km or 8km route. It’s good for both of you.
THERE are countless ways to show your appreciation of your loved ones: shower them with gifts, buy them a bunch of flowers, or simply just tell them you love them. With your canine companion, it is not quite so easy.

Free entry for dogsFree entry for dogsYou can, of course, tell them you love them and shower them with dog treats, but there is no guarantee that they get the message. There is, however, one failsafe way of telling your four-legged friend that their years of devotion are appreciated, and Joburg has known this secret for years: the Royal Canin dog walk at the Discovery 702 Walk the Talk.

Walk the Talk is an annual event, supported by the City of Johannesburg in line with its mandate of active and healthy lifestyles for all residents. This year marks the 12th walkathon, which takes place on 22 July through the heart of Joburg’s leafy northern suburbs – Emmarentia, Greenside and Parkview.

The dog walk will take place on the same day, on the shorter 5km and 8km routes of the event. “We will be providing all the support for the dogs, from veterinary care to water points especially for dogs along the route, as well as many great giveaways and prizes,” says Royal Canin.

Entry is free for dogs, but they will only be allowed to walk if their owner is registered to participate. Dogs are also not allowed on the park and ride buses that will be ferrying people to and from the home of the race, Marks Park in Judith Road.

In addition to giving your pooch a fun day out, residents are encouraged to bring their dogs along for health reasons. “The primary effect of keeping your dog physically fit will be a substantially improved quality of life throughout the ageing process,” Royal Canin explains.

Watering holes are aplentyWatering holes are aplenty“When old age does come knocking, your dog will be much better equipped to continue to be mobile, alert and energetic through the day.”

Walk the Talk is a popular event for pet owners and there are usually about 2 000 participating dogs. Given the size of the affair, though, there are rules for dogs to be eligible to walk. “If your dog is small to medium in size, it must be older than one year and younger than 10 years,” it says on the Walk the Talk website. “If your dog is large to giant in size, it must be older than one-and-a-half years and younger than seven years old.”

Your canine companion needs to be medically fit and needs to be socialised with other dogs and people; organisers recommend that only dogs that have been spayed or neutered participate.

There will be various doggie water points along the routes, with three along the 5km course and five on the 8km route.

To enter the race and get more information, visit the Walk the Talk website, contact the race office on 011 017 2700 or email walkthetalk@702.co.za.