ALMOST every time I go along one of the riverside paths, I see people "walking" their dogs while jogging or cycling.

Dogs are natural sprinters, rather than long-distance runners, and need frequent stops and changes of pace. But they are so devoted to their owners they put everything they can into keeping up.

The result is that a dog may appear to be doing fine, but will be under massive physical strain.

Many dogs "walked" in this way die of heart attacks.

From a dog's point of view, the pleasure of a walk comes from all the sniffing, marking of territory, and rooting around in grass and hedges. They can't do this properly if their owners keep them on the move.

Dogs are the most loyal friends mankind could hope to have. As the great naturalist Konrad Lorenz said, the walk is the most important aspect of a dog's life.

The least we can do is walk them in a kind and responsible manner.

David Brickwood,

Bishopthorpe Road, York.

Updated: 09:48 Tuesday, July 20, 2004