Walking Rescue Dogs in Pontevedra: A Tail-Wagging Experience
Tucked away on a hill northwest of Pontevedra’s city center, the Protectora de Animales Os Palleiros provides shelter and care for dozens of rescue dogs, each waiting for their forever home. But in the meantime, these dogs rely on volunteers to take them out for walks, giving them a chance to stretch their legs, sniff the world beyond the shelter, and revel in the companionship of homo sapiens.
Walking these rescue dogs is also a chance to enjoy canine companionship without the long-term commitment of caring for a dog daily. For those who love dogs but can’t adopt, Os Palleiros offers a wonderful opportunity to give back and experience the joy of a wagging tail and grateful eyes.
A Flexible Volunteer Program
Volunteering is easy, with standard walking times every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday afternoons. Saturdays tend to be the busiest, with plenty of volunteers sharing the experience. For those looking for even more flexibility, becoming a member allows volunteers to come walk dogs whenever they want.
This past winter, Galicia seemed to have more rainy days than not, but we still were able to take advantage of several dry afternoons for dog walks. Rain or shine, the dogs always love getting outside, exploring new scents, and basking in the fresh air.
Exploring Pontevedra on Paw-Friendly Routes
Most of our walks followed scenic routes through As Marismas, a peaceful nature area bisected by a canal, but there are days when we take the dogs along the Lérez River, crossing the iconic Burgos Bridge before looping back. No two walks were ever exactly the same, which kept things fresh. The routes were generally 70% paved and 30% gravel or dirt roads, with occasional steep hills—but nothing too strenuous.
For instance, Andrea and I often walked rescue dogs for 1.5 to 2 hours, typically 6 or 7 kilometers. Sounds like excellent exercise, right? Well, not quite.
Is Walking Dogs Good Exercise?
While dog walking certainly involves movement, data from my Garmin sports watch paints an interesting picture of its actual cardiovascular impact. Even with hills, my average heart rate was only 77 bpm, and Garmin assigned the walk an acute Training Load of just 6—barely making a dent in fitness progress.
For contrast, below are the typical Training Loads of some of my other activities. (For reference, my resting heart rate is 39 beats per minute, and my maximum is about 172.)
| Activity | Time (hours:minutes) | Distance (km) | Average Heart Rate | Garmin Training Load |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 pull-ups + 50 crunches + 50 push-ups | 0:04 | 0 | 86 | 3 |
| Dog walk | 1:31 | 6.3 | 77 | 6 |
| Easy bike ride | 0:56 | 18.4 | 106 | 38 |
| Recovery run (Zone 1) | 0:27 | 4.5 | 116 | 52 |
| Base run (Zone 2) | 0:30 | 6.2 | 136 | 108 |
| Threshold run (with 4X 5:00 @ 4:15/km intervals) | 0:46 | 10.0 | 146 | 216 |
| Half marathon race | 1:36 | 21.1 | 152 | 395 |
The reality? Walking, even at a steady pace, does no more for cardiovascular training than, say, playing a few songs on the piano—at least for someone who is reasonably fit. Perhaps if I were carrying an extra 50 pounds—either in the form of body blubber or a weighted vest—these walks would raise my heart rate into Zone 1 or even Zone 2. Then one could argue—as many freelance fitness writers have—that walking is “great” exercise.
Meanwhile, running is far more efficient in improving cardiovascular endurance. Indeed, I had determined years ago that walking 30 miles/day on the Camino de Santiago only hurt my preparation for the Bowling Green Marathon instead of helped.
Garmin’s Training Load metrics was a good reminder of that conclusion. Before I had gotten my Garmin Epix Pro (Gen 2) watch and started paying attention to Training Load, whenever I would go on an excursion similar to our dog walks, I would think, “I did a lot of exercise today—I walked seven kilometers!” But now I think of such jaunts as being more like meditation, or periods of relaxation/recovery.
Beyond Fitness: The True Joy of Walking Rescue Dogs
That’s not to say walking dogs isn’t worthwhile—it absolutely is! While it might not provide intense physical training, it delivers plenty of mental and emotional benefits:
- Fresh air and nature—a great way to unwind and enjoy the outdoors.
- Companionship—sharing moments with adorable, happy dogs.
- Community—volunteering with other dog lovers.
- Pure happiness—seeing a rescue dog thrilled to be outdoors is priceless.
And speaking of memorable experiences, we were even in a video (near the end) posted by Protectora Os Palleiros!
Walking rescue dogs from Os Palleiros is more than just movement—it’s an act of kindness that creates moments of joy, both for our furry four-legged friends and for those who walk them. Whether you’re looking for a way to give back, enjoy dog companionship without long-term responsibility, or simply spend an afternoon in nature, it’s an experience that leaves a lasting imprint.
There are 2 comments.
Can the cat(s) tell when you get back home that you were hanging out with dogs? Before we got our cat, we thought about volunteering at the animal shelter to play with the cats.
Andrea thought Oreo could tell by the way he would sniff us!
But he wouldn't run away and still be affectionate around us, so maybe he didn't mind?