Exercise Your Dog For

Longevity, Mind, Body and Spirit

Exercise is important for everyone including your dog or pet. As most people know, being able to move around is stimulating to the mind and body. Too much confinement can result in stress, and emotional and behavioral problems.

Emotional stress and loneliness alter neurochemical and vascular functions, and these changes can increase susceptibility to major diseases.

A lack of exercise leads to obesity, poor muscle tone, and heart and bone problems.

The opposite scenario is produced with exercise. Exercise leads to longer life, increased strength and endurance. Your dog will rest more calmly and be less nervous when left alone. Exercise can improve your dog’s bone and joint health, heart and lung function.

Your dog’s metabolism is geared for field work, pulling sleds, or other vigorous tasks. Pent-up energy demands an outlet and it is up to the responsible dog caregiver to channel this energy constructively through exercise.

The most effective exercise engages both mind and body.

It would be good to understand what your dog’s instinctual traits are and incorporate them into activities and exercise. For a working breed, performing a task would be naturally satisfying, possibly pulling a wagon or carrying a pack with your water bottle. For a retriever, engage your dog in ball throwing and retrieving.

Do not make the mistake of thinking that dogs need a big yard to get plenty of exercise.

The truth is that most dogs do not exercise when they are by themselves outdoors or indoors; they spend most of their time lying in a comfortable spot waiting for "their guardians" to play with them.

Exercising with your dog creates a human-dog bond in which your dog will sense that you care as a good pack leader, and this will make your dog happy.

A brief daily walk sometimes is not enough. The exercise you choose for your dog should depend on age, weight, health and breed characteristics. For small dogs, vigorous play activity for exercise can be accomplished indoors; for larger breeds, outdoor activity needs to be given. Daily exercise is recommended unless there is a medical problem or a pregnancy.

Healthy dogs need interaction with other dogs and people for proper socialization. Dog parks are great for this and some of them allow the dogs to play and walk unleashed. If you participate in off-leash activities, be sure you have the control to summon your dog when required.

Your exercise should include activities the dog finds stimulating and enjoys — games of catch, long walks, jogging, swimming and biking. A Ruff Dawg K9 flying disc is similar to a Frisbee, only more rugged, flexible and non-toxic for on-land or in water. Try a simple game with a rope tug toy, a Hyper Disc which is floatable, durable and soft on your dog’s mouth, or a Hyper Ball Launcher that allows you to launch a ball up to 220 feet. These and other quality dog exercise toys are available HERE.

Caution should be used when exercising in the hot weather.

Dogs do not get rid of heat the way we do. Sweat cools our skin; however, dogs do not sweat. They have a few sweat glands in their feet, but mostly they dissipate heat through their paws and mouths.

This means that dogs do not dissipate heat as fast as we can, making heat stroke a real possible danger. While they are having fun, many dogs will run themselves even to the point of collapse, which can prove to be fatal.

People assume that if your dog is in water, your pet won't overheat. This just isn't true when the water temperature gets much above 75 degrees and if the dog is working hard in the water.

Keep in mind that searing hot asphalt is not good for your dog’s paws.

Consult your veterinarian before you decide on a fitness program for your pet